Results 12,621-12,640 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigration Data (24 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The figures requested by the Deputy in respect of immigration to Britain, America, Canada and Australia from 2003 to 2012 are set out below. These statistics are published by the CSO and can be found on their website.The Deputy should note that the prior to 2007, specific figures for Australia and Canada are not available with both countries included in the “Other Countries”...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government has already intervened to address the issue of mortgage arrears, which is one of the biggest problems facing many householders. In many cases, those in mortgage arrears bought homes at the height of the property bubble. The Deputy will recall that there was a property bubble during the lifetime of the Government in which he served, the result of which is that many are now...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said, any announcement of an increase in mortgages is bad news for mortgage holders, about that there is no doubt or arguing, but it is important we stick to the factual situation. The Deputy said twice that the average increase is €800 a year but that is not the case. The average standard variable rate mortgage in the AIB is €128,000 which means that the increase will be...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Martin was also wrong when he stated that the Government did not act on the Keane report. It did act on that report. That is why we introduced the personal insolvency legislation.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: That is why the personal insolvency service has been established. That is why a range of measures has been advanced to help people who are in mortgage distress. Our objective is to aim to get settlement of the mortgage arrears difficulties people have. We have now put in place the architecture under which that can be done. Since the beginning of this year 8,000 have been settled.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: That needs to be speeded up.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We are in constant contact with the banks to encourage them-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: -----and drive them forward to get the settlements made.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The objective here is that we have to get to a point where people can get their mortgage difficulties settled and get on with their lives.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not agree at all with the top levels of pay in the banks. I think they are far too much.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: They have to be brought under control. When the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, referred yesterday to a Government decision, that Government decision is to support and to seek the implementation of the report that has come from Mercers on pay in the banking system. The Government has commissioned an independent analysis of pay scales and pension packages in the banks. It has...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Sinn Féin, as always, is interested in scoring the political point-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: -----rather than dealing with the problem. Let us come back to the problem. I have answered the Deputy's question about bankers' pay. We are dealing with that.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We have asked each bank to report to the Minister for Finance by the end of April. That issue is in hand and we do not need any encouragement from Sinn Féin on it. We have made clear from the beginning of the lifetime of this Government that our objective was to enable people to continue to live in their own homes. Many households and families who have big mortgages that they cannot...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware that the Consumers' Association of Ireland compared 19 branded products in 2011 and 2013 and found there was a 12.6% increase in the cost of the basket surveyed. For the consumer price index, the Central Statistics Office surveys more than 50,000 prices taken on 632 item headings. That shows that for food and non-alcoholic beverages, prices have fallen by 6.3% since 2008. The...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: As I said, the Government is taking the legislative route on this issue. We can have all the discussions we want on this matter. I agree with the Deputy that the supermarkets should not be increasing the prices of essential goods. We gave a commitment in the programme for Government that we would deal with anti-competitive practices in the grocery goods sector. We will deliver on that in...

Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 2, Companies Bill 2012 - Second Stage (resumed).

Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am delighted to see Deputy Martin has taken up reading. It might encourage him to improve the quality of what he reads.

Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The heads of the Bill or the memorandum on it have not yet been circulated. I expect the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, to bring the heads of the Bill to the Government shortly. The Government intends to act after 20 years of no action on this difficult issue. Everyone knows this, as well as the fact, the preparation and content of the legislation requires care and attention. I...

Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I am aware of this morning's ruling by the European Court of Justice on the Waterford Crystal pension schemes. The case follows a reference from the High Court to the European Court of Justice for its opinion on several questions concerning European law in this area. We have not yet had an opportunity to study the full judgment of the European Court of Justice. The ruling will now be the...