Results 13,701-13,720 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: We had to change this. Now that we have succeeded in getting us to a point where we are exiting the bailout programme and seeing the economy recovering-----
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: -----it is as if Fianna Fáil wants to wipe history clean and pretend it never had a hand, act or part in the mess we inherited in the first place.
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: I agree that energy costs and the price of fuel have been increasing. As a country, we are on the receiving end of the internationally set price of fuel. We are at the end of a very long pipeline from Russia. I have looked at the report from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and welcome it. In particular, I want to look at where the society focuses attention on what can be done to ease...
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: First, the Deputy has said we undertook to commit €40 million to address the issue of fuel poverty and fuel prices. Last year we committed more than that figure - €50 million - for the retrofitting of local authority homes-----
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: Let me answer the question. As I said, we have committed €50 million for local authority homes alone and there is also €18 million for the improvement of the warmer homes scheme. This is not a short-term problem. The issue of high fuel prices and the cost of fuel is not one that can or should be dealt with on a short-term basis. We all know from experience that the price of...
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: That is what gets down the cost of heating a home and fuel. We are committed to doing this. Only last week I had a lengthy discussion with the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, about the plans he had to encourage more people to take up the retrofitting scheme and about the grants and various forms of assistance available through his Department and Sustainable Energy Ireland. We are going to...
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: By the way, that is what the Society of St. Vincent de Paul states is the best way of dealing with the problem. It is contained in its report. I welcome the report it has presented. It is timely and that is what it states, that getting more people into the retrofit scheme is the way for us to go.
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: Most people in this country do not need a report from Grant Thornton or anybody else to tell them we have had an economic crisis. In 2008 the economy crashed, effectively. The people from whom we inherited the Government put the taxpayer on the hazard for the entire banking system when they introduced a blanket guarantee. The consequence was that the country and its taxpayers were made...
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Donnelly cited figures he claims point to increases in taxes on families. This Government has not increased income tax since coming to office.
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy expressed views in regard to those people who are most vulnerable in our society. This Government, perhaps to the surprise of the Deputy and many others, has not reduced the basic rates of social welfare payments. We have taken more than 300,000 of the lowest-paid workers outside the scope of the USC, to which the Deputy referred. In addition, the Government has restored the...
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: Of course we will. The Deputy is here long enough to know that at budget time, in addition to the Budget Statement issued by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Members receive a wad of documentation outlining the impact of budget measures on families at different levels of income.
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: To be fair to Deputy Donnelly, I was of the view when he first came into this House that he was a right-wing neoliberal.
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The longer he is here, however, the more I am coming reluctantly to the conclusion that he is just an opportunist.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 11, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Ombudsman Act 1980 (Section 4 (10)) Order 2013; No. 3, Freedom of Information Bill 2013 - Second Stage (resumed); and No. 2, Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings in regard to No. 11 shall, if not...
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: In regard to the international tax agreements Bill, which was originally to be called the mutual administrative assistance in tax matters (joint Council of Europe-OECD convention) Bill, a cross-departmental group has been established to resolve outstanding issues. It is expected to be published next year. As the Deputy knows, there have been several Bills relating to the functions of the...
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: If I had received notice of the question, I would have prepared an answer for the Deputy after speaking to the relevant Departments.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy knows, the range of supports we have committed to provide, including health supports, housing and so on, involve several Departments. I will ask for a reply to be sent to the Deputy.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: I am informed by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs that the provisions in question are due to be dealt with on Committee Stage of the Child and Family Agency Bill 2013.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The criminal justice (victims rights) Bill will serve to strengthen the rights of victims of crime and their families and give effect to a proposed EU directive. Preliminary work on the Bill is under way, but it is not possible to indicate a publication date at this stage.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)
Eamon Gilmore: The local government Bill is due to come before the Government shortly. I expect it will be published shortly thereafter. The intention is that it will go to the committee. However, we are anxious to have the legislation enacted and in place in advance of the local elections next year so that the measures proposed will take effect when new councils are elected in 2014. The Bill is at an...