Results 1,681-1,700 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Overseas Missions. (9 May 2006)

Joe Costello: I am appalled at Deputy Timmins's suggestion that the Minister should make all such decisions alone without being bound by the triple lock. Until recently I was my party's spokesperson for the remit of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and I would be appalled at the thought of the Minister in charge, Deputy McDowell, not having to refer back to the Government before he sent...

Overseas Missions. (9 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Before we hastily dismantle the triple lock, let us consider that we might have a different Minister in charge at some point. I agree that the triple lock is good in the sense that we have a United Nations mandate and that it is referred to the Government and the Oireachtas. From that perspective, we can move forward positively in any decision of that nature. Regarding the origins of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (9 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Question 133: To ask the Minister for Defence the reason the coastguard station leased by his Department has been sold to the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Commission thus depriving the local Battalion of the Reserve Defence Forces of their training centre; if this development is contrary to the criteria under which the reserve was established in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (9 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Question 458: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Government has proposals for the GPO, O'Connell Street, and No. 16 Moore Street, Dublin 1, in the context of the commemoration of the events of 1916; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16839/06]

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (9 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Question 312: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on a recent European Court of Justice ruling (details supplied) and the stance of the EU Commission on EU competence to introduce measures requiring the creation of criminal offences and the imposition of criminal penalties in the domestic laws of Member States; if the issue has been considered by the Government...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (9 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Question 343: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position the Irish delegation in the council has taken on the proposal for a council framework decision on combating racism and xenophobia, specifically in the Working Part on Substantive Criminal Law. [17398/06]

Report of the Joint Committee on European Affairs on Migration: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: I welcome the initiative to have this focused debate in the Dáil on the European Union. I hope it will continue and that other states follow suit. It seems strange that 3% of our workforce — 62,000 — are from the ten accession countries, reflecting fewer than half the number that came to this country since 2004. That consists of less than a third of all non-nationals working in this...

European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: I, too, welcome and fully support the Bill. I noted the Minister's upbeat, stirring and rhetorical remarks. He is positive towards Europe. Many of us who were previously Euro-sceptics have seen the significant benefits of EU membership for Irish citizens, producing a better quality of life and economy and general improvements for the country. That must be acknowledged and should be the...

European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: He did his best to run with it.

European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: The Deputy should not knock civil servants.

European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: A number of them are here assisting the Minister of State.

Third Annual Report of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: I congratulate Deputy Allen, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on EU Scrutiny, on all the work that has been done by the committee under his remit. The Third Annual Report on the Operation of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002 is a most impressive document. It highlights the sub-committee's enormous workload, including the number of meetings during which documents were considered, issues...

Third Annual Report of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: We must pay tribute to the incredible work that has been done by the sub-committee, as well as by the various joint committees which consider the documents and directives which are referred to them. The figures quoted in the report are quite startling. In the four years since 2002, approximately 1,452 documents of one type or another have passed through the hands of the sub-committee. Some...

Third Annual Report of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Just 148 Bills have been passed in that time, which is approximately one tenth of the 1,452 documents which have been considered by the sub-committee since 2002. Not all of the 1,452 documents are legislative provisions, but approximately three quarters of them are. That means, in effect, that we are being legislated for from Europe. This House spends most of its time dealing with and teasing...

Third Annual Report of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002: Statements. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: I have a question from a member of the public on scrutiny of decision making. It states that wherever decisions are made, the process of arriving at them should be fully transparent and the decisions should be adequately explained to the public. The President of the Commission and various national figures in a number of member states have referred to the fact the EU is frequently undersold....

Regulation of Casinos. (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: I welcome the Minister to the House. Last November in a parliamentary question I asked the Minister whether he was aware that a gambling casino had opened up in the vicinity of Grafton Street. He replied that he was aware that such type of facility had been opened. It would be difficult not to be aware because it opened with a great fanfare of publicity and some well-known figures were...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (10 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Question 69: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has made a decision on the asylum application of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/06]

Written Answers — Partnership Agreement: Partnership Agreement (11 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Question 24: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the views on the recent submission made by the Combat Poverty Agency to the social partners on a new partnership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17368/06]

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (11 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Question 52: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to one third of landlords advertising on the internet state that rent allowance will not be accepted; the action he intends to take arising from the increasing refusal of landlords to rent property to persons in receipt of rent allowance; and if he will make a statement on the...

Leaders' Questions. (16 May 2006)

Joe Costello: Not all aspects of it.