Results 1,961-1,980 of 3,523 for speaker:Lucinda Creighton

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: Who does he expect will be in a position to pay for all the various benefits paid to hundreds of thousands of people in this State, such as carers, pensioners, people in receipt of disability benefit, the blind, whose pensions were cut by the previous Government, and so on? The country will be bankrupt and we will not be in a position to pay these benefits. We need a bit of reality in this...

European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I regret I do not have time to address some of the other issues.

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: Comhghairdeas. I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his recent appointment. I am delighted to be back in the Seanad. I was asked by the Leader to introduce a debate on European affairs and I jumped at the opportunity. Over a long period we have urged that the Seanad would assume a more relevant and proactive role in European affairs. I hope this opportunity for an exchange will be the...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I met her.

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I can send a copy of my speech to the Senator.

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: To clarify, I was not looking at the clock. I noticed that Senator Mullen was leaving the Chamber just as I am about to answer his questions after being absent for my opening statement. I thank the Senators for their contributions. This was an interesting and useful debate and I take note of the many issues that have been raised by contributors. I will attempt to respond to as many as I...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I have not even got to half of what I wished to say.

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I wish to answer a few specific questions. I will respond to Senator Rónán Mullen's questions as he took the trouble of numbering them and setting them out in detail. On the consequences of debt repayment for social solidarity, there is huge pressure on social solidarity at the moment. I will reply to Senator Mullen in the same vein as I spoke to Independent Members in the Dáil earlier...

Seanad: European Affairs: Statements (22 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: We have no alternative but to make the EU-IMF programme work. There is no doubt about that. If we want to get out of the programme and ensure we borrow less money than is envisaged, we must get back into the international markets to borrow money directly from them. To answer the Senator's question, confidence is exceptionally important. That is the world we live in. We might like a more...

European Council Meetings: Statements (29 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: The Deputy is speaking out of both sides of his mouth.

European Council Meetings: Statements (29 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: Are the full five minutes available to me?

European Council Meetings: Statements (29 Jun 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I wish to close the debate by commenting on external relations issues. The Taoiseach touched upon a number of these issues but I wish to provide a more comprehensive overview. The Taoiseach referred to the Council's agreement that negotiations on Croatia's accession to the European Union should be concluded by the end of the month. I am pleased to report that these negotiations are on track...

EU Presidency (13 Jul 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: Ireland will assume the Presidency of the European Union during the first six months of 2013. The Government has placed emphasis on its goal of enhancing Ireland's reputation in Europe and more widely, and of thorough engagement with the Union's agenda; the 2013 Presidency falls perfectly within this and can be a mobilising element in that process. Preparations for Ireland's Presidency...

EU Presidency (13 Jul 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I thank the Deputy for his good and relevant questions. The structure has changed. One of the key features in the new arrangements for the Presidency of the European Union is the key role of the European Parliament. That is something that is new. We are very cognisant of that. One of the things all Cabinet Ministers are doing at a very early stage is meeting with their counterparts in...

EU Presidency (13 Jul 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: In terms of the level of political engagement, the Deputy will be aware that recently, on 1 July, the Tánaiste met with his Lithuanian Foreign Minister counterpart in Vilnius to discuss issues of common interest. Naturally, there was a focus on the Presidency in 2013. They agreed to meet again later in the year with the Tánaiste's Greek counterpart Minister for Foreign Affairs to continue...

Human Rights Issues (13 Jul 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: The EU fully recognises the challenges it faces to defend its interests and promote its values in a fast changing world, where countries such as China, India and Brazil have emerged as increasingly influential global players. Over the past year, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has been developing a framework to enable the EU to strengthen its internal coherence in order to engage...

Human Rights Issues (13 Jul 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I accept the points that have been made by the Deputy. It is fair to say that of all global economic blocs, the European Union has been the most consistent in striving to uphold human rights and impress upon the Chinese the need to enhance human rights protection in China. There is, as I mentioned, a wide-ranging dialogue between the EU and China on all sorts of matters, from environment to...

International Day of Democracy: Statements (15 Sep 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allocating time to discuss this important topic. I am delighted to have the opportunity to address the House on the International Day of Democracy. It is entirely appropriate that Dáil Éireann should mark this event and consider how we as a nation, which has been fortunate enough to enjoy a strong parliamentary democracy for the past 90 years, can...

International Day of Democracy: Statements (15 Sep 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: I am conscious that we have run over time and I will keep my remarks short. I thank Deputies for participating in this important debate. I do not set the Dáil's agenda, but I will take the Deputies' point on board and I hope we will allocate more time to this type of discussion in future. The link between democracy and human rights was clearly established when the Universal Declaration of...

An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011 — An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011 — Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Lucinda Creighton: In the absence of the Minister, Deputy Howlin, I will conclude the debate. I thank Deputies for their contributions on the Bill. A number of issues that merit consideration have been raised and I have no doubt but that the Minister will consider them. The issue of potential bias, as raised by Deputy Pringle, is a legitimate one. Deputy Timmins also raised the important issue of the...