Results 2,021-2,040 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In the lifetime of this Government we have made a number of very significant changes to the way in which the Dáil operates, for example the amount of time that is spent, the introduction of ways in which Members of the House can introduce legislation, the operation of committees and the legislation the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, has recently introduced to...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, I can give the assurance that the Government will listen and is listening to the symphysiotomy women. This has been an issue of concern to the Government since it was formed and one the Minister for Health has decided to address. It is also an issue that is raised frequently with the Government by Members from all sides of the House. It was raised by a number of members of my...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: This Government has a record of dealing sympathetically and with justice in respect of long-standing issues that should have been dealt with over the years. We intend to deal with the symphysiotomy issue in the same way. I do not propose to anticipate what proposals the Minister for Health will bring forward and I do not believe any Deputy would expect me to do so. The Minister will bring...

Order of Business (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 13b, motion re statement of Estimates for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission; No. 14, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law - general approach, back from committee; No. 15 - motion re proposed...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Final decisions have been made in respect of a further 500 applicants, representing 0.75% of all applications, but payment has not yet been made. In most cases, this is because SUSI has not received bank account details or students are no longer continuing their courses. The next payment date is 25 July. I appeal to each of these students to ensure they have provided their bank details to...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Some 42% of all third level students are in receipt of a grant. Last year, the student grant administration system was transferred from 66 different bodies, including county and city councils and VECs, to one body, namely, SUSI. I have acknowledged, as has the Minister for Education and Skills on a number of occasions, that there were problems with this. What is important is that the...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Students will not experience the type of difficulties they experienced last year. However, as we all know much depends on the quality of applications and so on. As far as the operation of SUSI is concerned, the type of problems experienced last year have been addressed. There has been a significant number of changes made in the operation-----

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: There is an application system for student grants in place. Nobody can guarantee what decision will be made in respect of applications. It may be-----

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy asked if the recommendations of the review were being implemented.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I detailed the changes being made for the Deputy. When that information was not bad enough, she decided to change tack and ask a different question.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Grant applications will be processed efficiently by SUSI. We have put in place a much better system for this year. It is the intention that the applications will be processed by Christmas.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: That is why the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, introduced the Pathways to Work scheme. In addition, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, introduced a stimulus package last year. We also decided to establish a strategic investment fund to provide funding that will stimulate growth in our economy. In addition, we got agreement at European level on...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Dooley does need a history lesson. Fianna Fáil wrecked this country's economy.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: In the three years before the people rightly booted them out of office, they presided over the loss of 250,000 jobs in this economy.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: No government in this country - and to my knowledge no government in modern times in Europe or any other developed country - has ever presided over such a loss of employment in its own economy. It was a disgraceful record, and our job has been to turn that around.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: We are turning it around. For the first time since 2008, the number of people at work has increased. In 2012, the IDA had its best year in ten years. Enterprise Ireland has had a record year for exports. All of that is sustaining, supporting and building jobs in this country.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: Frankly, I find the Deputy's attitude to unemployed people patronising and unacceptable.

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: People who are out of work know very well that they would be better off in work, earning a living, which is what they want to do. That is what they expect the Government to work on to help create the jobs they need. Unlike Deputy Dooley's Government, this Government is not satisfied to leave unemployed people sitting idle and unable to develop the skills to improve their opportunities for...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, is undertaking that reform through the establishment of SOLAS. The development of education and training means the introduction of JobBridge and a range of other measures to assist unemployed people either to get education, training, work or work experience - whatever it takes to get them back into the workforce. There are two parts to...

Leaders' Questions (18 Jul 2013)

Eamon Gilmore: I join Deputy McDonald in expressing, on behalf of the Government, my best wishes on the 95th birthday of Nelson Mandela. He is a heroic and iconic figure for us all. For the coming year, SUSI has introduced changes to make the process much easier for most applicants. Its internal procedures have been developed to respond to the experiences of last year's applicants. No one in this House...