Results 30,041-30,060 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: We are entitled to comment on some of the very important issues that have arisen.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: When will that opportunity arise?

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: I am addressing No. 22(a).

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: I am not satisfied with that proposal or any of the other proposals and I want an opportunity to say why. Can the Ceann Comhairle tell me when I will get the opportunity and I will wait until then?

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: This is a proposal.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: There is a proposal here. The first proposal concerns No. 22(a).

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: That is No. 2 but I could make my comments as easily on No. 1 if the Ceann Comhairle will allow it.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: Fine Gael will not accept the proposal to accept these motions without debate. The Ceann Comhairle knows that we have witnessed in recent days an alarming escalation in criminal activity on our streets, with murder, drug offences, firearms offences, assault and false imprisonment exploding on the Government's watch. The Tánaiste and the Government will be judged not by good intentions or...

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: Attempts to curtail business by taking all these items without debate, including a motion related to drug trafficking, are not acceptable to this party. I am perfectly entitled to outline my reasons for not accepting this. When the Government members hear the reasons, perhaps they will change their view and we will have an opportunity for debate.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: I welcome that. I would like to outline why the Ceann Comhairle ought not only to accept that but also to allow us to reject many of the motions it is proposed to take without debate. The reasons are straightforward. The Tánaiste and his Government promised there would be zero tolerance on crime, yet murders are up 46%; homicide, 115%; assault, 131%; gun crime, 300%——

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: That was a brief comment. The Government must be judged on results, which in the context of crime, is the capacity to detect criminals and bring them to book. Under various crime headings, detection rates have fallen. Murder detection is down 36% and homicide detection is down 18% while the rates for assault, possession of firearms——

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: I would probably be finished if I had been given an opportunity. When Donna Cleary, an innocent woman from my constituency, was killed, the Tánaiste said that represented a watershed and there would be huge changes.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: Since then, three innocent victims have been gunned down in the crossfire of gangland activity. The latest victim was Anthony Campbell, a young plumber.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: The Government is proposing, for example, to reintroduce the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 without debate and to renew orders without debate.

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: I have never been in the House when, on the adjournment of the House, the Leader of the Opposition did not have the opportunity, uninterrupted by the Ceann Comhairle or Government members, to outline his or her argument. We are perfectly entitled to say why we want the Government——

Order of Business. (14 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: The House has a right to debate the effectiveness of policing, prisons and the criminal justice system in the wake of what has happened. We should have that opportunity.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 79: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason funding in 2007 to the RAPID programme will not keep pace with inflation growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42872/06]

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (12 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 152: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expected cost of providing central storage of electronic voting machines, including security costs, compared to the cost of storing such machines locally at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42548/06]

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (12 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 140: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the measures currently in place to combat noise pollution are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42538/06]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Dec 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 261: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Service Executive has not arranged a continuation of the Meals on Wheels service in the Marino area and are proposing to charge people for an alternative service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42370/06]