Results 3,301-3,320 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: A Cheann Comhairle, you cannot hear what I am saying.

Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: Regarding Irish passports and the identities of Irish citizens being stolen and used for passport purposes in the assassination of the Hamas leader, the situation is becoming more bizarre given that Australia is now involved. Strong action has been taken by the Australian government.

Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: I am coming to my question for the Tánaiste. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, is currently in the Middle East, visiting Gaza. He has visited Egypt and was in Brussels where he met the Israeli Foreign Minister. We need to have a debate on this in the House. I ask that the Minister come to the House next week, at a time to be agreed, so that we might have a debate...

Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: -----as used in this fashion by a so-called friendly state. The only way to deal with it properly is to allow it come to the floor of the House so that we can all express our views and the Minister can outline the result of his consultations in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2010: First Stage (25 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide that a change of use of a structure to use as a Head Shop or a Sex Shop shall not be exempted development; and to provide for connected matters.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2010: First Stage (25 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time." Perhaps the Government would give us Private Members' time.

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: As the Taoiseach said, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, is in Gaza this week but he is not there by courtesy of the Israeli Government. I remind the Taoiseach the Israeli Government, on 9 December, flatly refused access to Gaza for the Minister. Will the Taoiseach raise this matter at the Council next month? Why, out of 27 member states, was Ireland refused access by Israel...

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: -----access Gaza through Egypt? This is a matter which should be raised.

State Visits. (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: It is a very important issue, namely, why Ireland should be picked out by the Israeli Government and refused what should be regarded as a courtesy call by our Minister for Foreign Affairs to visit Gaza. He now has no choice but to go through the back door, through Egypt.

Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: All Members are experiencing the same problem, with the Department of Social and Family Affairs the worst offender at present, probably because the staff there are the most overworked due to the current demand. I had the most unacceptable experience this morning. I had put down a question to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in regard to when the Minister intended to...

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: I thank Deputy Gilmore for sharing time with me. In his statement today the Taoiseach made clear that since entry into force of the Lisbon treaty the European Council has a more prominent role in deciding and driving the overall direction of the Union and its policies, which I welcome. I welcome also that the President as chairman will drive those policies in the interim when the quarterly...

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: I will not say that.

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: Yes, indeed. It was missed by everybody.

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: We expected more than we got. We got very little. We got nothing binding, no agreement between the major countries. The United States, China, Brazil and South Africa ganged up and met separately as did the developing countries but the European countries did not appear to have any real handle on the situation. It was extremely disappointing given all that was promised. I hope the...

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: That is not the way we like to see matters progressed. I am sure the Taoiseach would have been delighted to see his colleague in Government get something. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, was for the entire year stating he was going to sort out the world's problems in regard to climate change.

European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: This issue should be on the agenda next month and should be promoted by the Taoiseach.

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: Question 90: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the governance review of the Irish Red Cross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9172/10]

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: Question 96: To ask the Minister for Defence the level of recruitment into the Reserve Defence Force since 1 January 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9173/10]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (23 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: Question 93: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to use the impending Social Welfare Bill to reform family income supplement to ensure that all low income families qualify at least in part for this scheme. [8894/10]

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Feb 2010)

Joe Costello: Question 149: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will transpose the services directive into legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8876/10]