Results 421-440 of 2,500 for speaker:Ciarán Cuffe

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (23 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 272: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the implementation of the Emergency Alert systems in respect of missing children as contained in the National Action Plan to prevent and combat trafficking of human beings 2009 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8653/10]

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 305: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions that he has had with other Departments on his policy for the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which opened for signature and ratification in New York on 24 September 2009; the nature, content and conclusions of those discussions; the necessary steps to be taken to...

Written Answers — Cycle to Work Scheme: Cycle to Work Scheme (16 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if employees of his department are only allowed to apply for the Cycle to Work scheme between 1 and 15 December each year; if it will it be possible to change the practice in order to facilitate applications throughout the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7850/10]

Written Answers — Civil Service Staff: Civil Service Staff (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 145: To ask the Minister for Finance if, in view of the standing down of the committee on performance awards which had allowed Secretaries General to assign assistant secretaries specific and demanding targets for the year ahead that went beyond the normal ongoing requirements of their jobs, an alternative system is now in place to incentivise senior civil servants in the...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I ask for some protection from the Chair.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I suspect that is not the last we will hear from Deputy Durkan.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: We became far too dependent on the good-time taxes during the boom years. When we saw enormous increases in revenue-----

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I suspect it is not a vanity mirror.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: I suspect that if Deputy Durkan were pulled in to the side of the road by a garda on a motorcycle, his excuse would not quite cut the mustard in terms of avoiding penalty points.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Some protection for the Greens, of whatever hue, would be appreciated. The point I was making was that we became far too dependent on the good-time taxes during the boom years. There was considerable revenue from car sales, VAT and construction. Those in opposition during the boom said we needed to spend more in many areas and those in Government used a huge amount of the money available...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: If the Green Party position has moved on the issue of carbon taxation, I would love to hear about it. I suspect there are many different points of view within the Fine Gael tent.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Deputy Durkan is-----

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Our electricity utility companies are part of the emissions trading scheme, the Europe-wide scheme to reduce emissions. A carbon levy in Ireland will have a similar effect by putting a charge on certain fuels, such as petrol or home heating oil, proportionate to the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced when the fuel is burnt. The more carbon the fuels contain, the greater the charge.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: There is a measure of equity in that.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: This will make those fuels that are most harmful to the atmosphere more expensive to consume-----

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: -----thus helping us to meet our climate change target of reducing emissions by 20% by 2020. It will be no mean feat to achieve that target. We cannot continue as we have done heretofore, despite protestations from some sides of the House on this issue.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: This will create incentives for new businesses to create low-carbon technologies and improve energy efficiency, which will gradually wean us off our great reliance on imported oil. Such a levy will also bring stability to our tax base and ensure that we are not as susceptible to the sharp decline in the moneys used to pay for Government services. At €15 per tonne of carbon, it will add...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: We may well need some injury time.

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: Good. Per capita, Ireland still ranks as the one of the highest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world. Aside from the moral argument that it is incumbent on each of us to play out part in solving this global problem, we will be faced with hefty financial penalties as part of any post-Kyoto deal requiring emission reductions. Consequently, it makes financial sense to put policies in place...

Finance Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Feb 2010)

Ciarán Cuffe: If even the Fine Gael backbenchers understood this, I would be much happier than I am.