Results 5,981-6,000 of 12,590 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: They are burnt out.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: When the shinners get in that will all change.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: A press conference is being organised by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation to unveil the results of research carried out by Dr. Keith Hurst, an international expert on comparative medical staffing levels. The results of his research are stark and frightening. They suggest patient safety is being compromised and give the lie to the notion that front-line services are being...

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: The Tánaiste appears to dismiss out of hand the results of this research, even before he has studied it. He must be aware that his colleague, the Minister for Health, in justifying his decision to proceed with a HSE inquiry in the case of Ms Savita Halappanavar, has said he owes a duty of care to the women of Ireland. Is the Tánaiste aware that the recent report from the State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the consequences for Ireland of EU Commission proposals that aim to cap crop based bio-fuel production to a maximum of 5% of total transport fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53268/12]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (29 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the assessment of the International Energy Agency in its World Energy Outlook report that fears of peak oil are unfounded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53273/12]

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: We did this, and we were wrong to do so, but the Government was elected on a promise of reform. Every time there is a vacancy anybody with a hint of a connection to anybody other than Fine Gael or the Labour Party might as well go home. We heard a lot about judicial appointments. Six of the last seven judicial appointments were closely associated with a certain political party.

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: I could rehearse their names and connections but I do not like to embarrass people who are not here to defend themselves. Sometimes doing nothing at all is better than box ticking or making a pretence at fulfilling electoral promises. In my naivety I was taken in by some of these promises.

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: I was dubious about the Government's commitments on job creation and the economy - sadly my fears in that regard have been realised - but I thought that on the question of constitutional reform it would be a success. What we find, however, is a flop. Unintentionally the Government may have brought forward the day when we see these much needed reforms because the members of the public have...

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: I recognise that but the Government made promises and was elected on the basis of those promises. The centrepiece or jewel in the crown of the Government's proposed constitutional reforms was the abolition of the Seanad. The programme for Government states that the Government will "prioritise" this measure but the Government's understanding of "prioritise" is a bit funny, given that two...

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: Another difficulty arises as we go further into the life of this Government. I canvassed for the recent children's referendum and was one of very few Deputies who did so. I went out and knocked on doors because I strongly believed in it. Towards the end of the campaign, however, I was seriously worried that the referendum would not be passed because so many people told me they would be...

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: I am not referring to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government but to the Minister for Justice and Equality. Where are we with these powerful committees that were supposed to solve the problem of the imbalance in power between the Executive and the Oireachtas? We now have fewer committees than before and they are more starved of cash than ever. In reality, nothing...

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: Fianna Fáil supports the Bill. The boundary commission has been a feature of the system since before I was elected a Member of this House, which was not today or yesterday. It is fair to say no Government of any persuasion has ever sought to interfere with the recommendations of a boundary commission, which is good. With all due respect to all sides of the House, if politicians were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Employment Support Services (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend access to the jobbridge scheme to the self employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52490/12]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Staff Remuneration (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that two members of staff who are redeployed from FAS to her Department and are carrying out all of the higher grade duties whilst on secondment to LES Limerick on a continuous basis for 16 years, have not received the acting up allowance currently €16,135 since January 2012; that they have been...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (27 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for the Options Programme in County Limerick which allows persons with special needs, the average age of which currently is 24 years, to remain within the training environment, giving a sense of worth of worth and value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52830/12]

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: There are no new imaginative provisions on anti-social behaviour and there is nothing about compliance. We are now being told that the much vaunted changeover, which was sold as a fundamental policy plank and which attracted a lot of votes, will not take place as promised on 1 January. It is a pity.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: I have documentation from the Department of Social Protection, which I am sorry I did not bring with me.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: When one is dealing with the Labour Party one must bring the written evidence. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, tried to tell me last week that expenditure on child benefit had actually risen and that she had failed to support private landlords. One must have written evidence when one is dealing with them now. I have documentation, which I will publish after this debate,...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Nov 2012)

Willie O'Dea: I am not opposing it because there is little or nothing to oppose.