Results 841-860 of 2,500 for speaker:Ciarán Cuffe

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (20 Feb 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 170: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if, with regard to the requirement for tenants to deduct 20% of the gross rent payable directly to their landlord's bank account when their landlord is non-resident, the number of cases where tenants' tax credits have been reduced in this instance; the number of these cases that have been appealed to the Revenue Commissioners; and...

Written Answers — Closed Circuit Television Systems: Closed Circuit Television Systems (20 Feb 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: Question 312: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department is drafting legislation or intends to draft legislation to regulate the use of closed circuit television cameras on private dwellings in residential areas. [7037/08]

Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: Where is the Deputy's leader?

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: I intend to share time with Deputy O'Flynn. I welcome this complex Bill of 142 pages and 139 sections. Many aspects are strongly needed while the details of other aspects are of concern and will need to be fleshed out on Committee Stage. I acknowledge the engagement of the Minister and his officials with us on the Bill and I applaud the dedication of the NGOs that have commented in detail...

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: It can be a vital part of a country's cultural, social and economic development. Indeed, as an island nation off the coast of another island, as Ireland is, it is no harm to have some mixing of the gene pool. Deputy Varadker and I are testimony to the positive aspects of such mixing. Indeed, the House is the poorer without the contributions of the former Labour Party Deputy, Dr. Moosajee...

Barron Reports: Statements (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: For a member of Fine Gael to ridicule a Member of the House for quoting a Frenchman represents a new low in parliamentary politics in this House. That is not the direction we should be going. There is a separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution, the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Presidency. It is a very dangerous precedent to attempt to muddy the waters between the three...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: ——that uphold democracy in this State. A line in the sand must be drawn between this House and the tribunals.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: That is what I and my party stand for.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: The important issue is that the Government has confidence in the tribunal, and we have stated that confidence in our response to the Opposition's motion. Let us not get caught up in obsessing over every nuance of what the tribunal is doing. Instead, let us take a step back and examine the reasons for its establishment in the first place. It was a response to concerns about planning,...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: A representative from Fine Gael appeared on an episode of "Prime Time" a few months ago and, frankly, made Pat Shortt and D'Unbelievables look statesmanlike in comparison, given the type of activities Fine Gael is engaged in to this day on every highway and byway of the country. Fine Gael is leaving future generations with the legacies of bad planning — lines of stationary traffic for...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I do not believe Fine Gael can be without guilt in this regard. Fine Gael should look at its own party members, particularly at its councillors, and see whether they are paragons of virtue with regard to proper planning.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: I am gravely concerned about rezoning practices that continue to this day.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: We must make changes to ensure that zoning is examined for sustainability.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: I believe change is needed in how political parties are funded and how changes are made in county development plans. A member of Fine Gael asked us if Fine Gael had accepted money from developers. The evidence is available in the Standards in Public Office Commission. The evidence is clear that Fine Gael has taken funding from people who have an interest in development. Money must be...

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: We need to examine how politics is funded. I have grave concerns at how members of Fine Gael were able to spend tens of thousands of euro on billboard campaigns prior to the general election being called, yet in the very narrow four week period of the campaign their funding reduced dramatically. That is not right.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: It is not good for the body politic——

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: ——and it is not good for correct decision-making. I have every hope that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, will, within the term of this Government, introduce changes——

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: ——that will try to reduce the possibility of temptation in that regard.

Tribunals of Inquiry: Motion (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Ciarán Cuffe: It is now eight and a half months into what I hope will be a five-year term of office for this Government. It is important that we deal with the weighty issues of the day such as health, education and proper planning. The obsessional sideshow with which Fine Gael is attempting to dominate proceedings this week is not good for politics or for putting the best interests of this country first.