Results 9,501-9,520 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: On behalf of the Labour Party, I too oppose the Order of Business. The Order of Business proposed by the Minister for Finance is "politics as usual". However, householders and families were told by the newspapers this morning that another increase in mortgage interest rates is on the way. This is after several months in which one could not turn on a radio or open a newspaper without having...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Ceann Comhairle is trying to determine whether we are going to agree the Order of Business this morning.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: We are not debating it.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I am trying to clarify a matter. When Deputy Kenny and I asked the Minister for Finance to clarify the news this morning that mortgages interest rates are to increase the Minister replied stating that this applied only in respect of Permanent TSB and implied to us that it is an exception because Permanent TSB had not received any capital from the State.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Is the Minister for Finance telling mortgage holders in this country, other than those who have mortgages with Permanent TSB, that their mortgages will not increase? The expectation is that once Permanent TSB increases its interest rates the other institutions will follow suit.

Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The cost of mortgages is increasing, that is the bottom line.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I am greatly touched by the Tánaiste's vigorous defence of Fianna Fáil chairpersons, particularly after reading the newspaper reports of yesterday evening's Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting at which we had another phoney rebellion, this time on the issue of civil servants' pay.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: It reminds me of the New Testament quote, "A house divided against itself falls." This morning there was a good report by the education editor of the Irish Independent, John Walshe, which draws attention to the unfairness of the student grant scheme. For example, a bar manager may not qualify for a student grant because his income is PAYE while the bar owner may qualify, if he organises his...

Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: That is what he is doing.

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: On behalf of the Labour Party I wish to pay tribute to the late former Deputy, Billy Kenneally, to sympathise with his family on his passing, to sympathise with the Fianna Fáil Party on the loss of one of its great servants and especially to sympathise with our colleague, Deputy Brendan Kenneally. I did not have the privilege of knowing Billy Kenneally as he was here before my time, but...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I join the Tánaiste and Deputy Kenny in paying tribute to the late Pádraig MacKernan for his outstanding work as Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and his work as an ambassador and diplomat for this country over many years. I sympathise with his family and friends. Yesterday, we heard the stories of some of the low-paid public servants and about how they are trying to...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I have two questions for the Tánaiste on this. Does she think it is fair that Mary Duffy should take a cut of €77 in her pay while those in her Department who are paid six or seven times what she is paid should have a sweetheart arrangement made for them by the Government during the Christmas period? Also, will the Tánaiste answer the question she did not answer yesterday when I asked...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Tánaiste has not answered either of the questions I put to her. The first question I asked was: Is it fair that a low-paid worker like Mary Duffy should take a cut of €77 a week while senior people in her Department and other Departments had a special arrangement made for them by the Government after the legislation was passed? My second question is not unreasonable. Low-paid...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Yes, it did. The first person sent out to do so was former Minister of State Deputy John McGuinness. I recommend to Members that they read again some of the very abusive terms he used to describe people who try to do a decent day's work every day and who are certainly not valued. The Government did this and did so at arm's length and by way of the various spinning mechanisms it has...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: One of the people who is unemployed and who has lost her job is Ms Mary Duffy's husband. People who work in the public sector and who have taken a cut in their pay do not live on a different planet from those who work in the private sector who are losing their jobs and whose businesses are going to the wall.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Will the Tánaiste give a straight answer to the question of whether it is fair that Ms Mary Duffy must accept a pay cut of €77 per week while higher-paid civil servants get a sweetheart deal from the Government? What is the Tánaiste's answer for Ms Duffy? Is her pay to be cut again?

Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government gave it to the banks.

Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 164: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the investment schemes for conversion of poultry house, pig welfare, dairy hygiene and sheep fencing will be introduced. [3862/10]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 185: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has a co-ordinating role with the Department of Social and Family Affairs regarding family income supplement. [3863/10]

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 119: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the commitment to the biofuels directive; the further position regarding the European led sustainability criteria that was to be finalised in December 2009; the role his Department had in finalising such a criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3417/10]