Results 9,801-9,820 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Order of Business (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Last week, without precedent, the business of the House collapsed for a third time in the course of this term. It diminished the Dáil's standing and relevance, and I am not sure that everyone abroad understands that the Government rather than the Opposition sets the business. We have not yet received an explanation from the Government of why the Bill listed was pulled, which was most...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: What a sad life.

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not know whether this is a normal parliamentary exchange with our colleagues from Scotland or whether they want to examine our proposed electronic voting system.

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: This system cost us €52 million. We could not use it because it was not reliable and it costs us almost €1 million a year to store it in various centres around the country. I will ask the Taoiseach about remarks made at the weekend by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, reported in a newspaper as follows: "Roche plans to press ahead with...

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: What about the report from Sweden?

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: If the machines are as good as the Taoiseach says, why are we not using them in the election? Is that not the net point? What is the point in telling us that the software does not work?

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It is like saying the chassis of a car is in perfect condition but the engine does not work.

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I had forgotten the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen. Let us hear what he said.

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: This is a direct quote from Deputy Cullen: "The system Ireland has used successively and will use next year is the most secure electronic system that exists in the world".

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Cullen continued "At all stages all aspects of electronic voting have been tested and re-tested by independent——

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: ——experts. My Department has engaged six independent consultancies [I believe that bit as well] to verify electronic voting. Labour has engaged two branch secretaries."

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: That is what the Minister said. The point was that the truth of the report commissioned from two branch secretaries by the Labour Party has been borne out in all respects. Although this Minister was warned by among others, independent experts outside the House, he, like his predecessor, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, insisted on ploughing...

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The current Minister, Deputy Roche, completes the line-up of The Three Stooges. Has this Cabinet sub-committee reported? If not why is Deputy Roche speaking on television and issuing press releases to the effect it has been decided to use this system but not in the general election? Is the implication that it is alright to use it in the European election but not in a general election? The...

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I supported a system that would work.

Official Engagements. (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: First, I note that at the EU summit there is to be a dinner discussion with President Putin about EU relations with Russia. Does the Taoiseach intend to raise freedom of speech and human rights in Russia following the murder of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya? She is the 20th journalist critical of the regime — in her case regarding events in Chechnya — to have been murdered in...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Does the Government intend to extend this initiative, which the Taoiseach thinks has produced results in the Civil Service, into other areas of the public service? The Taoiseach's remarks about staff in the health service caused much grief to many members of staff although they may have misunderstood or misinterpreted him. Many staff, such as nurses, were upset by remarks that might be...

Official Engagements. (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach his plans for official trips abroad up to the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28241/06]

Official Engagements. (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach his priorities for the next EU summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28247/06]

Official Engagements. (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his participation in the recent EU-ASEM summit in Finland. [28890/06]

Official Engagements. (17 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach if he has received an agenda for the forthcoming EU summit in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28891/06]