Results 1,001-1,020 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: His record compares very favourably with some of his predecessors who had that portfolio as a sole responsibility, with the exception, of course, of the Ceann Comhairle who had an outstanding record as Minister for Defence, which I recall very well. As the Deputy said, the proposed legislative measures in the defence area are mainly due in 2015.

Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There is no long fingering. A date is indicated for them and the Deputy knows quite well that the progressing of legislation is done over a period of time. I am sure the Minister will be happy to answer any specific questions about his plans for those legislative measures.

Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: With regard to the commencement of the Charities Act, the Minister, Deputy Shatter, on 19 December last, wrote to Deputies who have been raising this issue and set out his intentions in that regard. The Legal Services Regulation Bill was before the committee yesterday and I understand it is scheduled to be discussed again in a couple of weeks. The mediation Bill will be published later this...

Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: That is something to pursue with the Minister.

Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: A horseracing Bill is due to be published later in the session, but obviously that issue does not come under that Bill. The Animal Health and Welfare Act was enacted earlier this year, so it is probably a case of the application of the law by the relevant authorities.

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The allocation for these grant schemes in 2014 has been increased. The allocation in 2013 was €34.2 million. The allocation for 2014 is €38.4 million, which has been reflected in the allocations made to individual local authorities in recent days. The Deputy is right in that, in many cases, applications for these grants took a long time to process. For this reason, when...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Every local authority will receive additional funding this year. Expenditure will be closely monitored. Any saving arising will be re-allocated to areas where the need is greatest. There have been no changes to the mobility aids grant in terms of its maximum amount, which is €6,000, or the means testing for same. The maximum grant to cover 100% of the cost of works will be...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: In terms of the housing adaptation grant for people with disabilities and the housing aid for older people, the amount of income over which these are payable has been reduced from €65,000 to €60,000. While the age limit for eligibility for housing aid for older people has increased from 60 years to 66 years in line with the majority of supports for older people, a lower age...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There is no cut to the maximum amount that is paid for people with disabilities or mobility-----

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The amount of money that is being provided this year for these grants is an increase - it is not a reduction - on what was provided last year.

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, has made it clear that in addition to the money provided for last year, she was able to find savings in grants that were not paid, which she then invested in these schemes last year. She has made it clear that if she is able to find additional savings this year, she will provide further money later in the year. Let us be clear about this. As...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: No matter how one twists and spins the story-----

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: -----more money represents an increase and more grants represents more people with these issues being addressed. The Minister of State was right to introduce changes to the operation of these schemes so that, first, they could be targeted at those most in need of them and, second, the inordinately long waiting times for these grants that many applicants needed to endure because of the...

Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 22a, statements re the recent severe storm damage; and No. 5, Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 - Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the proceedings on No. 22ashall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4.42 p.m. and the following arrangements shall apply: the statement of a Minister or...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There is a clear Government decision that reduced the pay of chief executives of commercial semi-State companies and ensured that no bonuses would be paid to them. Deputy Martin spoke about hypocrisy. He of all people is in no position to come in here and talk about spending in any State agencies. He commissioned 145 consultancy reports when he was Minister for Health at a cost of...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Meanwhile, his Government presided over a neglect of water services in this country to the point where people in Galway could not drink the water because it was contaminated. It brushed it under the carpet. For the money it wasted on consultants' reports, it would have established Irish Water three times over.

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: I recall the flooding that happened at Letterkenny General Hospital. First of all, I agree with Deputy Mac Lochlainn about the heroic work by the staff at the hospital. They have worked in very difficult circumstances and deliver a very fine service to the people of the catchment area. I had the privilege of visiting Letterkenny General Hospital some time ago and seeing that work for...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: Obviously, I do not know the particular circumstances of the case raised by the Deputy but I will make inquiries about that because everybody in the country is entitled to good quality attention and service when they attend a hospital. I know that hospital staff in Letterkenny and other hospitals are extremely attentive to patients when they present and do an outstanding job. The public...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: There are quite a number of things I have to correct in Deputy Martin's statement. First, Irish Water is being established to modernise the way in which the water services of this country are delivered into the future. I said, and the Labour Party has said for quite some time, that the delivery of water in this country needed to be done on a national basis. Nobody, for example, would now...

Leaders' Questions (16 Jan 2014)

Eamon Gilmore: It needs to be done on a national basis, which is why Irish Water was established. There are establishment costs associated with Irish Water, and they run to about 1% of the total cost of water service delivery over the next decade. The amounts of money are very large - of course they are. That is why it is essential there is value for money for any money that is spent in the establishment...