Results 10,221-10,240 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There is no point coming into the House acting as the parliamentary version of the barber's cat. We know what components made up that creature.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: However, in the past few weeks I have expressed reservations and questions about how the tribunal is conducting its business, particularly in so far as it relates to the catch all, cradle to the grave trawl through the Taoiseach's personal finances. It remains my contention that the tribunal is acting outside its terms of reference in its inquiries into his financial affairs.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The tribunal was established in November 1997 under the Tribunals of Inquiries Act to inquire urgently "into definite matters of urgent public importance". I find it impossible to understand how it can regard and treat a general trawl in public into the Taoiseach's life as a definite matter of immediate public importance. I remind the House of the Supreme Court decision in Fitzwilton v....

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It is impossible to understand how any tribunal could have thought such an inquiry could be "a definite matter of urgent public importance", the supposed justification for a tribunal of inquiry.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It is significant that it was only after the Supreme Court decision that the Taoiseach became aware of the nature of his inclusion in the J2 list, even though his legal team had been persistently seeking details from the tribunal of the nature of the allegations being inquired into by it for a considerable period prior to that. I make these observations, not in an effort to disrupt or hinder...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government has been elected with a clear mandate to govern and build on the progress of the past ten years.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government will focus on the real issues facing the country.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: We will focus on and address the people's concerns and will not be deflected by the politics of personal vilification. Opposition Members can waste their time whispering in corners and peddling rumours and innuendo. They can waste all their resources and time in the House if they wish muttering and sniping. They spent the past ten years doing that and got their answer. If they keep at it,...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: This House has a job to do. Let us go back and do it.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It would have been a while before he finished.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is a spoofer of the highest order.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: They are just standing order transactions.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Those are lies. Total lies.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: To correct the record of the House, the person who said that Fianna Fáil does not do resignations is Deputy Kenny and I thank him for his support. Speaking on radio today Deputy Kenny advanced three reasons for proposing this motion. First, he stated baldly as an established fact that the Taoiseach did not co-operate with the tribunal, which is wrong.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Second, he claimed that the Taoiseach had received large sums of money — the new Fine Gael mantra, which is wrong.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Third, he stated that in his judgment the Taoiseach was not telling the truth. Really? There is no question of non-co-operation with the tribunal — there is no finding of non-co-operation. The tribunal has not accused the Taoiseach of not co-operating or even of delaying the tribunal. In fact the reverse is the case. That claim by Deputy Kenny is simply wrong and untruthful, and should...

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: As for Deputy Kenny's second point, the Taoiseach did not receive large sums from individuals. He received a number of relatively small sums from a number of individuals.

Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion (26 Sep 2007)

Willie O'Dea: He did not solicit that money and insisted on it being treated as a loan, which he repaid with interest. Third, it appears that because, in Deputy Kenny's judgment, the Taoiseach did not tell the truth, the proceedings of the tribunal in so far as they concern the Taoiseach should cease, the lawyers should be sent home and the evidence abandoned because the matter has been decided, QED.

Written Answers — Estate Management: Estate Management (5 Jul 2007)

Willie O'Dea: To date ninety two (92) of the houses at Orchard Park have been sold and work regarding the sales of the remaining eight (8) houses at the estate is ongoing. Kildare County Council has advised that all services, roads, footpaths, etc. at the estate will have to be brought up to the required standard before they can be taken in charge. The matter will be progressed as soon as possible in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Civil Defence Board, which is a State Authority under the aegis of the Department of Defence, has decentralised to Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. An advance party relocated from Dublin to Roscrea in 2004 and the full compliment of staff relocated to new premises in 2006. The number of staff in Roscrea is 25 which is the same as it was prior to the decentralisation of the Board from its...