Results 10,341-10,360 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: ——want to know that a person in authority cannot coerce a young girl to have sex in the manner that has been described in this particular case. Parents want to know that a person in authority cannot coerce a young girl in those circumstances and that it is not illegal. That is the position and we need clarity on it.

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: That is not the point we are making. The Tánaiste is twisting it.

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether the carbon emissions system will significantly impact on the future price levels of electricity; his further views on proposals to restructure the electricity market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20633/06]

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 456: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the decision of Pobal to advise the board of the area partnerships of additional allocations which will be made from existing resources to help offset the cost of benchmarking adjustments for 2006 (details supplied), similar arrangements will be applied in the case of the Clondalkin drugs task force;...

Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Given that the Cabinet was unable to agree this morning and there are no heads of a Bill prepared, will the House sit next week on the matter which has arisen as a result of the Supreme Court case?

Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: In time honoured tradition I am entitled, on the basis of convention, to ask if the House is scheduled to sit next week.

Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Why does the Ceann Comhairle not allow the Taoiseach to answer for himself for a change? As he is aware, the decision on whether the House sits is a matter for the Government and he should not engage in games as though it is for the House to decide.

Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It is a matter for the Government. Whether we sit or not is decided by the Government, not by the House.

Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Let us not play games. I am merely asking the Taoiseach, having regard to the gravity of the situation that has arisen concerning the protection of our children, whether it is proposed by the Government that we sit next week.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Taoiseach misunderstands that parents are not interested in a dissertation on criminal law or the contents of the 1990 Law Reform Commission report. They want to know if their children will be safe this weekend. It is not right to give us a lecture either on the separation of powers between the Supreme Court and this House. The Attorney General does not defend a constitutional action...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: This Bill would seek to reinstate the status quo while the broader debate the Minister has opened about the age of consent and the substantive issue could continue but in the interim, the loophole needs to be closed off. This Bill provides for that situation. It allows for the defence of honest mistake but other than that, it reinforces the one section that is now gone and three further...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: There ought not to be but when the case was stated the Government knew what might have happened and it took no steps to provide for that situation. We are left in the circumstances now where there is a gaping loophole in the law that threatens the protection of our children from predators starting immediately and all the Taoiseach can say is that he is looking at it. He will fly to America...

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I told the Taoiseach last week that in my view if an offence is deemed unconstitutional, the trial and conviction are invalid as is the subsequent imprisonment. The Taoiseach said that nobody would walk free as a result of the Supreme Court judgment. This is the same Taoiseach who asks me now to be assured that other aspects of the criminal law will protect our children from this weekend on....

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: What is the next step in this process? There should be no slithering, sliding or the Taoiseach stating he will be back in 64 hours and we can meet at the weekend. Will this House be in session next week? Why is it that if my colleagues can draft legislation, it cannot be done in the parliamentary counsel's office on the instructions of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform?

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: How can the Taoiseach explain why this house is not sitting next week? It is a disgrace. It ought to sit. In circumstances where we are confronted with this kind of crisis, to think that this House can be shut down so that the Government can escape accountability is a profound and fundamental mistake.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: There is no point in trying to confuse the issue about the seven prisoners. I know the position of the six remaining prisoners.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I would be more interested if the Taoiseach told me if it was the intention of the DPP to charge them again under the other legislation he is talking about. I know the position — that, unfortunately, has happened and is in the past. They are the historical cases.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I want to know about the future. Can the Taoiseach give an assurance to parents that from this weekend their children are safe? That is the issue. All the Taoiseach is saying is that we will have a wide-ranging debate about the age of consent, equality of gender etc. That is an interesting debate that we should have in the future. In the interim we need this loophole shut off.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I am offering one way of doing this. If the Minister believes he has superior advice to bring to bear, let him bring it.

Leaders' Questions. (30 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: This House should sit until we enact interim legislation that protects our children until we have the wider debate.