Results 11,181-11,200 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

The Economy: Statements (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Our competitiveness was badly eroded during the property boom and the problem has been made worse by the fall in the value of sterling. It is a source of deep concern, therefore, to read reports that the Government is contemplating cuts in capital spending. Ireland has serious infrastructural deficits that must be remedied. Looking back on the past decade, it is unbelievable that the...

The Economy: Statements (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: However, this is a simulated devaluation that places the burden on only one section of society. We are told that workers should take a pay cut. If they do, will the fees charged for a doctor's visit also fall, or their health insurance bills? Will other interests in our society take a similar hit? I have no doubt that we will see lengthy talks going on in Government Buildings in the coming...

The Economy: Statements (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: If it does, and we are both sent anywhere in retribution, Acting Chairman, we will share a cell.

The Economy: Statements (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: I repeat that the way to deal with the public finance crisis is to get the economy moving again. That is not to suggest we can ignore the state of the public finances because we cannot. What matters now is not the deficit this year or in any one year. What matters is whether we have a credible plan to address the problem over a period of years. We must send a signal that we are serious...

The Economy: Statements (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Let us be honest about it, let us be up-front with people and let us call a tax a tax. The Government will do anything to avoid using the word "tax". It has levies, user charges and contributions, all of which are taxes by another name. It is clear there is a requirement to broaden the tax base. The wide range of reliefs and exemptions that grew up in the last ten years must now be...

The Economy: Statements (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: The world around us is changing very rapidly. Our current difficulties owe a lot to mistakes made by Government and to its lack of urgency in addressing the crisis. However, we must also realise that we are witnessing a major crisis in the structure of globalised capitalism. There is no certainty that we will return to the system as it existed before the credit crunch and the collapse of...

Physical Education Facilities. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 101: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the steps his Department has taken towards meeting the commitment contained in the programme for Government to promote sport in schools; the work his Department has facilitated with the Department of Education and Science; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2270/09]

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: I asked the Taoiseach yesterday whether he could tell the House what the total was, between social welfare payments and secondary benefits——

The Economy: Statements (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Is that it?

Criminal Prosecutions. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if it is intended that the reduction of 3% in payroll costs will apply to the Offices of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Chief State Solicitor; the number of jobs that are expected to be cut as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32375/08]

Criminal Prosecutions. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the Director of Public Prosecutions that the imposition of cutbacks on his office may limit its capacity to prosecute cases, particularly in the District Court; the steps he is taking to ensure that the DPP has sufficient staff and resources to discharge his duties; and if he will make a statement...

Criminal Prosecutions. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for his courtesy. I do not wish to get into the area of "who said what" but it is on record that the Director of Public Prosecutions signalled that the 3% cut will create difficulties for him in terms of staffing and that there is a possibility he may have to ask gardaí to take cases that otherwise would be taken by his office. Can the Taoiseach assure the House...

Criminal Prosecutions. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: The difficulty lies in that reply. The problem is that the 3%-3.5% cut across the board is a very crude instrument. Whatever one might think of the measure, if it results — and it has been signalled to us in this instance that it will result — in the DPP having to ask the Garda to pursue cases in the District Court, that is not a good use of public resources. It will mean that gardaí...

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the priorities for his Department in regard to its Estimate for 2009. [32380/08]

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he expects to publish a Revised Estimate for his Department for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1003/09]

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Does the Taoiseach expect to amend the Estimate for his Department shortly? By what amount does he anticipate the Estimate will be amended? With regard to the provision for the payment of staff, which I understand is in the order of €14 million——

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: There is approximately €14 million allocated for staff costs in the Department's Estimate. How much of that is in respect of the staff of the private and constituency offices of the Taoiseach and the Ministers of State attached to his Department? With regard to the provision in the Estimate for the Moriarty tribunal, we are told the tribunal is to hold a renewed round of public hearings....

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: Those three replies can be reduced as follows: the Taoiseach does not know the answer to one question, he will not provide the answer to the second question and he has not properly heard the third question. I wish to concentrate on the third question, because I find the matter somewhat strange. I recall the Taoiseach told us on a previous occasion, when I put questions concerning the...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: What we are about to undertake, or what the Taoiseach proposes we undertake, today and tomorrow is one of the greatest abuses of the Dáil we have seen in recent times. However, it is not just an abuse of the Dáil and not just an insult to the Members of the House who have been elected. It is also, I believe, an even bigger insult to the public. For the past six or seven weeks we have been...

Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Gilmore: ——and nobody prepared to say anything to anybody or utter anything in front of a microphone. Great discussion, great consideration, great deliberation is being done by Government about the financial affairs of the State and now that we come to this point where we will debate it in the Dáil there are no proposals from the Government, no announcement of what decisions have been made, and...