Results 13,021-13,040 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I did not take down the Taoiseach's reply verbatim, but I do not imagine it to be very different from his reply on 26 September, which I have before me. In that reply, he stated: The communications unit works an 18 hour day based on a flexible rota of three working shifts. The unit is staffed by six established civil servants, five of whom are seconded from other Departments. According to...

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: The unit tots up the number of times Professor Crown or any other critic of the Government appears on radio and sends the information to the Departments so that the political apparatchiks who do not want to see the critics anymore can say that to the news editors.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: They are doing what they are told to do by the Taoiseach.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: It is not an attack on civil servants. The Taoiseach is abusing the Civil Service.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach is politicising the Civil Service.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: There was no slur. This is nonsense.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I made no slur.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I am not wrong.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I will answer now. I do not need to think about it.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach is not the Ceann Comhairle.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach is politicising the Civil Service. He is using the Civil Service to do his dirty work.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: When things go wrong, he will blame the Civil Service.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I cast no slur on the Civil Service. I never have and I have always respected the independence of the Civil Service. We are very well served by an independent Civil Service. However, the Taoiseach and the Government is abusing the Civil Service.

Departmental Bodies. (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: The use of this communications unit for the assembling of information which is then used in a political way is an abuse of the Civil Service. I stand over that.

Order of Business (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not oppose the proposal but is the Taoiseach satisfied that the Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007 and the motion on the despatch of Defence Forces personnel represent sufficient business on the Order Paper to necessitate the House sitting later than 8.30 p.m.?

Order of Business (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I appreciate the Ceann Comhairle's indulgence because everyone in the House is proud of our Defence Forces, our missions abroad and the courageous work that will be done in Chad. We also recognise that this is a potentially dangerous mission and I ask that the Taoiseach or Minister for Defence tell the House in the course of the debate the arrangements being made to ensure troops have the...

Order of Business (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: There have been reports in the media that the Taoiseach indicated the referendum on the EU reform treaty and the referendum on children might be held on the same day. If that is the case, when is it anticipated that the committee on the children's referendum will report? Is it the Taoiseach's intention to indicate a date for the referendum on the EU reform treaty to the Heads of State he...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: On 17 September, the Health Service Executive announced new reimbursement arrangements for community pharmacists under the GMS and community drugs schemes. These new pricing arrangements are due to come into effect next Saturday, 1 December. In response, pharmacists have threatened to withdraw from dispensing medicines under the GMS scheme. If that goes ahead next Saturday, medical card...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: I welcome the fact that the HSE has deferred the 1 December deadline. That will be a great relief for many medical card holders, pensioners and others who have been concerned about their access to prescription medicines. There was a great deal of worry about it. I hope the process under way will result in a new agreement on pricing arrangements which will avoid problems arising in the...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2007)

Eamon Gilmore: It was devised to get around the problem of the Competition Act. I welcome the fact that the immediate threat of problems with prescriptions for medical card holders on 1 December has been lifted, at least for the time being. However, the core problem with the Competition Act needs to be addressed. I ask the Taoiseach again to consider seriously the Bill tabled by the Labour Party.