Results 1-20 of 8,747 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Road Traffic Bill 2011: Second Stage (23 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Along with other Members, I take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him well in his term of office. I will make several general points on road safety before addressing the Road Traffic Bill 2011. I come from Donegal and as Deputy McConalogue mentioned earlier, we have seen the devastation caused by fatal accidents on our roads. In recent years a number...

Written Answers — Primary Schools: Primary Schools (29 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 110: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is including schools of a Protestant ethos in his review of small schools, given there are large distances between schools of a Protestant ethos in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5980/11]

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (29 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 142: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will make representations to the relevant United Kingdom authorities to ensure that persons living in Border areas can avail of free-to-air digital television pictures when the digital changeover is complete in the Six Counties and continue the availability of a service they have had up to now by virtue...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 190: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payments will be made to farmers in Donegal South-West who have signed contracts as long ago as November 2010 with his Department under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5979/11]

Written Answers — General Practitioner Services: General Practitioner Services (29 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 242: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will provide a breakdown of the costs that general practitioners meet out of their general medical services payments, relating to staff, accommodation and so on, received from the Health Service Executive. [5982/11]

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Yesterday in the House, the Taoiseach said that Deputy Lowry and the Moriarty tribunal report represented a culture typified by arrogant, mercenary and immoral politics that almost ruined our reputation. I believe the report represents one of the last shovels of dirt on the grave of our reputation, rather than a proverbial nail in the coffin. The Moriarty tribunal report states that Deputy...

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: In light of the Taoiseach's contribution yesterday at the opening of the debate and in light of his desire to have fully open and transparent politics in operation in the House, I ask him to put on the record of the House any deal done with the three Independent Deputies, namely, Deputies Lowry, Healy-Rae and Grealish, who supported his election as Taoiseach in recent weeks. Will he outline...

Moriarty Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Was there access to Ministers?

Universal Service Charge: Motion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: It is widely accepted in civil society that the USC is an unequal and regressive tax targeted at low- and middle-income earners. The Labour Party recognised this when it called for a review of the tax in the past. To see a tax introduced that disproportionately affects workers on low and middle incomes and then, when in Government, to support its continued collection is an affront to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 77: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if a company (details supplied) received any grant aid from any State employment agencies for the construction of any of its two Dublin based production facilities based in locations including the value and date of the funding offers. [6093/11]

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (30 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 94: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the process that will be used to implement the introduction of the new water taxes; the estimated cost of same nationally; if it will be on an individual metered basis; the way the installation of meters will be managed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6091/11]

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (30 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there will be a waiver system in place for persons on low incomes and social welfare on the introduction of the new water tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6092/11]

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (31 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: The Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill provides for the final liberalisation of the Irish postal market. This in effect means the privatisation of the market. Liberalisation is euro speak for privatisation. Members will remember the sell-off of Eircom that took place a number of years ago, where ordinary Irish people were conned into buying shares, believing in the...

Banks Recapitalisation and Restructuring: Statements (31 Mar 2011)

Thomas Pringle: The Minister, Deputy Noonan, said that 30 September 2008 was the blackest day in our country's history since the Civil War. Unfortunately, there have been many days since then to compete with it, and today will probably go down as one of those days. It was with a sense of déjÀ vu that I listened to his contribution. I see now that Fine Gael and the Labour Party have morphed into Fianna...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (5 Apr 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make contact with the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond as a matter of urgency regarding the continuing problem of anti-Irish racism in Scotland to ascertain the steps the Scottish executive are taking to counteract this on going problem. [6703/11]

Social and Affordable Housing (6 Apr 2011)

Thomas Pringle: Question 8: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Heritage and Local Government if he will raise the income limits for housing applicants contained in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 where Donegal County Council will not accept applications from single applicants on to the housing list on incomes over €20,000 per annum and €24,000 per annum for households over more...

Social and Affordable Housing (6 Apr 2011)

Thomas Pringle: I join in the congratulations offered to the Minister and Ministers of State on their appointments. It definitely appears as though the Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, is carrying all the weight today in the Chamber. I welcome the increase in the income limits that was introduced last week and I had submitted this question just before I learned of them. However, placing such income...

Social and Affordable Housing (6 Apr 2011)

Thomas Pringle: I hope the increases announced last week will improve this situation. Certainly however, the view of Donegal County Council was that a large number of people on the housing list would be affected. Members will monitor its implementation in the coming months to ensure this is not the case.

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome the Minister of State's indication that there is no intention to privatise Irish water when the new utility company is established. I say this as somebody who worked in water services until 25 February this year. Does the Minister of State have any intention of reversing the privatisation that has already taken place within water services? In Donegal there is Veolia Water, Severn...

Bank Reorganisation: Statements (Resumed) (6 Apr 2011)

Thomas Pringle: The Minister's restructuring plan and the provision of an additional €24 billion in capitalisation for the banks are intended to solve the problems of our banking sector once and for all. The plan includes a deleveraging of €57 billion of assets in the next three years which, with the addition of €24 billion in capital from the State, is designed to free up credit of some €12 billion...