Results 41-60 of 1,687 for speaker:Billy Timmins in 'Dáil debates'

Gender Recognition Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2015)

Billy Timmins: The herd left a long time ago.

Gender Recognition Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Mar 2015)

Billy Timmins: I welcome this Bill, which was prepared as a result of the campaign by Dr. Lydia Foy and others. Dr. Foy has been seeking a new birth certificate in her preferred gender for the past 21 years. The Bill provides for the formal legal recognition of a transgender person's preferred gender through the grant of a gender recognition certificate when the applicant has satisfied certain criteria....

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Billy Timmins: I thank Deputy Naughten for giving me three minutes of his time. Having sat in this House listening to him, I am sure he could have spoken for another three hours, let alone three minutes. This brings me to the kernel of the point I wish to make on this legislation. I was not going to speak until tomorrow but, due to work pressures, I may not be able to do so then. Normally when people...

Topical Issue Debate: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (28 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: To reiterate, the tribunal involved 17 years, 428 witnesses and, as outlined by the Minister, €159 million. It destroyed many reputations, rightly or wrongly. It brought down a Taoiseach. Yet, we do know not know its outcome. Where does accountability lie in this squalid affair? It is as if it operated in a parallel universe for which we in the House had no responsibility. ...

Topical Issue Debate: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (28 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this topic. Sometimes something so surreal or bizarre happens that it seems to pass us by and this is one of those topics. The Flood-Mahon tribunal was established in late 1997, initially chaired by Mr. Justice Fergus Flood until 2003 and then chaired by Mr. Justice Alan Mahon who completed its hearings and produced a final report in 2012....

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: How many more speakers are there in addition to the Minister of State and the proposer of the motion?

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: I have approximately five minutes.

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: The issues surrounding this proposed Private Members' Bill have been well enunciated by Deputy Mathews and I congratulate him on bringing it forward. I am disappointed the Government does not appear to be willing to accept the legislation. It would not have been earth-shattering and would not have changed the political system, but it would have benefited our parliamentary democracy and...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: -----but I do not believe in the Whip system for issues of conscience. I believe in it from the point of view of the allocation of resources and broad policy issues, for which one must have a Whip system. When I sat on the Government side of the House I voted for many policies and much legislation for which I did not like voting; who in his or her right mind would like to cut a respite...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: The Whip is being painted as the big bad ogre, and people wonder what is the point of voting for a Deputy because he or she goes in like a sheep and follows the party Whip. Deputy Ó Snodaigh is the Sinn Féin Whip and I do not believe he is a bad individual who will bring forward draconian legislation and proposals. I am not so sure about the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe.

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: I am not sure about him.

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Billy Timmins: I am doing so, very tightly. Trying to depict the Whip as a big bad ogre is not correct. Whips generally try to do the best they can. A pet hate of mine is hearing commentators state it suits politicians to have a Whip because it protects them from big business and protects them in their constituencies. A politician who needs the protection of the Whip should not be in politics. If one...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: This section has been developed because of one of the fault lines in the creation of Irish Water, that it cannot meet its projected costs. I am concerned that the proposal may have unintended consequences and wish to raise two issues on foot of the Minister's contribution. We have a banking inquiry that is ongoing, part of the reason for which is that in the past consultants and various...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: I am sorry, but I was unable to be present last night. The Minister need not respond on that issue. I will pick it up in the transcript afterwards.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: It reminds me of Shakespeare's words, "the loud and vacant laugh that spoke the vacant mind."

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: Do not take it too seriously. Historically, when a Government laughs at and slags off Opposition Members, it is generally in the dying days of an Administration.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: One of the great weaknesses of this Government has been the appointments to State boards. The section would allow the Minister to appoint up to 60 people in this respect. I suspect also-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: -----that if we had not had McNulty affair, the book written by John Walsh, the former adviser to the Minister for Education and Skills, would have articulated a view on the way people have been appointed to State boards. This could give rise to tremendous abuse. I see no worthwhile purpose in having a group that potentially could have a membership of 60 people who could meet every day of...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: This section represents what is probably one of the greater weaknesses with the legislation. In recent years we were obliged to listen to much talk about the abolition of the Seanad. In practice and theory, the section under discussion could be used to establish a forum with up to 60 members serving on it. They could possibly meet three days a week if they wished. There is nothing in the...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2014)

Billy Timmins: I am opposed to this amendment not because of the amendment per sebut because it extends a concept which is flawed and a sign of weakness. I will elaborate on that to a greater extent when the section is debated. Surely the forum for Irish Water should be in this House. This Government promised us-----