Results 26,501-26,520 of 34,870 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: We will not fall out. The Minister has spoken about amendment No. 18, and other Deputies have highlighted other issues. The principle of it is good. I accept that if the Minister tried to get everything absolutely perfect we could be tying it down from here to infinity. The Minister is concerned that it might not fully work, and of course every piece of legislation is always subject to...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: -----although he is not actually saying so. This is what I am trying to establish.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: I got that impression. I wish to have a few points clarified. The Minister stated that some information is covered by freedom of information legislation and can be obtained in that way. This is limited, and commercial sensitivity probably excludes most of what we are speaking about. The Minister also stated that I do not appreciate the system he has put in place with regard to the...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: But under the system the Minister is establishing, which is on a voluntary basis, they will have to go through the other system anyway.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: Well, I think the Minister gets the point. All I am saying is that I would prefer if the new system being put in place was on a statutory footing rather than using the Minister's approach, which is based on guidelines, because guidelines are voluntary.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: Will I have another opportunity to speak?

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: -----but, because it has been grouped with amendments that were initially in my name earlier on in the legislative process, it has come in under the group. I must respond in the dark, not knowing precisely what the Minister will say. However, on the face of it, this looks like a good amendment. It captures a lot of what we spoke about at Committee Stage. Essentially, we spoke about...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: A very short second chance. Amendment No. 18 is in the name of the Minister. It is probably unusual that the Opposition is speaking on the Minister's amendment before the Minister gets to speak on it-----

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: I move amendment No. 2:In page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“(a) makes, manages or directs the making of any relevant communications to any member of Government in relation to appointments to State Boards,”.There are 19 amendments in this group, most of which are in my name and deal with what should be captured under the legislation. I will not be...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: This is a matter for Dáil reform, and perhaps the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will take it on board.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: It is unsatisfactory that I, as an Opposition spokesperson, will have mere seconds per amendment to respond to what the Minister is going to say. I think everyone will agree that is-----

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: In any event, I will deal with the amendments. I intend to dwell primarily on amendment No. 2, which suggests that the following be inserted into the Bill: "makes, manages or directs the making of any relevant communications to any member of Government in relation to appointments to State Boards". Any person who is involved in any such communications should be included under what will,...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: I beg the Minister's pardon.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: I hope the matter in question will form part of that review. I will now deal with the other 18 amendments in the group. The Minister provided a list of the people who, in the context of lobbying, will be contemplated under the legislation. These include Ministers of the Government and Ministers of State, Deputies and Senators, MEPs, members and CEOs of local authorities, special advisers...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: 587. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for kidney transplants; the number of transplants that were carried out here in 2014; the hospitals these transplants were carried out in; and the number in each hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49726/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Administration (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: 615. To ask the Minister for Health when an operation will be carried out in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1161/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Non-Principal Private Residence Charge Exemptions (14 Jan 2015)

Seán Fleming: 873. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a house owned by a company which is used periodically by its employees to stay in overnight while working on contracts away from home considered a second home and subject to the non-principal private residence tax, or where such a property is included as an asset of a limited company in its balance sheet, if it is...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Seán Fleming: I am opposing section 1. In the past 60 minutes the Minister of State has got the gist of what I want to say. As he rightly said, there is no new Government policy decision being announced today, there is no change of approach by the Government and there is nothing new in the legislation. All it does is give statutory effect to every expenditure choice the Government has made during the...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Seán Fleming: That is the response I expected, because the Minister is not capable of producing a breakdown. That is why he will not produce a report. It would not hold up the legislation, because I specifically asked for the report to the published following the passage of the Bill in due course. He would have time to do that, and it would not interfere with this legislation. The Minister of State is...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Seán Fleming: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following:“(3) The Minister shall, within 12 days of the passing of this Act, publish a report providing a breakdown of savings in 2014 arising from the Haddington Road agreement, on a vote by vote basis.”.For the record, I have submitted five substantial amendments on the appropriation accounts. I know we...