Results 20,261-20,280 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy’s question the following table outlines the Bills initiated in my Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas: Bills initiated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Number Name Purpose Subject to Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Reason why no Pre-Legislative Scrutiny took place No. 39 of 2012 Statute...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: In response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines all Department and Public Expenditure Bills enacted since September 2013, including those published but not yet enacted: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Bills enacted since September 2013 Name Enacted Purpose Appropriation Act 2013 20/12/2013 (No. 43 of 2013) To appropriate to the proper supply services and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 225, inclusive, together. Responding to this PQ I will also deal with PQs 1862/15 and 1876/15 as the questions are related. My Department was established in July 2011 and I can confirm that we have not had any secondments out or into the Department involving private firms. Circular 03/2013, "Staff Exchange Scheme between the Civil Service...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 21:In page 7, to delete lines 20 and 21 and substitute the following:“(d) communications requesting factual information or providing factual information in response to a request for the information;”.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: I again thank the Deputy for her amendments and her persistence in this regard. Amendment No. 22 proposes to remove the exemption that would protect from disclosure information which would pose a threat to the safety of any person. Amendment No. 23 proposes to remove the exemption that would protect from disclosure information which could pose a threat to the security of the State. I...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It has to be practical.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: We discussed this on Committee Stage. This is the first time we have had this type of legislation. We talked about it for a very long time. I championed it in opposition. I am anxious, having had very detailed discussions with everybody who was concerned about this, to make sure it works. The key issue is what kind of communication we are talking about. We are talking about lobbying,...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: A local authority is a not-for-profit organisation. Any policy made by a local authority is democratically put before the members.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: It is a democratic-----

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: No.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That is not what I said.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That is not what I said at all.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That would come under freedom of information legislation.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Lobbying has a distinct meaning under the Bill.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: No. Do not twist my words.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: CIE is not a public body and would not be exempt, which means that example would fall. I will return to the principle in any event. We are discussing lobbying, and not every type of communication made within a body is relevant, such as when a principal officer speaks to an assistant principal or the Secretary General of a Department speaks at the weekly management advisory committee...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: That would be captured by the baldness of the amendment.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: The amendment is much broader.

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: At present, section 5(4)(m) provides an exemption for certain communications between a body and a Minister who holds a share or who has a statutory function with regard to the body. The exemption is intended to cover governance matters made within the ordinary course of business of a commercial semi-state body. Commercial semi-state bodies are of strategic importance, and we have spoken...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Jan 2015)

Brendan Howlin: Yes.