Results 2,021-2,040 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I assure the House and both Deputies that I have the height of regard for the Office of the Ombudsman and the work it does. I have no difficulty defending the Department and I also have no difficulty accepting that either I or the Department is wrong if that happens to be the case. In this instance, the Department has clearly stated that it was scrupulous in administering the scheme. Each...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: The advertising issue is a matter of opinion and, clearly, Deputy Sherlock and I take opposite views on it. I am not sure that people in any community necessarily read the advertisements in the daily newspapers, for example, which is another medium where advertisements might have been placed. It is highly unlikely. I certainly do not-----

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is also important to bear in mind that this information was made available to the fishing organisations and to the only cases that were on file in the Department. Interestingly, only one in eight of those cases actually qualified under the terms of the scheme.

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I appreciate that point but the argument cannot be brought to any conclusion because it is impossible to know where one would need to have put this information to ensure that everybody received it. However, had the Department been aware of 16 cases, as it clearly was, and had it not informed the people concerned that this scheme was in place, a case could be fairly made that information was...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: -----it will be possible to pay compensation on those criteria. It is not possible to do that.

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: On the question of taking legal advice on the issue, not only did I take it but it is outlined in the Ombudsman's report.

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is in the letter.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Ombudsman has submitted a special report, dealing with the Lost at Sea scheme, to the Dáil and Seanad in accordance with sections 6(5) and 6(7) of the Ombudsman Act 1980. The 1980 Act does not set out a procedure to be adopted by the Oireachtas in dealing with this matter. I am pleased to have the opportunity to make this statement to the House to set out my position on this matter. As...

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: On the contrary, successful applicants had to provide a replacement vessel from their own resources, and pay for its running costs, to be able to make use of the capacity awarded. In the case of the family in question, no replacement vessel had been purchased and no immediate family member had continued in fishing in the 20-year period between the accident and the inception of the scheme....

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: Among the points made by Deputy Creed was that the matter should be referred to the relevant Oireachtas committee for a thorough and detailed examination. It would be difficult if not impossible to undertake a more thorough and detailed examination than that of the Ombudsman. Deputy Creed may be surprised I agree with him on one point. In view of how this issue has been handled, there is a...

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: -----it is descending into a political football. It does not need to. I remind Deputy Creed that the legislation was introduced by a Fianna Fáil-led Government, contrary to what he said. He also made a reasonable point that in the previous case the hearing committee did not lead to the outcome sought by the Ombudsman. That is accurate, unlike much of what was said in the Chamber.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: The point is made that in this instance if the report is not complied with in full it undermines the Office of the Ombudsman. Why did that not happen in the previous instance? Deputy Creed also warned against selective quotations. The difficulty for all of us is that we have little time.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: I ask him to look at the rest of the appendices, particularly section F, with regard to what he quoted. He also referred to advertising and claims the former Minister muddied the waters. The former Minister holds a particular view. Deputy Creed must recognise that people are entitled to hold a view and it does not have to be the same view as that of others. I hold the view that the...

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: I did not interrupt Deputy Sherlock.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Creed also made the floodgates argument and suggested we should step out of the straitjacket. Is he sure that is the appropriate thing to do in these or other circumstances? I refer to the points made by Deputy Sherlock and the extraordinary attack with regard to what he claims was my attack on the motivation of the family. The motivation of the family is entirely irrelevant. I set...

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Sherlock made an extraordinary point, that I could have rejected this report in ten seconds. Deputy Sherlock is suggesting I do not have the right to say anything. If I said that he would have quickly suggested I was insulting House by refusing to explain further.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy went on to suggest I was questioning the motives of the family. I was explaining the context of the scheme and how it would seem to apply to the family. We must be careful not to ignore the imposition of a totalitarian, Trotskyite approach so that I do not have the right to hold an opinion or have the temerity to comment. We must be careful because this is a House of Parliament....

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: I will not tell Deputy Creed what he should think. However, it is open to be construed as derogatory. It is important to remind all Members that Ministers routinely meet constituents and officials all the time. Much of the time, Ministers meet officials about cases referred to them by colleagues in this House. Quite frequently these representations are from the Opposition benches. We must...

Seanad: Ombudsman Report on the Lost at Sea Scheme: Statements (18 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Ombudsman has submitted a special report to the Dáil and Seanad in accordance with section 6(5) and (7) of the Ombudsman Act 1980. The 1980 Act does not set out a procedure to be adopted by the Oireachtas in dealing with this matter. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to make this statement to the Seanad to set out my position on this matter. As I have stated on a number of...

Seanad: Ombudsman Report on the Lost at Sea Scheme: Statements (18 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: I thank all the Senators who participated in the debate for their views on this matter. I sometimes believe it is a lot easier to respond to a debate in the Dáil where debates tend to be extremely political and where it is possible to respond in almost entirely party-political terms. I frequently find in the Seanad, as I do today, that the contributions of Senators are very considered. In...