Results 2,341-2,360 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am advised by the Military authorities that the investigation into the matters referred to is continuing. In these circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matters until this investigation has been concluded.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I would refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question number 28567/10 of Wednesday, 30 June 2010 in which I said that the information sought by the Deputy refers to contracts that were in place up to almost 70 years ago. In the short space of time available for answer, it has not been possible to establish the extent to which the records still exist and, if so, to locate them. However, the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Within the context of consolidating the public finances, the Government is focused firmly on maintaining the operational efficiency of the Permanent Defence Force. Government approval was secured in the context of Budget 2010 for a level of 10,000 all ranks. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: There are no plans at present to proceed with the legislation in question, the primary focus of which was to set up a separate statutory authority to manage the Curragh lands. A separate statutory authority would give rise to additional costs in terms of staff and accommodation, which cannot be justified in the current economic climate. I have recently met with the Kildare Archaeological...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The entire area of the Curragh is classified as a Recorded monument under Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1994. There are an estimated 150 monuments within the overall Curragh complex some of which are within the area of the Curragh under the responsibility of the Department of Defence. In addition there are a number of other monuments, such as those in Donnelly's...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Discussions are ongoing with Kildare County Council to facilitate the works required for the take over of the estate. When Kildare County Council takes the estate in charge, the Department will no longer be responsible for roads, public lighting, sewerage or refuse disposal services. To date ninety four (94) houses in the estate have been sold. The Department is actively pursuing the...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: In 2009 and to date in 2010, no printing jobs were assigned to companies abroad by the Department of Defence.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Under the Bill, responsibility for providing consumers with financial information and education will be transferred to the National Consumer Agency, along with the associated staff. The Government has decided the agency is best fitted to support consumers of financial services and products by providing information and education in line with the agency's overall responsibilities for...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Members will remember that the Bill was amended on Report Stage in the Dáil by way of the acceptance of a Fine Gael amendment along these lines to provide that regulations made by the bank relating to fitness and probity would be laid before the Oireachtas. This referred to in section 26(6). However, the Minister also advised on Committee Stage in the Dáil that it was important for the...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: This is an element that has been debated previously. It is my understanding that the section prohibits regulated financial service providers from permitting a person to perform a controlled function, unless a financial service provider is satisfied that the person concerned complies with any published standards of fitness and probity and has agreed to abide by such standards. The Central...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The bank may publish a code of standards of fitness and probity using the powers given to it in section 50. It is my understanding that it would be in a position to prevent such a circumvention of the provisions under section 50 and de facto under section 22. In reality, such a list could not be exhaustive in terms of including every possible function that might be performed by persons in...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: To return to the point made on section 50, I had a quick look at the provision while the Senator was speaking and it seems to be open in encompassing anybody who might have a function about which the bank might have a concern in regard to his or her duties and responsibilities. Even section 22(4)(a) seems clear. It reads: "in the case of a regulated financial service provider that is a body...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: In a sense this is a philosophical question on how one would view the role of the Central Bank and the regulator in these matters as opposed to the political system, with the Minister on the one hand or an Oireachtas committee on the other. If one were to take the view that one would charge the Central Bank and the regulator with particular responsibilities, among them setting out their code...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I heard a good deal of the Second Stage debate and the points made by Members on the role and functions of credit unions, as was the case in the other House. As everyone is aware, credit unions fall within the definition of financial service providers which is set out in the Bill. The Minister for Finance believes that the issue is covered and that relevant knowledge of credit union affairs...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: Amendment No. 15 is already covered by section 24B(4) on page 53. It was accepted by the Minister for Finance in response to an amendment tabled by Fine Gael on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: In respect of amendments Nos. 17 and 22, the Minister for Finance has asked officials in his Department to undertake a process of consultation with the Central Bank, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and representatives of the financial services industry with a view to examining how a move to 100% funding of the regulation of financial services by the industry might come about. In...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: The issues raised by amendment No. 18 ought to be viewed together with the provisions of section 32B(3)(d), which requires the Central Bank to specify the targets and criteria for assessing its performance in strategic planning. This will, in turn, inform the regulatory performance plan and provide for the assessment of regulatory performance against relevant international benchmarks. The...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: At approximately this time last year a report was published suggesting that there were approximately 850 State agencies, boards and groups of one kind or another. Three weeks ago Dr. Muiris MacCarthaigh of the IPA published a report stating that there are 240, of which 189 have boards, with memberships ranging from three to, I believe, 35, which is an average of approximately ten or 12....

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is important to bear in mind that the wording of section 35 differs dramatically from that in the Bill as published originally. I took the Bill on Report Stage in the Dáil when eight substantive changes were made by the Minister, many arising from points made by Opposition spokespersons and others, as well as those made by Senators Keaveney, Alex White, Donohoe and MacSharry. There is...

Seanad: Fire Service (6 Jul 2010)

Tony Killeen: I thank the Senator for raising this matter, to which I am responding on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I appreciate the significant contribution which fire services have made and continue to make each day in safeguarding our communities. I am glad to record the Government's commitment to the fire service in terms of modernisation and financial...