Results 221-240 of 2,304 for speaker:John Browne
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The wording and advice of the Parliamentary Counsel is clear and unambiguous and should not be interfered with. The total amount of arrears currently owed to the Department is â¬5.4 million. The Deputy is correct in that 49 people owe almost â¬1 million, 34 owe in excess of â¬10,000 each, ten in excess of â¬20,000, two in excess of â¬30,000 and three in excess of â¬40,000.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: A total of â¬5.4 million.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: In arrears.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The total arrears currently owed to the Department is â¬5.4 million.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: No. A total of 49 people owe â¬1 million between them.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The purpose of the discounted buy-out scheme is to facilitate the termination of ongoing annuity payments. Annuitants have had a year in which to organise or arrange finance from their financial institutions and check that the title of the land subject to any annuity is in order. The longer the scheme is open, the more adjustments will be required to figures and the half-year gale days go by....
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: We feel that six months is a reasonable period. The Deputy stated that 97 or 98 cases existed. In fact, 2,300 annuitants with annuities of over â¬200 per annum are affected and will receive a discount of 25%. The Minister is anxious that closure is brought to this matter and she has already instructed that adequate staff will be available in Cavan to deal quickly with this matter.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: If Deputy Naughten ever gets the opportunity to be on this side of the House, I have every faith in his being a compassionate man.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The sell-off powers in section 4 are designed to ensure that farmers who retain their annuities maintain payments thereafter. We have an obligation to the Exchequer and those who have discharged their annuities in the past had to ensure that ongoing financial obligations were met on time. I propose that section 4 remain without alteration. Some Deputies mentioned the compassionate nature of...
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The Department will be compassionate and considerate. If a payment is taken, it will be in proportion to the payments due. However, Deputies should be aware that arrears must be dealt with. The Minister cannot allow arrears to accumulate and at the same time pay State and EU funds where there is a clear breach of contract by the client. The Department intends to encourage the 2,300 annuitants...
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: While I respect the views of the Deputies opposite, I cannot accept this amendment. I ask the Deputies to accept the assurance given by the Minister on Committee Stage and in the Seanad that the issues will be dealt with, if they arise, after consultation and in a compassionate and proportionate manner.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: A lease is a disposal of possession. The issue here is that the Department must ensure that any form of land transaction which is subject to a land purchase annuity, including the leasing of land, would require a certificate indicating that all annuity payments have been paid. I do not want to create a loophole for leases, thereby giving rise to the possible avoidance of annuity arrears being...
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: What the Deputy said is correct.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The powers set out in section 6 do not place my Department in a better position than any other creditor. It will be necessary for application to be made to the appropriate court of competent jurisdiction to obtain the relief provided for in the Bill. I refer here, for example, to the garnishee order provided for in the section. My Department is unable to redirect payments due from third...
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: We have had a substantial debate on the issue. The Minister considered it carefully and is not prepared to accept the Opposition's amendment. Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand", put and declared carried.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The farmers' friend.
- Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: I thank the House for facilitating the debate on the Bill and I acknowledge the valuable contributions of Members, particularly Deputies Upton, Naughten and Crawford. I thank the Ceann Comhairle, the staff of the Office of the Attorney General, the Parliamentary Counsel and my officials, who have worked on the Bill for some time. As Deputy Naughten said, it is up to us to encourage farmers to...
- Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: It is two years away.
- Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: The election is two years away.
- Draft Animal Remedies Regulations 2005: Motion (Resumed). (19 Oct 2005)
John Browne: I thank Deputies on both sides of the House for their constructive contributions to the debate. I am aware of the concerns of farmers in particular about the possible implications of the draft regulations for the supply and cost of veterinary medicines, but I emphasise that most of these concerns are based on a misunderstanding of the real position which the Minister explained in considerable...