Results 24,001-24,020 of 24,382 for speaker:Seán Barrett

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (31 May 2016)

Seán Barrett: 906. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); if she will consider the views of this organisation regarding regulating and identifying the au pair programme as a cultural exchange programme rather than categorising this programme under domestic workers-employees category; and if she will make a...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Election of Chairman (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: I do not know how this fits into all the arrangements that are going to take place but we need a Chairman for the time being and I nominate Deputy John Paul Phelan, who is highly qualified. He has been in the Seanad for two terms and this is his second term in the Dáil. He has a degree in economics and finance, so he is fully qualified and his knowledge in this area is excellent. It...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: I was just trying to get my head around what exactly is expected of us over the next 35 days, or whatever it is now. Is this a permanent committee, or is it-----

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: It is not. In other words, we are talking only about structures for a future committee, so it is arrangements that we are talking about. Our discussions should be solely about the arrangements for a future committee. Is that correct?

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: Deputy Donnelly has asked many of the questions I was thinking about. There is no point in us talking about how we are going to scrutinise something, because it is not our function. Our function, as I see it, is to put in place structures for a permanent committee in the future. I was a bit confused when I heard Deputy Eamon Ryan talking about the 2017 budget. Now it is quite clear to me...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: What I was trying to clarify-----

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: Sorry.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: I was trying to clarify for myself what exactly was expected of this committee in the next 20 days or so.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: There is something worthwhile in what the clerk to the committee has laid out in his memorandum. The first positive thing we could do is make a formal recommendation that we establish a parliamentary budget office. Nothing will happen until things like that are done. No matter what we do after our first meeting, it will be necessary. We can begin by making a strong recommendation,...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: That is not the role of this committee. Our role is to make recommendations. We will not get the committee up and running.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: That is the point.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: No.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (8 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: 405. To ask the Minister for Health the status of an application for clinical support in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14342/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Alcohol Sales Legislation (8 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: 435. To ask the Minister for Health when he plans to introduce the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill into the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14590/16]

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: Following on from last week, I am still not very clear. As I understand it, the purpose of this committee is to talk for 30 days about arrangements, not the actual detail. We should focus on the arrangements only.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: We need to get at the things that are needed to enable the committee to proceed with the necessary scrutiny. For example, we will be recommending the establishment of the parliamentary budget office and other essential elements of doing the job which the committee will need to have when it is set up. Maybe I am wrong but it is important to focus on what we are supposed to do in this 30-day...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: I fully accept that.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: Deputy Eamon Ryan has made a number of points with which I completely agree. They should be included in our 30-day report. That is what we are here for. It is not about examining the Estimates for 2016 or 2017. We are here to make suggestions, and the ones Deputy Eamon Ryan offered make perfect sense. They would eventually inform the proceedings of the budgetary committee that would be...

Memorandum of Understanding regarding Ireland's Participation in UK Battle Group: Motion (9 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: I thank the Acting Chairman. My contribution will be short because I was delighted to read the Minister's statement, which clarified some issues for me, but as a former Minister for Defence, I am deeply concerned that our image as peacekeepers should not be damaged by any titles or otherwise. It is very unfortunate that this group is termed a battle group. On reading the Minister's speech,...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Engagement with Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (15 Jun 2016)

Seán Barrett: This committee has four weeks to do its work. It is not a permanent committee and its purpose is to deal with arrangements for budgetary scrutiny. I am anxious to hear what proposals the Ministers feel could be included in our report. Some of the questions I hoped to pose have already been answered. It is vital that we understand our function, which is solely, after four weeks, to produce...