Results 2,741-2,760 of 5,031 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I have great faith and confidence in the LGAS, which does a very good job. That tees up all of these questions for us. We have all of these reports and they tee up all of these questions. When we go back and look historically at the reports, we see this re-occurring theme, like the fixed asset property register, and then the lame excuses from chief executives, who come out and say,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: Yes, but are all 31 on the website?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: So there are two or three missing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: It raises questions as to why they are not published. The LGAS has completed its work on them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: They were completed on 31 October and some of the audit reports are still not published.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: Is Ms Larkin alarmed or concerned by that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: We know that some audit committees delay their meetings, and this prolongs and delays the process. Some of these audit reports are pretty powerful and they are pretty damning. I am not suggesting anything but at some point they have to surface and be dealt with. I do not know if Ms Larkin has any comment on this, but I would like to see some sort of guidelines in relation to a designated...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I thank both witnesses.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I warmly welcome the Portuguese ambassador to our Chamber. I also join my colleagues in extending my sympathy on the death of former Senator Mary Jackman. I knew her well personally. She engaged with me in respect of her own election to the Seanad. She was a Member of this House for two terms and, of course, spent 30 years as a county councillor in Limerick. Ms Jackman was the first...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: Absolutely. The report is about alleged planning irregularities in Donegal.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: The report is complete. We will know exactly what is in the report, if it is alleged or not and whether it is substantiated or not, when it is published. I am calling for a report that was commissioned, and then undertaken by senior counsel Rory Mulcahy. The report is sitting on the Minister's desk and I want it to be published.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: To be clear, there is a report and the Minister has confirmed that to me. It is not an alleged report and I will not allow anyone to say it is an alleged report.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: The Senator has made a very good rationale for the logic of this amendment. I will not repeat what she said, but given what the committee recommended, I fully support and endorse it. I hope the Minister will see fit to support the amendment.

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I understand exactly where Senator Ruane is coming from regarding the amendment. Again, we have to manage people's expectations in a responsible manner. We know that for many years there has simply been no information. That is not to say there was not information originally. Much of the information has been destroyed. Many of the people involved in these illegal acts are in the wrong or...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: This is one of the biggest and most contentious issues. Senator Ruane suggested that this is one of the red line issues and I agree. In terms of the needs and wishes of the survivors, their families and advocates, this matter has been raised with me constantly. It has been a consistent concern. I took the time to read the committee engagement in relation to this and it was interesting to...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 108: In page 50, after line 33, to insert the following: “Process and complaints procedure 52. (1) The Minister shall create an appeals process and complaints procedure. The appeals and complaints procedure shall take into account concerns in relation to compliance, problems arising from limited definitions and issues arising regarding institutions not listed...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I do not say I am disappointed because it is beyond disappointment for me at this stage. However, I do think it needs to happen and it should happen. The Minister started off mentioning trust, and that is very important but, sadly, many of these people have had a long drawn out experience of trying to ascertain information. They are not trusting too many people at this point and there have...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I hear what the Minister is saying. I am left with no option, really. I either disagree with him or I do not disagree with him. I can call a vote and they all bounce up here and we play the numbers game, the old numbers game, again. They all pop into these benches, they are all under a whip and they all vote for the Government. That, unfortunately, is how parliamentary democracy is...

Seanad: Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Victor Boyhan: I am speaking. It may be democracy but it is not the true spirit of parliamentary democracy. It does not always quite happen like that. That has triggered me to now call a vote. I thank the Senator because when I get a remark like that across the Chamber then it forces me to put it to people and let us bounce them into the chairs here. I do not accept it, I will call a vote and at least...