Results 28,021-28,040 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Mr. Lepassaar's contribution has been most helpful to our ongoing discussions and deliberations. I thank him for attending and wish him well in all the work he has before him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: On our interaction with the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, a number of points were made, one of which relates to the state obligation in some jurisdictions for a minimum investment of their ICT budget in cybersecurity. In Germany, for public bodies, the figure is 15%. Does the Minister of State envisage that should be replicated, whereby all state agencies would have a mandatory...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to it being made a legal obligation for state agencies in the public realm.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: On the first issue, relating to there being a designated portion of expenditure for security, I expect that, as a Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Smyth, is trained to expect outcomes for outputs. If money is being expended, there will presumably be targeted outcomes for that. Nevertheless, it seems that if Germany is doing this, and if state...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister of State. Is there a final remark he wishes to make before we conclude the session?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister of State for sharing his views with us on this important issue. No doubt we will talk to him again. I propose we go into private session to deal with housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (7 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: 508. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the long waiting list for neurology patients at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin; if his attention has been further drawn to the acute shortage of neurology nurse specialists at the hospital; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59928/21]

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I, too, will try to be brief. This is important and timely legislation. Members may not be aware of it, but today, 8 December, is the 20th anniversary of the finding of a container in Wexford, my home town, wherein Kurds and Turkish men, women and children were entombed, five of whom died. There was a memorial service this morning, at which the chairman of Wexford County Council laid a...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: 87. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension claim by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60607/21]

European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: The stormy clock. I have a mere five minutes which is always something I complain about. After a referendum on European treaty's, we were given a firm commitment that we would debate in advance of and afterwards European Council meetings. I do not wish to use up my time, but we really need better than this. I wish to deal with a few of the agenda items that the Taoiseach is facing. I...

Appointment of Member and Chair of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak briefly on this matter. The vast bulk of members of An Garda Síochána, whom we are very fortunate to have, have been the line of defence of our State over several turbulent decades, but there have been several issues. There will always be issues that require an investigation independent of the police because society and the Oireachtas...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on Cybersecurity: European Defence Agency (Resumed) (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank our guests. The Chairman has said that Mr. Ruutu has quite properly made a very high-level presentation to us. We want to drill down more into the nitty-gritty and specifics. Our opening view is that, as a committee, we very strongly agree with President von der Leyen's statement that cybersecurity is one of the pressing issues because external actors have the capacity to paralyse...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on Cybersecurity: European Defence Agency (Resumed) (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I will ask a brief question. I was interested in Mr. Ruutu's comments about supply chain security, which is a focus right now. Perhaps he will elaborate on what work has been done to ensure that we have supply chain security within the EU.

Proceeds of Crime (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” I am grateful for your presence here, Acting Chairman, and for the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne. I am very conscious that this is the last item of business in a very busy schedule, a unique schedule in many ways. It is important that individual Members still have the right to bring forward legislation...

Proceeds of Crime (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: That sounds great.

Proceeds of Crime (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I am not sure what anniversary it is.

Proceeds of Crime (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I was co-opted to Wexford Corporation. That might be it. I have had many anniversaries since and I have served in many positions. I thank the Minister of State for recalling whatever anniversary it is. It gives me another cause for celebration tonight. I thank the Minister of State for his very detailed response to the Bill. It is modelled on how the Government in 1996, of which I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on EU Cohesion Policy and Ireland: European Commission (15 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Mr. Sobral. I send my personal regards to Commissioner Ferreira. I hoped she would be here. She and I were members of the environment Council during the 1990s, along with Michel Barnier and Angela Merkel. I do not know where I went wrong. They seem to have got on well since. I was the Minister responsible for cohesion funding in the run-up to the previous multi-annual financial...