Results 2,921-2,940 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: He was a retired Senator.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: Professor Farrell pointed out Deputy Eoghan Murphy's interest in the Whip system. The system that operates in many other countries, principally our neighbouring island, allows for a more relaxed form of whip, and that the whip is relaxed depending on when the party whips decide on issues. When I was first elected to the Seanad, 12 years ago, every week we were told there was a three-line...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: Following Deputy Murphy's question on whether access is influence, Professor Hardiman spoke about exceptionally easy access for certain groups. Is it not the case then that access is an example of the political system we have in Ireland? Professor Hardiman and Professor Farrell outlined strong support for the method of election, and different interests have exceptionally easy access, to use...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: Professor Hardiman outlined in a number of answers that in her opinion too much consensus existed in the political system, and perhaps in other institutions and between institutions, in the lead up to the financial crisis. Professor Farrell emphasised in many of his answers the need to move towards what he described as a more consensus form of politics, and that we did not have enough of a...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: In her presentation Professor Hardiman emphasised the role of groupthink in the difficulties in Ireland, and she also mentioned the Nyberg report. Has she found examples of groupthink to the same level, or any level, in other EU countries which experienced a financial crisis at the same time as that which hit Ireland? Has she studied this?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: I want to go back to Senator O'Keeffe's question about the publication of the letter. There were two parts to the letter of 12 April, first, a clarification of a question the Chairman asked about the roles of the Governor prior to 2008, second, correction of the record as the professor saw it. Does he think it was appropriate that most of the members of the committee first knew about the...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: I am not trying to be critical but given that the first part of the letter was an answer to a question that the professor felt on the day he could not answer and was evidence for the inquiry-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: I am just reiterating the point. I am not trying to badger the Governor.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: We received the professor's statement today very late and my questions refer specifically to the letter, scenario 2, as outlined in respect of emergency liquidity assistance, ELA. Did he have any discussions with his predecessor as Governor of the Central Bank about the meeting that took place around the guarantee and whether that ELA was sought? He mentioned in the letter that it would...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: I have no further questions.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: That was not repetition.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: It was a question about the letter.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: It will come back to the professor.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome Dr. Byrne. On page 4 or her opening statement she refers to the 2007 general election. I was looking at the members of the inquiry and saw that many of us had been candidates in that election. Dr. Byrne has referred to the fact that only €1.3 million was disclosed of the €10.1 million spent in the entire election campaign. Has she analysed the amounts of funding...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: Following on from that - Dr. Byrne has touched on this in a couple of previous answers - if the funding of the political system in general is to be based on the historical performance of political parties, there is an automatic bias against new entrants and new political parties. Can this be squared? How could a funding system be designed that would allow equal access?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: To change tack, does Dr. Byrne believe the Standards in Public Office Commission is sufficiently empowered to enforce the current ethics legislation? As I was a child politician, I have been a politician for about 16 or 17 years. It is all about voluntary disclosure. Is the commission in a position to investigate thoroughly whether that disclosure is complete?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: I have a brief final question. Dr. Byrne stated, I think in answer to Deputy Michael McGrath, that a lot of political donations have tended to follow those who have been in power. Has Dr. Byrne conducted any research into the permanent government, effectively, those in the Civil Service, whether they are in local authorities or-----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: Not donations but corruption within the permanent government, effectively. Is there any evidence? We have seen some evidence, I suppose through some of the recent tribunals, of certain activities but has there been any extensive research into that area? That is the question I am trying to ask.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome Mr. McDonald. Following on from questions Deputy McGrath asked in relation to the tax reliefs, Mr. McDonald stated in his opening statement that section 23 was justifiably introduced at the end of the 1980s. In his view, were any of the other reliefs justifiably introduced at the start? He pointed out, as did other witnesses, that they were extended for too long but were any of...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

John Paul Phelan: Mr. McDonald made a point on lending levels in France and other countries. Does the witness think the thresholds announced recently by the Central Bank, on levels of deposits required by people purchasing property, would have been useful had they existed prior to the financial collapse?