Results 3,261-3,280 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: I am grateful for the Leader's suggestion and I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: I am duty bound to oppose today's Order of Business given the Leader's commitment on yesterday's Order of Business that a debate would be provided for today on the implications of last week's Supreme Court decision. It would be wrong of this House to go about its business today without providing an hour or two for such a debate. We would prefer to have a debate with the Minister for Justice,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: All sides of the House share this view. Since yesterday's High Court decision the blame game has started. It is extraordinary that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform was blissfully unaware of the Supreme Court case pending in last week's list. I find it difficult to believe that the Minister, who was a leading criminal lawyer, was for a time Attorney General and has sat at the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: On a point of order, it is proper and right that this House would debate decisions of the Supreme Court. It is the only court of interpretation in the land.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: It is true.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: Is the Acting Leader proposing an amendment to the Order of Business, given his commitment to a debate between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., which I very much welcome?

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: I am grateful for that.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: The section states "The Taoiseach may by order appoint a day to be the establishment day for the purposes of this Act." Can the Minister of State indicate when the office will be established, given that this Bill was first published in 2002 and we are only now, some four years later, getting around to dealing with it in its entirety? What is the current position?

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: Effectively the Minister of State is saying the legal framework surrounding the composition of the new body will have no effect until such time as this legislation goes through both Houses of the Oireachtas and that the people in these organisations are working in circumstances where no legal certainty applies to those offices.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: As a new entity.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: Senator Ryan makes a valid point, particularly in the context of section 7. Section 7 gives absolute power to the Taoiseach to establish a new body under his discretion and control even though he must consult the Minister for Finance and other Ministers. There seems to be a discrepancy between both sections. In section 5, the sanction of the Minister for Finance is required in regard to...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: Section 7 seems to be an all-embracing one which, as I said, gives absolute power to the Taoiseach to establish new bodies. Will the Minister of State inform the House what new bodies would be considered by the office? Given that this office has been up and running for some years, does the Government have an idea as to what other new bodies need to be established? A Member of the other House...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: In that scenario, I presume it is the Government's view that neither House of the Oireachtas would need to be consulted or asked to provide a statutory framework for the new office as is the case with the new office being provided for in this Bill.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following new subsection: "(2) The Council shall, prior to the commencement of negotiation of agreements between the Government and the social partners, present to the Oireachtas an assessment of key strategic challenges relating to the efficient development of the economy and the achievement of social justice and set out...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: The problem is we are talking about two different things. The Minister of State has rightly said that either House of the Oireachtas can debate any of the reports that come from the NESF, but that is not the issue. What we attempt to do with our amendment is to re-engineer the process so that at its start both Houses will concentrate on its priorities. We have complete control as to what...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: It would be for a good cause.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: We are paid to give the alternative view.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: The amendment regarding this important issue has been moved by Fine Gael in both Houses. The Opposition and the Government recognise that something has to happen in the social partnership process to ensure not only that it is more representative but also that more life is brought into it. When I have listened to the debate over recent weeks, I have noted a sense of déjÀ vu. I have heard...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: We have had four years to get this right. One deal has been concluded in that time and it is hoped that another deal is about to be concluded. We have had four years to change, but nothing has happened. There is frustration in Fine Gael that the necessary re-engineering of the parliamentary scrutiny and accountability process is not taking place in this Bill, even though the Government has...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (31 May 2006)

Brian Hayes: I agree. I will not detain the House much longer. I have spoken on the record on this matter for as long as I have been in this House and the other House. My party's position is that this amendment is needed because despite all the talk about Seanad and Dáil reform, nothing seems to happen. Despite all the promises made about new ways of approaching such issues, nothing happens.