Results 3,381-3,400 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: The National Asset Management Agency Bill is the most significant Bill the Houses of the Oireachtas have had to debate for many years. It is era-defining legislation. In fact, it is an era-straddling Bill. It brings to an end the Celtic tiger period of prosperity when our economy improved to the largest possible extent in our political history. It also deals with many of the excesses of...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: The borrowing of money at a cost that is far higher than the value of the house itself is the concept of long-term economic value. To the Minister's credit, the amendments that have been made acknowledge that there must be some assets included under NAMA that can only be taken at current market value. Indeed, some assets that will be acquired have minimal and even zero value. Different...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: I support the several calls made for a pre-budget debate, particularly given that the European Commission is prepared to consider allowing us an additional year to adjust our fiscal position. That does not mean, however, that we can avoid an adjustment of €4 billion. Our tax returns indicate a further shortfall of €2 billion this year. We need to have a debate that seems to be ongoing...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: The question of direction is at the core of the legislation if it is to achieve what we hope it will as soon as possible. The contributions made so far are all very worthy. Mine would probably be somewhere between the contributions made by Senator O'Toole and Senator Alex White. Of the five financial institutions we shall have 100% direct ownership of two and substantial, close to...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: He inhaled.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: This provision was included on the insistence of my party during the development of the Bill.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: I am happy it has attracted so much attention. Senator O'Toole is correct that this does not prohibit any public representative from engaging in any-----

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: Senator Norris is also correct.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: This provision does not prohibit any public representative fulfilling his or her normal functioning role. The term "public representative" is the moot point here. Once we represent publicly-----

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: -----there is nothing in this provision which we should fear. This provision is being included because there is a sense that we got to where we are, in terms of how dealt with issues like this in the past, because of a tendency to be furtive, clandestine and conspiratorial, which has been to the loss of our political system. The best way of addressing how this will be done in the future and...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: I support the call for a debate on climate change in advance of the Copenhagen summit. The recent report of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security would be a good basis for such a debate and help to inform the Government when drafting the legislation. I also support Senator O'Toole's call for a debate on the nature of lobbying. The review of the programme for Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: The Senator's leader wants to get rid of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: Is Fine Gael not putting forward a candidate?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: It is a by-election. We have to have a by-election.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Motions (12 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: I also welcome the acceptance of this amendment. Members find themselves using an unusual procedure to amend an amendment to a Bill that went passed all Stages in both Houses. However, it is a sign of the seriousness the Government attaches to ensuring the Bill is as complete and acceptable as it can be. I hear what the Opposition Senators say about the number of amendments accepted....

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: As with other speakers I have concerns about the extent to which our financial institutions, despite the bank guarantee and recapitalisation schemes and the passing of the NAMA legislation after a great deal of detailed debate in this House, still act as though they are the people who write legislation and make the rules in this country. We need to debate this in the House. Clear signals...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: They should be discussed in the context of a debate in the House. We will always be in a chicken and egg situation on whether we should develop information technology hardware or the software and technology that allows us to use it. I would be happy to see any advance in supplying additional equipment and improving technology in the education sector. The point of the most recent revised...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: There is a great deal of doubt.

Seanad: Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: This legislation was originally drafted on foot of the findings of the Committee of Public Accounts following its examination of whether certain activities had been supportive of the public good. In the committee's report the use of public money was deemed to be less than perfect. As the Bill was being drafted, we learned that the original findings of the Committee of Public Accounts...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: The Bill, while small in scale, has a particular importance for re-affirming the Government's and country's attitude towards its involvement in foreign affairs, international and national defence. It was a key component in the recent debate in terms of the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty. It is important that the promises made on the introduction of the Bill and in today's debate...