Results 3,861-3,880 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We will have questions and answers shortly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: I thank Mr. Houlihan for a detailed presentation, which is what we want. It was useful to tease through the information. I call Deputy Calleary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We will have an opportunity to prepare our own comment on this, which we can send directly to the Commission. We can decide that at the end of the meeting. I call Senator Cullinane.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: If Mr. Houlihan is agreeable I will take questions from two more speakers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: I also wish to add a couple of questions. The Department has expressed a concern regarding proportionality in respect of small and medium-sized businesses. It is a big issue that while the same rules really should not apply in this regard, they do. Aside from small businesses, other companies, which in reality operate as charities, sporting organisations and so on, are also hit by audits...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Yes, but even in this directive, I point out no such assurance on future viability is being sought. Moreover, it does not really comment on the management of the company. The problem over the years is that for a lot of the major entities, the non-executive directors have not really done their jobs. A grey area existed as to what is their job and while it is to be a voice and to watch over...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: That is the reason I sought clarity on the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We might take up Mr. Houlihan on that offer. I think the joint committee will take this matter further as there is a lot to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Internal audit also was a problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We will let Mr. Houlihan finish and then we can come back in at the end; there is no problem. In fairness, we are straying into the whole area of the banking inquiry, which is not Mr. Houlihan’s job.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: I have made it clear now but you can come back in at the end. Is that okay? We have gone somewhat astray. I call on Mr. Houlihan to continue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We might do that at the next presentation and as well as the Department we could bring in some of the relevant stakeholders, including the auditing authority. It is unfair to call on Mr. Houlihan to comment on all of these issues and he is not really in a position to do so. We will give people a chance to go through their grievances with the more relevant bodies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: To be fair, Mr. Houlihan is going through the detail and it is not for him to answer for everyone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We are going into even more depth and it is difficult to tease it out. I agree that there are more questions than answers. Does Mr. Houlihan want to continue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Is it that they would not want to or could not do it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: It will not be possible to have an in-depth discussion today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: We cannot get into that now. We are not having a banking inquiry today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: I am sorry, Deputy Collins, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: Again, I have to say that these issues are not really for the witnesses before us today. We will have an opportunity to discuss them further but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2011) 778 and COM (2011) 779 (16 Oct 2012)

Damien English: There is an opportunity for this directive to be added to or changed. That is what this debate is for and that is why we will have more hearings on it. We will have ample time to discuss it because it will not be completed under the current Presidency. We will have a chance to do more work on this and I have no problem with dealing with it again before Christmas and inviting the relevant...