Results 4,361-4,380 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: Will Mr. Quinn come back to the core issues because we may get stuck for time? We will come back to the other issues he wishes to raise in detail if questions are asked on them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: I must ask that the witness have the answers to the remaining questions forwarded to the secretariat and we can get them to the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: The Deputy's colleague will have that opportunity first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: I apologise, but this session must conclude and I must move on to the next contributor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: I am aware that Mr. Quinn has another question to answer but as the Deputy's allotted time has concluded, I ask that the reply be submitted in writing to the committee secretariat.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: Deputy Tóibín has five minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: We have run out of time. I apologise to Mr. Quinn, as I must stop the conversation. On behalf of the committee, I thank him for attending. The information he has provided is excellent. We will be seeing a lot more of each other and I hope circumstances will bed down.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functions: Office of Government Procurement (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: The responses will be sent to the secretariat and we will refer them to members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: The purpose of this part of the meeting is to discuss the Annual Growth Survey 2015, the Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe. I welcome from the Department of Finance Mr. John McCarthy, chief economist, and Mr. John Hogan, assistant secretary, banking division. The format is that they will make some opening remarks which will be followed by a question and answer...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: We will open with our first round of questions. We will have ten-minute slots in the beginning to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to speak. I realise you are under time pressure, Deputy Doherty. Do you wish to go first?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: We will have to suspend the meeting because a vote has been called in the Dáil.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: I have one or two questions for the witnesses. As we heard, Ireland submitted 70 projects for inclusion in the investment plan. Will Mr. Hogan provide a breakdown of the projects? Has a list of projects been published?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: Will Mr. Hogan have a copy sent to the joint committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: The annual growth survey refers to the streamlining of the semester process. In what respects will the process be different in 2015? Why has the European Commission decided to change it? Has it done so in response to weaknesses that were identified in the process in recent years? What is the thinking behind the changes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: In the 2015 annual growth survey, the Commission refers to how member states and national parliaments can increase their ownership of the process. This is important because the growth survey and other information on developments in the European semester refer to the European institutions and national governments. However, the joint committee could also be more involved in the process. Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: I believe this will become a key issue. I wrote to the former President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, following his refusal to attend the banking inquiry, which is taking place in the adjacent committee room. I indicated to Mr. Draghi that his decision would be a lost opportunity for the ECB to present its case to Irish people via the Irish Parliament. There is always the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: Mr. McCarthy might inquire on the committee's behalf if the Commission would like to make a presentation to it at some point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: Has the Commission looked at how the collapse in oil price will affect forecasts for 2015?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: We will conclude. On behalf of the committee I thank Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Enright and Mr. Petris for attending the meeting. It is always a valuable experience for the committee and I appreciate the frank exchange of views you always have with us. As there is no other business, we will adjourn.

Housing Affordability: Motion [Private Members] (27 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: I suppose if there was some bit of advice I would give to my Fianna Fáil colleagues across the House, it is that they should restrict their Private Members' motions to matters on UFOs and extraterrestrial life because their former Ministers walk in here as if the party has just landed on earth. Theirs is the party that was expert in building houses, except it built them in places where...