Results 4,421-4,440 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara
- Climate Action: Statements (30 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: This week must have been a bewildering week for the workers in Moneypoint power station. We were told it was to close. Now we are being told we face power shortages across the country and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, hinted that Moneypoint might not close as anticipated. We must bring to bear clarity on this point. If we have power...
- Climate Action: Statements (30 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: There is no guarantee that any power imported will be any greener than the power generated at Moneypoint. To be clear, I agree with the necessity to reduce carbon emissions. It is the political imperative of our time. I will draw the analogy, however, about the current situation. It is like if my grandfather in the 1920s, having read somewhere that tractors were soon going to be in...
- Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: 110. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the Defence Forces' process of implementing recommendations on anti-discrimination law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47130/21]
- Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: 116. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has apologised to a person (details supplied) for the failure to address their case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47132/21]
- Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: 127. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will review jurisdictional objections by his Department in response to WRC complaints by members of the forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47131/21]
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: No, that was not a problem, Chairman. I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to speak. I congratulate Mr. Fraser on his appointment as an Irish Ambassador and I understand that he is the third non-career diplomat to be appointed as an ambassador. I may be incorrect on that point but I am aware of two other such appointments. Senator Craughwell raised the process and I do not wish to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: Would Mr. Fraser accept that it is very hard to apply for a job that is not advertised?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: That is fine. It is not possible to apply specifically to be a head of mission, however.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: That is fine.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: If the Chair will indulge me with some more generosity, I will return to the specific subject matter of this meeting.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: Mr. Fraser said earlier that he did not alert the Taoiseach about this matter because he did not see it as being a big issue, as Dr. Zappone had carried out work for the Department of Foreign Affairs previously and she was a senior political figure. I share that view, but my views are irrelevant. Mr. Fraser went on to say then that he did not think that the names were available to anybody...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: Mr. Fraser very much gave me the impression that he made an active decision that there was no need to alert the Taoiseach because it was not a big deal.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: That is fine. I thank Mr. Fraser for his answer.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: I am not sure if the Chair will allow me to return to this matter, but given Mr. Fraser's broad experience in the Civil Service, would he think that it would be a good idea for all positions across the Civil Service to be advertised to internal and external candidates? That would include posts as head of mission, Secretaries General of Departments etc.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: Except for heads of missions overseas.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: Does that include the post of ambassador?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: Indeed.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: The Chair's old colleague, the former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, went straight into the European External Action Service as ambassador to the United States. By his own account, and some others too, he was reputed to have been a success. There is something to be learned from that experience.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: That is fine. My understanding is that people apply for third secretary positions and the people in those posts perform a great service for the State, but they are relatively junior positions which are relatively-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach (29 Sep 2021)
Michael McNamara: I thank Mr. Fraser.