Results 4,981-5,000 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (15 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's aid programme, administered from within the Department of Foreign Affairs by Irish Aid, is sharply focused on the reduction and eventual eradication of global poverty and hunger. Our partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) represents a very important element in this effort, reflecting the broad support among Irish people for the development programme. In...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (15 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's aid programme, which is administered by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs, provides assistance to over eighty countries in the developing world, with a strong focus on the least developed countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. There are nine Programme Countries for the aid programme, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance....

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: These are technical amendments which provide for the comprehensive definition of "Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform" in the Bill. They also provide for the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 to be defined as the "Act of 1939" throughout the Bill. I will not go through all four amendments because they are self-explanatory, but I will be glad to respond to Members' queries.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I acknowledge Members' difficulties in the Bill being taken on a single day. My colleague, the Minister for public expenditure and reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, has already done so, as have Senators Ivana Bacik and Tom Sheahan on behalf of the Government side. Moreover, at the risk of breaking confidentiality, Senator Ivana Bacik raised the issue at the meeting of the Labour Party...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Exactly. I also thank the Fianna Fáil Senators for their support for the legislation. As I stated, the Government acknowledges the points they have raised. In one sense, the Bill is technical in that much of its content pertains to the technical aspect of transferring functions. However, as Senator Ivana Bacik observed, the functions are set out specifically in the Bill. Section 10 is...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Again, these are technical amendments to tidy up the text. They concern the substitution of items for reasons of specificity and the inclusion of correct references to individual provisions. In the interests of time, I do not propose to go through all of the amendments, but I will respond to questions from Senators.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: This amendment provides that section 7 of the Official Languages Act 2003 will not apply to this Bill. Section 7 of the Act mentioned states that, as soon as may be after the enactment of any Act of the Oireachtas, the text thereof shall be printed and published in each of the official languages simultaneously. I must be honest with Senators in this regard. Owing to the large number of...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will take back the suggestions made by the Senators about speeding up the process to see if it is possible to reduce the time it will take to less than one month. I refer specifically to Senator Cáit Keane's suggestion that there might be a way of issuing a draft version of the Bill on the Internet. These are valuable suggestions. I agree that, ideally, the Bill should be presented in...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I do not accept the Senator's argument that this is the equivalent of having stooges passing legislation.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We are dealing with this legislation very carefully in both Houses. We will endeavour to have it published in the Irish language as quickly as possible.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: The proposed amendment is that the date should be 1 July 2011 but it is unlikely that it will be ready in that timescale. In any event, the appointed day would normally be decided by the Government. The Government will decide that as soon as possible.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We do not have a date.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Yes. Subject to the approval of the Houses and the President's signature, the Minister has indicated that it is anticipated it will be 5 July.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: Normally the Government decides the date. I cannot accept this amendment.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: On the amendment, Senator Byrne's first point seeks to have the Minister provide consolidated details of his powers under the Bill and under any subsequent order. I do not believe that legislative change is required in this case but I understand the Minister would be happy to consider making available a further explanatory memorandum when the Bill is enacted, giving an overview of the...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will reply to that question at the end of this group of questions.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I understand the Minister hopes to be back in the House later this evening. I reject the suggestion that this is not substantial legislation providing for substantial reform. For the first time-----

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: We have reformed functions and created a new Department, the business of which will be to reform the way public business is done. Senator Jim Walsh is right that we need to learn from what happened in the past and the appalling mistakes made in recent years. That is the clear intention of the Government in its programme for Government, this legislation and the statement the Minister made...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: I said it was not as broad as the debate.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is quite interesting that a Member of the Seanad would wish to be excluded from being the Minister in this case. Article 28.7 of the Constitution provides that the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the member of the Government who is in charge of the Department of Finance must be Members of Dáil Éireann. The Constitution does not include a similar provision in the case of other Ministers...