Results 5,681-5,700 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: ): I apologise for being slightly delayed in my arrival. I propose to deal with amendments Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, and amendments Nos. 7, 8, 10 and 11, together. As Senator O'Toole said, the issue arose on Committee Stage of specifying particular tariff codes for ethanol under the obligation on the basis that it would promote indigenous industry. I undertook to address the concerns raised...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: With regard to Senator O'Toole's point about amendment No. 1, we have to be careful we do not fall foul of international trade and other obligations. This is one of my concerns. While we are agreed on the need to increase security of supply and we want to support indigenous production, we have to be careful about how we set that out and not fall foul of international agreements. With regard...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Any information that it is proposed to put on-line, as outlined in the sections referred to here, will be on my Department's website and-or the agency's website but will not be solely on either one or the other. Therefore, in view of this and to preserve flexibility, I do not propose to accept these amendments.

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: We will continue to consider it but I hope the Senator sees that the proposed amendment would restrict the availability of information. It is better to include "on the internet", which would include the Department, agencies, Dáil sites and other locations. It is not the intention to hide it. It is not even possible to hide such information with search engines being so powerful. The...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I indicated on Committee Stage that the definition of "the Minister" is already outlined in the principal Act and, therefore, there is no requirement to repeat it. I do not propose, therefore, to accept the amendment.

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: As I understand it, the transfers function order already amends such legislation so there is no need to repeat the process. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Bill, as amended, received for final consideration. Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: ): I thank Senators for their engagement on this Bill. As Senator O'Toole noted, the issues with which it deals are complex and technical. I recall a description of democracy as government by discussion. The Seanad fulfils a useful role as a democratic institution. The more we question and consider, the better we will be at governing. We all have a responsibility in that regard, whether...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Report Stage. (23 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Senators can quote me on it. Our work on this Bill is a good example of that type of discussion and governance. We strove towards our common objective of stimulating our economy to create the employment we so badly need. I appreciate the work of Senators and my officials in that regard. My Department is very small and my officials cover a range of areas. I travelled to London yesterday to...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I regret to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide a response to his Question at this time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has no properties that are leased to commercial interests.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department occupies or partly occupies a number of leased buildings. They are as follows: Department HQ, 29/31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 Core Store, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Sandyford, County Dublin Elm House, Earlsvale Road, Cavan (partly occupies) All details in relation to the leases are dealt with by the Office of Public Works.

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: This is the worst market failure in the history of the State. It is not the first in the banking area. We had ICI, the DIRT scandal and the Rusnak scandal, and perhaps there was a moral hazard in the failure of the banks to learn that such scandals would not be tolerated or accepted and led them and us into this crisis. We now have to face up to the problem, take control of it and deal...

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: When one examines it, it clearly is systemic within the definition given by Mr. Paulson, and that is why something had to be done about it. How mutual building societies such as Irish Nationwide could have engaged in such fraudulent banking practice is beyond belief. Deputy Kenny can point, but there are people on all sides who bear responsibility. I remember in 2006-----

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: -----at the height of the property bubble politicians on all sides said we had to do something, the market fundamentals were right, we had to keep the property bubble going and cut stamp duty and so on. There were political failings.

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The political system let us down but we need to move on now and examine how we can solve the problem. The figures today are shocking because they show a very sharp discount and show up the nature of the fraudulent banking which went on. They also give us a certain comfort. Deputy Bruton said the Irish people will recover from this. It will require us to make sure we change society for...

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: ------in order that we learn the lessons from history. We took a very harsh approach and examined the banks, and said we said we do not accept their figures any more, that we are giving the figures, in terms of what we see as the potential losses, and are using a much sharper discount than anyone expected. The figures show that our two main banks, namely, AIB and Bank of Ireland, are truly...

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to David McWilliams's argument about doing that and giving up on our reputation in that sense but we might as well go the whole hog, leave the euro and use the opportunity to devalue to get out of the economic difficulties.

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The certainty of that as an approach is driven by an analysis which does not consider the fact that the European Central Bank is one of the main depositors or bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank. If we take the option of defaulting on those who have money on deposit in Anglo Irish Bank, we would have to say to the ECB that we will not pay it back.

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: One cannot differentiate between bondholders and the ECB in that section of the balance sheet.

Banking System: Motion (30 Mar 2010)

Eamon Ryan: It would be difficult legally to differentiate between them and say we will not touch the ECB but we will touch Deutsche Bank or whichever bank is involved. Having examined this inside out and having tried to determine what is the easiest way for us to get out of this, the default option is the more expensive and risky. It would require us to take the hugely risky step for which David...