Results 6,801-6,820 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: On two occasions Fianna Fáil-led Governments voted down a Labour Party Bill to allow for civil unions with the promise of its own civil partnership legislation. Heads of a Bill were published last summer and the Bill has been on the legislative list since. When will the civil partnership Bill be published and introduced into the House?

Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: Will it be published this session?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I am loth to interrupt the Deputy——

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I want to give the Deputy latitude. We will have a discussion on the section but, for this element of the debate, I ask the Deputy to focus narrowly on the amendment.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy is well outside the scope of the amendment at this stage.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I would prefer if we could focus on the amendment at this stage. We can talk about the section after we have dealt with the amendment to the section.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: Absolutely.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I am not sure how relevant this discussion is to the amendment.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I would like to dispose of the amendment before we get onto any broader debate. I allowed some latitude in the first round of contributions, but I will allow less latitude this time.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: There is no such thing as a point of information in the House. The Deputy must make an intervention.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: Will the Deputy move on, please?

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I am sure this is not relevant.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy should speak to the amendment.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: This is entirely outside the scope of the amendment.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: We must deal with the amendment. I call the Minister for a very brief response.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I call the Minister to provide a relevant conclusion to this matter.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 are related and may be discussed together.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: We should try to make progress.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: I had not intended to contribute to this debate and will not speak about the principles of the Bill but I wish to raise one issue. I recall negotiating these issues with both Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael many years ago in the context of Dáil, European and presidential elections. Provision was made at the time by the rainbow Government for spending limits in local elections as well. The...

Bio-fuel Industry. (12 Mar 2009)

Brendan Howlin: Allow the Minister of State without interruption.