Results 7,541-7,560 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the debate. Voter participation continues to be a major challenge for everyone involved in the democratic process and any recommendations as to how we can stimulate greater participation is very much worthy of consideration. This Private Members' Bill is part of the debate and, accordingly, the Government does not propose to oppose it. The stated purpose of the Bill is to promote...

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: If Fianna Fáil had not wrecked the economy, we would not need it.

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tuam.

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy should go.

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I listened with great interest to the debate today. Apart from one or two contributions it was a very positive and constructive engagement which is how this Dáil works. We all share the same commitment to the democratic process and the desire to increase voter participation. Many different views and interesting points have been raised here today. All of these will have to be...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I note that the Deputy's amendment reproduces the provisions of section 4 as it stands. That section contains a standard provision requiring that orders made by the Minister be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and may be annulled by a resolution of either House within 21 days. The practice in legislative drafting is that where an Act gives a Minister a power to do something that...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: There are no new powers conferred on anybody in respect of any of these issues. If, as a Minister of State, I wanted to sell off one of the designated bodies, I could only do so under the existing Acts that govern the sale of the body, should the power exist. There is no question of privatisation or any issue such as that. If the existing legislation, separate from this Bill, exists, then...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Some people are missing the point. I repeat what I said earlier, namely, that NewERA does not have any executive functions in its own right. In other words, it advises but does not execute; nor does it not take unto itself any power. It was established in an advisory capacity as a source of dedicated corporate finance expertise to be made available to relevant Ministers. It is open to...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: What we are dealing with is the advisory board. We have tried to ensure that members of the agency will be well qualified in relevant areas in light of the wide range of functions entrusted to the agency. Notwithstanding some of the constructive points made, I am reluctant to define those areas too closely, as things change over time. I would also note that board members will be appointed...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have read it. It sets out the errors of the ways of socialism as defined by our good friend Uncle Joe Stalin. I am unable to accept this amendment on the basis that what is provided for is adequate and proper, particularly in terms of the significant knowledge that the members will be required to have.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: On a serious point, a pensioner or representative of a pensioner could be included if he or she met some of the other requirements. They are not mutually exclusive. In other words, while one might bring the required skills to the table, any other skills one might bring would be important also. Some of the categories mentioned by the Deputy are not excluded.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have made the point and will leave it at that.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Amendment No. 3 would have the effect of deleting subsection (3) of the new section 6B. This would remove the provision that the chairperson and chief executive cannot be required to give an account before an Oireachtas committee about matters that have been or might be before a court or tribunal, as well as the resolution procedure - this is very important - that allows the High Court to...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not looking at the notes, I am looking at the Bill.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is no problem.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Common sense applies here. If there is a court case or if there are issues and a dispute, we resolve them, if necessary by going to the High Court. No High Court judge would look favourably on anyone who was obfuscating and refusing to answer proper and germane questions in respect of their role. At the same time they would also have to recognise and acknowledge the fact that if there were...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The National Treasury Management Agency is subject to the Ethics in Public Office Act and specific disclosures of interest provisions are set out in the Bill. The members of the NTMA will be designated directors under the Ethics in Public Office Act and required to make annual disclosures of interest statements under same. These statements are made to the Standards in Public Office...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is clear that people must register their interests. Some individuals who will serve on the board will not be natives of this country or will work abroad, but we will want to be able to avail of their specialist expertise. It is appropriate that their interests be declared on a register, but this need not be in the public domain. I see no conflict between this measure and what we want to...