Results 781-800 of 939 for speaker:Noel Treacy

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

Noel Treacy: I also assure Deputy Connaughton that the procedures set out in this Bill in no way affect the requirement in our Constitution regarding future referendums in the State. Contrary to what Deputy Durkan and others in his party claimed during this debate, there is no intention to increase executive power at the expense of either of these Houses. There is no sidelining of the Oireachtas. Once...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: Is cúis áthais dom a bheith ar ais arís le freastal ar an díospóireacht faoi na hathruithe atá molta ag an Fhreasúra maidir le Bille na gComhphobal Eorpach 2006. I thank Deputies for their contributions and the amendments they brought forward on Report Stage, which allow for a full and frank debate on the Bill.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: We are here to do a job, we will do it together and, hopefully, we shall beat the guillotine.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: Our reasons for being here are clear from the Title to the Bill. This Bill arises because of the serious implications of landmark Supreme Court judgments in the Browne and Kennedy cases. The court found that a statutory instrument to give effect to European Community law can only be validly made where the Oireachtas has specifically provided for it in the relevant primary legislation. We...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: Following the judgments, a significant degree of analysis was carried out by the Office of the Attorney General and by all Departments involved in the transposition of European Community legislation. This issue affects every Department, in accordance with the importance of Europe to our economy and society and the range of our European obligations. The Attorney General advised at the end of...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: The Supreme Court judgments mean that some of the body of legislation developed since 1973 could be susceptible to legal challenge. Essentially, secondary legislation made in good faith over three decades by dozens of Ministers from successive Governments under the powers given to them by Acts of the Oireachtas may be in doubt. The Attorney General's advice to the Government was that the...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: I will give Deputies a simple example. If primary legislation provides for a maximum limit of ten parts of sodium per million in fertiliser and an EU directive subsequently reduces the limit to five parts per million, a statutory instrument could be used to amend the relevant legislation.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: Is somebody saying that is not a proper way to proceed?

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: We were not unstuck on that.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: I have not interrupted anybody and would love to be given the chance to respond to the points made by Deputies.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: I thought contributions on Report Stage were the preserve of the respective speakers.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: In his opening remarks, Deputy Costello spoke about the Berlin declaration and elephants in the room. The Berlin declaration is basically a statement of the evolution of the European Union, its success and the opportunities it has created. It outlined how we can reflect on the past and have the confidence to enhance the European Union in the interest of its citizens. There is no elephant...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: The European Union is clear on what it has achieved and confident about its future. The European constitution is a way to refine institutional requirements so that we will be able to deliver an effective system to our people in an efficient manner so as to ensure equality of opportunity for all.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: As soon as a clear decision is taken on how we can proceed.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: I am confident the treaty will be in position by the next European elections. That is the goal of the European Union and Ireland. Members of all parties will work together on the constitution to the benefit of the EU and our country. We have to be mindful of the role the European Union has played in modernising our nation and our laws and in ensuring we have an effective mechanism to...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: In the interventions, Deputies Allen and Crowe made negative general comments about the European Union.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: Deputy Allen said we ought to stop praising the European Union and respond to public concerns over jobs and enlargement. I do not agree with him. Fifty years of European achievement is well worth celebrating, as happened in Berlin last weekend. The EU has transformed Europe into a peaceful and prosperous place. It has also transformed Ireland. We need to remind ourselves of these gains...

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: I was a little boy in national school 40 years ago.

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: I am now a mature adult having served 25 years in this House——

European Communities Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (28 Mar 2007)

Noel Treacy: ——and I am blessed to have great advice and great colleagues. I am guided by the wisdom of this House at all times——