Results 821-840 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: The answer is “Yes”.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Would it be possible to get a table on the various pots? The final question relates to waste or the perception of waste. The EU budget is growing in real terms. It might be shrinking as a percentage of GNI but it is still growing in real terms. As with any bureaucracy around the world, a certain amount of waste can set in. Has any analysis been done or are there ongoing projects within...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate that it is not part of the MFF, but it is very important from a political perspective to ensure, in particular when so much is being asked of our own public servants and citizens, that we are getting the same value for money. The administrative budget, for example, is increasing by more than 10% in real spending terms. I would not like a situation where a big chunk of the 10%...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (31 Jan 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: They would be useful. I echo Deputy Humphreys’ call. For what it is worth, I believe the international development funds for the European Union are incredibly important. Europe leads the way in that regard. My understanding is there is pressure on the funds. I lend my unambiguous and full support to the fund not being reduced and to the European Union meeting its 0.7% targets for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Codes of Conduct (5 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 22 January 2013, his views on whether it is acceptable for a bank to call a customer 44 times in 19 days, in a case in which the initial contact has been made, the lender is in continuous contact with the borrower and has alerted the borrower to underlying health issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Regulation (5 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: To ask the Minister for Finance if an application for a banking licence was made by Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, in which he is the sole shareholder of 100% of the shares, would a banking licence be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5521/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Open Government Partnership (5 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm a timeline for entering the Open Government Partnership, as indicated in the his Budget 2013 speech; if he will indicate the way he intends to structure the public consultation between the Government and civil society on development of the action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5429/13]

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: We are hearing news that the Government will make an announcement in the House at 10.30 p.m. In that context, this motion is extremely important. Under the motion, we in Dáil Éireann call on the Executive to ensure that any restructuring of the promissory note is done on the basis of a fair sharing of the burden. If it is not possible for Ireland to share the burden of bailing...

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: If the Government accepts such a deal, it is putting its hands up and surrendering. It is saying that the Irish people will, after all, pay its debts and everyone else’s debts as well.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: That is why I support a strategy that says that if there is no burden sharing or meaningful solidarity with our European colleagues, then and only then should we simply not continue to pay the debt, because we cannot. I accept that such a strategy is not risk-free. It would be less risky to continue to be the chumps of Europe and try to pay all of the money. It would be less risky, at...

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I make a plea to my fellow Deputies who catastrophise about what would happen if the Government took a stand to look at the literature and examine what happened in similar situations. They do not need to believe me. John McHale, who is the chairman of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, said at a conference a few months ago that the consequences of this sort of crisis were significantly less...

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: That time is now.

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: As the longest serving Member of this House, the Taoiseach knows better than anyone that it is the constitutional obligation of Dáil Éireann to hold the Cabinet to account. He stated earlier that there is €40 billion at stake in this legislation and I ask fellow Members how we are fulfilling our constitutional obligation this evening in this way. This is a highly technical...

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: That means the Minister will be able to sit down with Governor Honohan and the President of the European Central Bank, Mr. Mario Draghi, and say, "Let us all agree to turn this €28 billion promissory note into a 40 year bond", and we in this House will have no say. We will have no vote because we will be giving the Minister that authority in this Bill. That issuing of a security is...

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I want the Minister to withdraw this Bill and come back to the House before the courts open for business in the morning with the minimal legislation needed to protect State assets-----

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: -----and then come back with wider legislation and allow this House, including the Government's TDs, do what it was elected to do, and allow the finance committee play its role. Let us talk about it, debate it and then vote on it. This Bill, brought in this way this evening, is very dangerous and it is a fundamental erosion of parliamentary democracy. I ask all Members to think very hard...

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Given that the Dáil has been given 15 minutes for Committee Stage for this €40 billion legislation-----

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: Given that Dáil Eireann has been given 15 minutes on Committee Stage for this €40 billion legislation, I wish to ask whether securities as defined in section 1 are what the Taoiseach was speaking about in his speech on the restructuring of the promissory note, and whether it is the intention of the Bill to transfer the debt owed to two dead banks to the Central Bank of Ireland and...

Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I seek clarification that what this Bill will do is to transfer the €28 billion of debt the State owes to two dead banks in such a way that the State will now owe the same €28 billion of debt to the European Central Bank. It sounds as though the potential structure of a new deal is imminent. It sounded as though the Taoiseach was suggesting this will be discussed by the...

Promissory Notes: Motion (12 Feb 2013)

Stephen Donnelly: I cannot quite believe that this is happening to the Irish people, notwithstanding the efforts of the Government. When the dust has settled, €142 billion of senior debt, guaranteed in 2008, will end up being paid; €35 billion committed to Anglo and Irish Nationwide will end up being paid. All this is to be paid by the Irish people. The motion before the House asks Dáil...