Results 8,541-8,560 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I move amendment No. 44: In page 20, line 36, to delete "(4B)(bb)" and substitute "(4B)(bb), (4B)(bd)".

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I have great sympathy with the amendments and I would love to accept them, but I had to get legal advice on whether the use of "Chairperson" would be more appropriate than "Chairman". In the Constitution the Ceann Comhairle is referred to as the Chairman of Dáil Éireann. The reference appears in a number of places, specifically in Articles 14, 15, 16, 22, 24, 27, 31, 33 and 35. The term...

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: A valid submission could be made on the matter to the constitutional convention. Perhaps Deputy Murphy will be a participant in it herself.

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I can understand clearly where Deputies Donnelly and Murphy are coming from. The gender balance provisions we are putting in the Bill are ambitious. It refers to the participation of women in politics in particular, but we must be conscious of the fact that 15.19% of candidates elected in the last general election were women. It is a fair challenge to get to 30% between now and the next...

Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank Deputy Niall Collins of Fianna Fáil, Deputies Stanley and McLellan of Sinn Féin, Deputies Catherine Murphy and Donnelly of the Technical Group, Deputy Ciarán Lynch, chair of the environment committee, and the officials for their co-operative work on this political funding Bill. The legislation's provisions were part of the programme for Government. I am delighted we were able to...

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to outline the Government's response to the Mahon tribunal's final report, which is being published today. Engaging in a debate on this topic is important because, at its core, is the issue of trust. Trust is essential to any democracy. It is what is vested in each public representative at the point of election and it is what is expected of...

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Yes.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Mahon tribunal report shows that this is exactly what happens when vested interests and self-serving influencing and decision-making undermine and corrupt the system. The trust vested in all politicians at both national or local levels was betrayed by some politicians. As a result of both the corrupt acts of a few individuals and the extensive evidence uncovered and published in the...

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: That is fine.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: A senior counsel is investigating this matter on behalf of the Department.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: What does the Deputy expect me to do? I cannot interfere with the ongoing investigation.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am obliged to operate legally.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: It is good enough for me, if not for the Deputy.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I will have to ask the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: There was a court case.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: He was, however, convicted.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am carrying the can for the Deputy's predecessors.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am carrying the can for Fianna Fáil.

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Has the Deputy's party investigated the conduct of the five Fianna Fáil councillors in Waterford?

Government Response to Mahon Tribunal Recommendations: Statements (19 Jul 2012)

Phil Hogan: Has Fianna Fáil conducted an internal investigation into the activities of its members?