Results 9,001-9,020 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Bank Lending (20 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Deputy for raising this most important issue of credit availability for small and medium enterprises. One of the key priorities of the programme for Government is to ensure an adequate pool of credit is available to fund SMEs in the real economy during the restructuring and downsizing programme of the banks. The Government has introduced a number of policy tools to achieve this...

Bank Lending (20 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: The Deputy makes a valid point. It is one question to look at how much money is being lent into the real economy and how much is being drawn down but it is entirely separate to look at the credit rating system that surrounds those businesses that have experienced difficult times. If there is an effective blacklisting or negative mark against those businesses that have gone through...

Construction Contracts Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank all colleagues for their contributions on the Bill. We have had a substantial debate in the course of the past two months. In excess of 40 or 50 colleagues spoke in the debate. There is urgency, however, in putting the legislation on the Statute Book because it was first mooted by my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, in the previous Seanad more than 16 months ago. We have done a...

Construction Contracts Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (20 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform pursuant to Standing Order 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a).

Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 before the House. It received a thorough and interesting debate in the Seanad as well as cross-party welcome. The Bill is being introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform further to the commitment made in the programme for Government to progress the statute law...

Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. Each of the 22,886 Acts within the scope of the Bill was assessed individually. This assessment determined, first, whether an Act was deemed applicable to Ireland. A broad interpretation of applicability to Ireland was used and this included Acts with a tangible connection to Ireland. In taking this cautious approach – one does not want existing rights to...

Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: That would be of particular assistance in dealing with finance Bills.

Statute Law Revision Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank all 14 colleagues who contributed to the debate. I also thank them for outlining their considered views on this important legislation. It is not every day that the Oireachtas effectively makes redundant approximately 23,000 individual items of law which date back to a previous age. Historically, this is an important day for the House. I take the point made by Deputy Alex White to...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: As advised in my reply to the Deputy's previous question in this matter on 11 January, 2012, the area concerned was assessed under the ongoing Fingal-East Meath Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study. The draft Flood Risk Management Plan prepared as part of this study was put out to public consultation, which concluded on 30 January, 2012. I understand that Fingal...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: Farmleigh Estate comprises 78 acres and includes Farmleigh House, estate offices, various workshops, Farmleigh Gallery, the Cowshed Theatre, the Stewards House and various other lodges and buildings. During the period 1 June 2007 to date, the construction projects at Farmleigh Estate included refurbishment works to the Motorhouse and the historic glasshouse in the walled garden and the...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: Before I outline the purpose and contents of the Bill, I thank the Seanad for agreeing to discuss it today. I look forward to a constructive debate on the legislation and the ESM treaty. Although a short Bill, it is of critical importance to the public finances and to our country. Enactment of the Bill is required to allow Ireland to ratify the ESM treaty which was signed by euro area...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: It is like the UN.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: This has been a useful debate and I thank colleagues for their interesting observations on this legislation. Tomorrow we can get into the detail of the Bill on Committee and Report Stages. Ireland is a small country and our ability to get out of this difficulty depends in the Government's view, and I suspect in the view of the great majority of the Houses, on negotiating our way out and...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: We are putting the firewall in place and it will happen. It is a genuine criticism that up until now, where solutions have been found, they have not been implemented. One could argue we are putting the firewall in place and that we have the fiscal treaty in place. The latter sends a very important signal on all the issues Senator Sean Barrett raised in regard to his fiscal responsibility...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: We have a bank recapitalisation plan in which we have saved money because we managed to sell off a chunk of Bank of Ireland.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I did not interrupt the Senator. It is arguable that our banking position now is better than that in Spain which is facing a crisis. It will actually have a lower tier capital ratio than ours. It is experiencing what we experienced 12 or 18 months ago. I refer to the process started by the previous Government. At least we should recognise we have gone through the process and put our...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: The Senator asked why would we put at risk the prospect of being able to draw down money at a rate of 3% or less. Effectively, when we put money into the fund with all other countries to a maximum of €80 million, the fund will borrow money in the money markets which will then be lent to countries for the purposes set out. A tiny margin will be charged on that money. Why would we want to...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (27 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together. The Office of Public Works is indeed aware of the vast coastline and erosion issues of County Kerry. The county coastline is approximately 684 km length, of which some 378 km are classified as soft coastline and approximately 108 km have been identified as being at risk from coastal erosion based on previous studies. However, other...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: I heard the Senator's remarks yesterday on Second Stage. He basically put forward the proposition that the better way of doing it is for the direct recapitalisation of the banking system through the European authorities. I do not fundamentally disagree. I would wish that to be the case. The Taoiseach made a remark that appeared this morning on the front page of The Irish Times agreeing...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Brian Hayes: Yes.