Results 9,941-9,960 of 36,253 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Go raibh maith agat. A quote from Dr. Byrne's book, Political Corruption in Ireland 1922-2010: A Crooked Harp, which has been mentioned before states, "A corrupt Act can be camouflaged by lawful justification". I think Dr. Byrne has referenced events which may have happened in the 1970s and 1980s. Legislation was not in place at the time but if today's legislation was applied then, it...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Yes. Was it camouflaged by lawful justification as in the words used by Dr. Byrne?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: I will move to page 12 of Dr. Byrne's book where she introduces a term, which has not been discussed by the inquiry so far, "mediated corruption". Will she explain briefly to the committee the concept of "mediated corruption", who it benefits or who it does not benefit, particularly in regard to the investigations which the committee is taking on?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: There has been a lot of discussion about donations and so on. Mr. Simon Carswell who appeared before the committee yesterday spoke about the access he got to the Galway tent and that he would love to have known the conversations that were taking place. Correct me if I am wrong on my understanding of what Dr. Byrne said about mediated corruption. There was a fixation in the past in...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: In chapter 5 of Dr. Byrne's book, she mentions golden circles of the 1980s and 1990s. In page 103, she states, "This period was distinct from previous scandals because it marked the possibility of the gravest form of corruption, that of State capture within political decision making". Will Dr. Byrne speak to the committee about State capture and the type of actors involved - we are not...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Cuirim fáilte roimh Mr. McDonald go dtí an coiste. He made quite a strong statement regarding the decision making that went on in local authorities outside of Dublin when he said he has "no doubt" that corruption was involved. Will he elaborate on that? What did he observe that led him to make such a strong statement to this committee of investigation?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Is Mr. McDonald allowing for councillors' stupidity in terms of maybe not knowing what they were doing? We do not want to get into individual names because that is forbidden at this stage of the inquiry, but Mr. McDonald's statement clearly indicates corruption, which is an illegal activity. Based on what he observed, is he suggesting there was a transfer of cash or payment to individuals?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: What is Mr. McDonald's view in regard to the closing down - "halting" might be a better term - of the independent investigations that were planned for seven local authorities and subsequently replaced by reviews?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Mr. McDonald has pre-empted my next question, which is what we need to do looking forward. He has suggested an independent planning regulator should be appointed, as recommended by the tribunal. In regard to what happened in the past in terms of corruption in the planning process outside the confines of Dublin, how is that best dealt with?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: The property-State-finance nexus - the linkages between property, the State and the finance sector, and the implications thereof - is what we are discussing under this module. What are Mr. McDonald's thoughts on that dynamic? How would he describe it and what is his opinion of it based on his extensive research, particularly for the two books I have in front of me?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (12 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: Yes, I am talking about the lead-up to 2008.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Labour Activation Measures (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 251. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider providing a travel allowance for participants on the Gateway scheme who are living in a rural area and cannot avail of a bus service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12177/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Application (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 256. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of each measure that contributes to the value added tax policy gap; the cost of each measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11219/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fiscal Policy (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 257. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all environmentally related fiscal measures; the revenue raised by each one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11221/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Industry Regulation (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 267. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of customers who are still due a refund from a mis-sold payment protection insurance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11660/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Membership (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 268. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who applied for the recently announced appointment at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council; the selection process; his involvement in it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11662/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 288. To ask the Minister for Finance the position in respect of the approval of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund investment strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12028/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 369. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farm payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be made, in view of the fact that the person was previously awarded grazing rights by the courts for a disputed land parcel; when the person can also expect retrospective payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11769/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Offences (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 396. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on the body responsible for removing points for fishery offences in instances where the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has been found by the courts to have incorrectly endorsed the points applied to a fisherman's licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12175/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Money Laundering (24 Mar 2015)

Pearse Doherty: 419. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the website of a trust management company (details supplied) which advertises on the basis that it operates in a lightly regulated environment without the costs or inconveniences associated with an offshore jurisdiction. [11344/15]