Results 11,621-11,640 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Virtually all the focus on the debate has been as if somehow the inquiry system would be some sort of investigation into individuals. I believe it would rarely if ever involve an investigation into individuals. It would investigate all the matters that cause controversy in the health services or whatever. People would be involved and that is why we must have the potential for findings that...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Yes. It could make findings that might inform future policy or law.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Yes. If someone is derelict in their duty and that is found by the investigation and the evidence adduced is clear, should that not be shown? Is the problem in this country not that all the failures are said to be systemic and no one is responsible for anything? I was going to entice myself to talk about financial services but I will resist. It is clear that in certain activities in the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The word "findings" is an all-embracing phrase. The word captures whatever findings are made. One need not specify "adverse", "positive" or anything else. "Findings" can be whatever they are.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: It is, but I will not suggest what the Supreme Court had in mind. However, the intention is to be able to make findings which could be good or bad. I do not believe I have left out anything else. I thank Senator Mullen for his contribution and his amendment. I genuinely believe the amendment I have fits the policy as intended from the year long deliberation involving some of the best legal...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I confess it was the Dáil.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I am obviously not going to have a meeting of minds with Senator Mullen and I daresay it will not be the first or last issue on which we will have a different view. I hope we will leave respecting each other's differences. The issues are well rehearsed. The correct balance is in the proposed wording. I reject the amendment because it upsets the fair balance and would bring us back to a...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: There have been instances where significant allegations were made and left hanging for years on end before they could be rebutted. That is not good. People should have the right of rebuttal and the amendment will create a much more speedy system of doing that. Adversarial as these Houses sometimes are, Members of these Houses will demand in a much more overt way that due process be...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I am glad he was not around in 1937. If he had been, we certainly would not have the safeguards that are afforded to the Houses of the Oireachtas now in terms of guaranteeing our papers or the right to have privilege. If I were proposing that we should have absolute privilege for any utterance made in the House I think the Senator would be doing a war dance. One may already impugn somebody...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I invite the Senator to read the Bill when it is published. Only the draft heads are available now. If he thinks it is not robust enough I will look at anything he suggests.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: They are not. I never said that.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I am simply saying they are not perfect.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: That is something for another day.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I am not suggesting that this mechanism is to trump all other mechanisms rather I am saying that we need Parliament to have a mechanism. The commission of investigation route will be used in the future and also the tribunals of inquiry route will be appropriate for other investigations. We are broadening the options available to work in the public interest. This is what is being asked for....

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Everything we do by way of investigation will impact on people, whether a class of people or an individual person. I trust my colleagues. I acknowledge it will be a new challenge for them. Members will have to recuse themselves from participation in some work on the basis of constituency or previous utterances. A discipline will be required but, by and large, people involved in other work...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: Populism is the issue. Senator Mullen's argument is that politicians court popularity and I do not think this is true. I do not think with my job if I was to court popularity-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I will do my duty by my country and which is my constitutional duty. I am happy and honoured to do so.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I think we have heard enough.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: I understand that the Deputy is interested in the 'grace period' and its effects. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provided for a period within which pensions are unaffected by the pay cuts introduced in that Act. This 'grace period was due to expire by the end of 2010 however it was extended to 29 February 2012 to avoid too large a number of public...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (27 Sep 2011)

Brendan Howlin: The surplus generated by the National Lottery is transferred annually to the Exchequer and is applied to part-fund the Exchequer allocations to a specified range of expenditure subheads across various Votes. The amount transferred to the Exchequer from the Lottery surplus, together with details of the total Exchequer allocations to the relevant lottery supported subheads are published each...