Results 13,121-13,140 of 23,892 for speaker:Michael Healy-Rae

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: The committee is meeting in public session. We have received apologies from Deputy Brophy and Senator Leyden. I remind members and others to switch off their phones. We are honoured to have an engagement today with Mr. Kevin Cardiff from the European Court of Auditors. I welcome Mr. Cardiff on behalf of the committee. I also welcome his colleagues, in particular Mr. Janusz Wojciechowski,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: I thank Mr. Cardiff very much for that great overview. It is good to see everything laid out and explained in some detail. It is important for us and the work that we are doing to be in tune with what Mr. Cardiff has been doing with the European Court of Auditors. His replacement is Tony Murphy. We wish him every good luck with his important role. We look forward to keeping up the level...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: I also thank the witnesses for the report. What early work has the court done on Brexit and the future funding of the EU after the UK leaves? My father always taught me to take everyone's advice and guidance especially when it comes to people of experience like the witnesses. As such, is there anything they would like to point out to the committee in relation to the position after the UK...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: Mr. Cardiff spoke about young farmers and proofing schemes and programmes. I will give an example of how the delivery of funding can go very far off the rails. One could go to an agricultural college 30 years ago for a period of not even 12 months. One started in September and did one's exam in June and one got one's green certificate. All that was required of one was to get one's green...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: We understand. We relayed your apology earlier, so the witnesses understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: To be perfectly fair, the man that started all of this was Mr. Cardiff. He was talking about the protection of the schemes from a financial point of view and delivering results on the ground. He said it was important that they provided value for money, and that it means something to the recipient of the money at the end of the line. He also said it was important that the recipient would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: It is great to broaden a debate, especially with our guests. It is our chance to let them see the type of problems that we, as representatives, deal with among the people who are affected, either positively or negatively, by the different funding streams. Do the witnesses see and understand the type of problems that we as representatives encounter when we are dealing with those who are so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Court of Auditors Annual Report 2016: Discussion (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: I offer Mr. Cardiff every good personal wish for the future. He did everybody a great service in being such a respectable man about his job, very dedicated and straightforward to deal with. It was widely recognised in both Houses of the Oireachtas and was appreciated. I wish him good luck in the future. I thank the witnesses for being here today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: With all due respect, I do not know about accusing people in businesses like this of ripping people off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: Not that it has anything to do with anything, but at the same time as we are told to do it, I want to declare that I have been the owner of a small petrol station for many years. Mr. Nolan spoke about motorway services. I am grateful to and thank those involved in the private sector. I am thinking of the Fitzpatricks, Pat McDonagh and others who have done great work in providing services...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: The report continues:Ultimately, TII failed to develop its own services and opened the M8/M7 without service areas over a distance of 101km. The authority’s latest position is that the earliest date for services is 2020, but this is subject to finance and planning permission.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: We do not have a service in this room.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: I will return to something Mr. Nolan said in which he insinuated that he had no problem with the private sector opening service stations, but at the same time TII used its position to make objections to those looking for planning permission to build them. That is outrageous. Neither the Fitzpatricks, Mr. McDonagh nor anyone like them has contacted me or asked me to raise this matter, I do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: I said that the TII objected.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: It is a ghost.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: I never said the TII appealed any planning decision. I said it objected to planning applications and I have information that this is a fact, in the shape of a letter from the TII to Clare County Council stating it was considered premature to grant planning permission for Mr. McDonagh's proposed development near the Ennis bypass. The TII also reminded the council of its own plan for services...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: Is that not factually incorrect?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: Is Mr. Nolan telling me that, on the file, in no way does he reference his plans for his own service station?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: I am asking again because I do not want to ever wrong anybody. Is it on the file or not that Mr. Nolan states his own plans to build a service station?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (24 Jan 2018)

Michael Healy-Rae: So what I said is correct. The only disagreement we have is that Mr. Nolan is calling the letter an observation and I call it an objection. That is the only difference between us. I do not want it to appear that I said anything wrong here because I did not. What I have said is factually correct.