Results 14,801-14,820 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Fianna Fáil had 14 years to amend it if Senator Byrne felt this way.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Congratulations.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Go raibh maith agat. I am very glad to have the opportunity yet again to come to the Seanad to discuss this issue. I have had many discussions with Senator O'Donnell on this matter, including in my office. I thought we had a meeting of minds. I would not characterise her as she has characterised me as an opponent or an adversary on this matter. I respect her views. This House is a...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This issue was previously debated in the Seanad in May of last year when I had the opportunity to discuss the matter and to hear the views of Senators, and have had heard the views of many individual Senators since. As member are aware, the National Lottery Bill was published before Christmas and has passed Second Stage. The Committee Stage of the Bill is currently before the Dail. I look...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It has varied year on year. The most recent figures I have looked at were for 2011, and at that stage it was 30.05% in that year. The Bill has a number of purposes, in particular: to continue to provide a legislative framework for the operation of a national lottery; to continue to safeguard the integrity of the national lottery, for example through the continued safeguarding of cash...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I have instructed all senior officials in my Department on the clear channel, so that all issues relating to the awarding of this contract will be handled with absolute probity. There should be no doubt whatsoever about it. It is envisaged that the competition will commence during the second quarter of 2013. My Department is being assisted in the financial and commercial aspects of the...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: How am I to ensure it remains entirely within the State-----

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ----- unless I determine the outcome of the bid, which I am not entitled to do?

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Bidders from other jurisdictions, as well as Ireland, may well bid for the licence. I do not know yet but I hope they do. Therefore, it follows that the licence cannot deliberately be kept under Irish ownership. I have explained this point repeatedly. The State may set the terms for both the competition and the licence itself - these terms concern the duration of the licence and the final...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Moreover, that word will be tested very quickly because, as Members will be aware on foot of the announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Health, the Government is now advancing this development and a project team has been appointed. I have no other money available for this purpose. The Government will build the children's hospital in the shortest possible time and the dedicated...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: By definition, it is somehow distasteful for someone to come up with such a big wad of money. Senator O'Donnell also said that to get less than ¤500 million would be a failure. I do not know how much the sale of the national lottery will realise because we have strict conditionalities. If we did not have the regulator, the licence regime, the protection of minors and the protection...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: No.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There is no-----

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It is not lawful.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: We would have to tender for it.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: We would get no money otherwise.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Over how long?

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: If we do not get the money, we do not have it by definition.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: So we shut down all the sporting groups and the arts?

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I opposed it at the time for that very reason.