Results 1,521-1,540 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (22 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: An Post is a commercial State body and the question of pension increases in the company is one in which I have no function. A recently published assessors' report, commissioned by the Labour Court, on foot of negotiations between An Post and its unions, recommended that a 5% pay increase, backdated to 1 January 2005, be implemented by the end of June 2005. I understand that An Post intends to...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (22 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble all the information sought by the Deputy. My Department is compiling the relevant material and I will write to the Deputy in this regard as soon as possible.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It is proposed to take No. 14a, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann for an EU Council framework decision to strengthen the criminal law framework for the enforcement of the law against ship-source pollution; No. 14b, motion re referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of decisions of the European Parliament and the Council...

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: There has already been a very lengthy debate on the Garda Síochána Bill.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The heads of the Bill were published and a public consultation process was initiated.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The report from the Human Rights Commission was examined.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: There was a lengthy debate on the Bill.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Regarding the 284 amendments referred to, many of these were debated extensively on a very long Committee Stage in this House. The Minister made himself available.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: During Committee Stage, the Minister indicated he would make himself available, and he did so. We had a very extensive Committee Stage. The Opposition asked that the two Morris tribunal reports should be debated before discussion on the final Stages of the Bill. The Government agreed and the reports were discussed last Friday.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In the amendments and in the Bill itself, the Government has addressed all the issues raised by the Morris tribunal reports.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: During the course of the Order of Business last week, Deputy Rabbitte made a particular plea that the Morris tribunal reports would be addressed and that was done. If the Opposition want to maximise the time available for the Bill, it should not take such actions as it did yesterday. The Opposition spent 45 minutes on recommittal——

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Opposition spent half an hour discussing the alphabetical re-ordering of a definition, 20 minutes on whether it should be "the" Garda Síochána or "an" Garda Síochána, and ten minutes on calling a quorum.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Opposition wasted nearly two hours yesterday during the course of this Bill through the House.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Regarding the not unreasonable point raised by Deputy Ó Snodaigh about a sos, I am agreeable to the Order of Business being amended to allow half an hour at 1 p.m.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Government shares the view expressed by Deputy Jim O'Keeffe and others regarding the importance of this Bill. I will not go back over how long it has already been given for consideration.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: We also share the aspiration expressed by Deputy Jim O'Keeffe and echoed by others that we finalise a Bill of which we can be proud, and that is certainly the aim of the Government and the Minister.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The best way to do so is to ensure that as much time as possible be devoted to debate on the Bill itself rather than about whether we have a guillotine. Yesterday more than two hours were wasted——

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: ——on minor technical details not at all at the core of the Bill. The fact that Deputy Ó Snodaigh and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, have an amendment in common should give us cause for further consideration.

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It is a very persuasive argument for allowing extra time. Given what has been said by Deputies and in particular what Deputy Jim O'Keeffe said about trying to be as co-operative as possible if extra time were allowed so that people can focus on the Bill itself in the debate, I know that the Minister is willing to grant extra time for it. With the House's permission, he will agree to extend...

Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Read what I said.