Results 1,581-1,600 of 16,478 for speaker:Tommy Broughan

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I wanted to ask him about our reserves given that we are considering the National Oil Reserves Agency Bill. What role does the Minister envisage for biofuels? In this regard, Deputy Boyle referred to a proposal for a development in Cork and we know of another well publicised one in Limerick.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: It is about biofuels.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I am supporting the amendment because the Minister should have included a section on biofuels in the context of our reserves. On Second Stage, the Minister and I had a lengthy discussion on the period for which reserves should last. The EU requirement stipulates 90 days and the Minister referred to a period of 108 days. I contended that it should be at least 120 days. Biofuels could...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: We had a lengthy discussion of these Report Stage amendments, and I made the point they do not all belong together.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: Their being grouped together by the Bills Office or whomever is responsible was incorrect. A central theme runs through them that all regulators, State agencies and bodies must ultimately be accountable to the people through the Oireachtas. The Executive must take final responsibility. Deputy Durkan seeks to change the approach that we have taken in a great deal of legislation in recent...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: ——and he chose to include in his amendments the phrase "with the approval of Dáil Éireann". I applaud him for that and I welcome the spirit in which it was done. However, I would not like to interfere in the operational freedom of the agency, which we want to be successful and to be in a position to carry out its work on behalf of Ireland and its people. Amendment No. 53 relates to...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: Does the Minister advertise them?

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: What about a talent bank?

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: That is very rare.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: It sounds very like that.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: The poacher has turned into the gamekeeper.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: Upon examining this tranche of amendments, I agree with the Minister that it is important not to intrude on the independent workings of the company and to allow it to carry out its functions. It would be unfair to invigilate more in respect of NORA than other companies and would make life unworkable. The spirit of Deputy Durkan's amendments is important because he is seeking to have the...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I welcome the Minister's statement. If we were to examine the matter of exploration more seriously, we would search for a vehicle other than NORA, but the only option open to the Opposition benches is to try to develop that idea through this Bill. Regarding the company's strategy statement, there was an example yesterday of a report lying in the Oireachtas Library for 21 days and we were not...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: What that Department does is a mystery to everyone in the House and the media. There will be a restructuring of the Government. While communications, broadcasting and so on would comprise a massive Department, energy, the subject of today's business must also comprise a large Department. Marine matters should be pulled together in a separate Department because they relate to a more...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: One tends to examine that side of the matter, particularly the Comptroller and Auditor General's comments on a gross misexpenditure of money, but this is a slightly different issue. I urge the Minister to adopt amendment No. 68 because it would do no harm.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I am sympathetic to the spirit of Deputy Durkan's amendment relating to the Standards in Public Office Commission. Given the high standards imposed on parliamentarians relating to personal financial probity, it is reasonable that similar standards apply across the State sector.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I repeat that I am broadly sympathetic with the point of view articulated by Deputy Durkan. Is the Minister saying this point is sufficiently covered by section 14(10) of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 as it relates to the director appointed? That is the thrust of what Deputy Durkan is seeking to achieve. As he stated, there have been isolated cases where people have been alleged to...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: Which amendment are we discussing?

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I thank Deputy Durkan. I support amendment No. 12. Many issues have arisen over the past year, particularly the last six to nine months, regarding the oil industry and its distribution network. At present, we do not seem to have any agency other than the Competition Authority to take account of the market's competitive nature. The past year has seen substantial increases in oil prices and...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)

Tommy Broughan: So we have discussed up as far as amendment No. 67.