Results 1,601-1,620 of 4,928 for speaker:Peter Mathews
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: It still remains the unknown unknown and that is all wrong because we cannot take control of our situation unless we know what has happened and how we got there. On the question of commercial sensitivity, in the area of the health and safety for the population there are no holds barred. The freedom of information process can dig as deep and go wherever it wishes, as can the inquiries, but...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: It is about expertise.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for the submission and their explanations of it. I think Deputy McDonald has highlighted the need for transparency, completeness and accuracy of information on the bureaucracy side in regard to the files, the information and the statistics. However, there is also the visibility of the human picture side, which actually affects the lives of the people...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: If refugees come here and are living in direct provision centres, and they apply for residency, usually the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Department of Justice and Equality will ask questions in the country of origin to know if there are any criminal or other records. There is always a danger in such documentation from the country of origin that people in that country resent the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for appearing before the committee. It is taken as correct that in order to be fair to people, irrespective of age, we should look at the scheme with new eyes. Fairness and compassion are the two words that still obtain. The starting point is that people with disability and who have been means-tested are the potential applicants for the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: There will be the opportunity to move forward once we know the full range of facts, possibilities and limitations. As the Minister echoed again, we must bear in mind compassion and fairness for people who, by definition, are disadvantaged through disability and means.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: I referred earlier to that last point. If we know the facts and the low, medium and highest estimates, we have a sensitivity analysis of the exposure. There is an irony with regard to this issue. The mobility allowance was introduced in 1979, when in public thinking and society in general we were becoming more conscious about giving people with disability the chance to go to work and to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Mobility and Motorised Transport Allowances: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: The question is could the Department bring these considerations back to Government and officials in the Department so as to reflect a fairer society?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: Thank you, Minister. We move on to Question No. 3.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: We have run out of time, Deputy. It is very strict. Four minutes are allowed for each reply.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: There are four minutes for the reply.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: There is a total of six minutes for each question and reply.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: I have to do my duty. I do not enjoy it.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: The last supplementary question went into three minutes and I warned the Deputy when there were two minutes remaining for the reply. Please be reasonable.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: Deputy Daly, I will let you know when there are two minutes remaining for the entire question and supplementary.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: No; we are ahead of the posse. Keep going.
- Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: We have eight minutes overall for the questions and answers, and others may join in the questioning.
- Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: Would Deputy Ó Fearghaíl like to let the Minister answer that and then respond? The questions should be limited to one minute so that there is a conversation.
- Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: Are there any supplementary questions?
- Other Questions: Departmental Properties (7 Feb 2013)
Peter Mathews: I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl. That was the perfect minute.