Results 161-180 of 29,211 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: That is very interesting in our law. I am sure the Minister will make all these points in his Second Stage conclusion.

Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: That is something that also causes me some concern about the way we deal with citizenship rights. The Minister will have ample opportunity in his Second Stage retort. The Minister is clearly not in listening mode. He is much more content——

Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: He is much more content to seek conflict with this side of the House than engage with real issues and real families and real people which is the kernel of what I am trying to put to him this evening. I am sure the Minister will put on his best lawyer's hat and he——

Irish Nationality and Citizenship Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: There are those who are entitled to Irish citizenship under existing law by virtue of having an Irish grandparent. It is interesting that when it comes to affinity or connection to the State, people can live here for many years and not be deemed to have such an affinity or tie. Yet someone from South Africa or New Zealand who happens to have an Irish grandparent and who may never have set...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (2 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Question 142: To ask the Minister for Transport when the full penalty points system will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26962/04]

Written Answers — Speed Limits: Speed Limits (2 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Question 151: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans for the changeover of all speed limits from miles to the metric system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26961/04]

Written Answers — Hospital Accommodation: Hospital Accommodation (2 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Question 232: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the ongoing bed crisis at Wexford General Hospital; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there are up to 25 persons on trolleys in the accident and emergency area of Wexford General Hospital; when the additional 19 inpatient beds will be provided; if she will provide...

Regulatory Reform. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: On the Taoiseach's commitment to minimise red tape and bureaucracy in terms of how it impacts on entrepreneurship, will he indicate to the House how new legislative measures are vetted in their impact on small businesses? The Construction Industry Federation and IBEC claim the recently published Health and Safety Bill is very burdensome in this regard.

Regulatory Reform. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: A raft of new regulations needs to be considered now.

Regulatory Reform. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: The ambulance drivers in Wexford need life jackets now.

Employment Legislation. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Question 71: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he intends to take to introduce measures to provide legal protection for whistleblowers who wish to expose illegalities or wrongdoing on the part of their employers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28324/04]

Employment Legislation. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister of State for such a comprehensive analysis of the Labour Party Bill. However, I did not ask about that Bill but about the measures he intended to introduce. By and by, he eventually got around to answering that part of the question by stating that there would be a sectoral approach. Is the Minister aware of the success of the British legislation in this area, known as the...

Employment Legislation. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Since the Minister of State and the senior Minister are both new to the Department, I ask them to look again at this issue. A sectoral approach is a way of long fingering real change. There is no obstacle to having one overarching piece of legislation that automatically protects all employees at the same time, rather than waiting for an appropriate piece of legislation which in some areas...

Lisbon Agenda. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Is the Minister of State not taking all the related questions together?

Lisbon Agenda. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. While a great deal of work has clearly gone into expanding the role of research and development in Ireland, perhaps I might ask a few specific questions. Notwithstanding all we have done in terms of Science Foundation Ireland and the chief science adviser to the Government, when will Ireland meet the action plan target to spend 2.5%...

Lisbon Agenda. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Has it been good, bad or indifferent?

Lisbon Agenda. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: We all acknowledge that, on the basis of his previous job, the Minister is extremely good at commissioning reports, but we would like to see results. There is nothing other than the 2010 target date to achieve the level of research and development that those who are charged with formulating the new strategy for Europe regard as critical now. Does the Minister of State regard this deficiency...

Lisbon Agenda. (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: We have listened to the laudable list of objectives set out in the Lisbon Agenda. Does the Minister of State accept that the outgoing European Commission President, Mr. Romano Prodi, has labelled the process a big failure? Does he also accept that the expert group, chaired by the former Dutch Prime Minister, Mr. Wim Kok, published its report in the past few days indicating there is a lack of...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (16 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Question 117: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a report produced for his Department found that State bodies charged with protecting employment rights were so ineffectual that the entire system is entirely dysfunctional; the steps he intends to take to address the serious shortcoming identified in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28325/04]

Tax Collection. (23 Nov 2004)

Brendan Howlin: Question 66: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made by the Revenue Commissioners into allegations that tax improprieties may surround trust operations in a bank (details supplied) in Jersey; if the Revenue has reached a determination regarding whether these trusts facilitated tax evasion as distinct from tax avoidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29849/04]