Results 17,981-18,000 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, he is.

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I listened with respect to every Member so Deputy Mathews should afford me the same courtesy.

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The party decides what to do with the funding, not one individual or one small group. As Deputy Ó Cuív put it, the money is our money collectively, not individually. We have been consistent in our interpretation in this regard. This is the reason the Ceann Comhairle is included in the calculations as the money is for the party, not for the use of the Ceann Comhairle. He was...

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: As I have already stated, this allowance is designed to support a party political system.

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Chair should protect me. The Deputy is incapable of listening to anybody but his own voice.

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: It is unfair of the Deputy to suggest that I am not telling the truth. I have never been accused of that in 30 years in this House and will not stand idly by as the Deputy does it now.

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have explained ad nauseam but the Deputy understands it better than me that this is a party funding system. He does not agree with it but shouting me down does not help convince me of his argument. As I have already stated, the average per Member is €39,681. If one looks at the individual allocation, it proportionately gives an advantage to the smaller parties and a greater...

Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move:That the Bill be referred to Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: That is shocking.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Priorities - that is new services.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: New services.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: New services.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: All policy, guidance and implementation measures relating to capital projects is published on the Construction Procurement Reform website where the Capital Works Management Framework provides a suite of best practice guidance, standard contracts and generic template documents are available to download for all contracting authorities to provide a consistent approach to the management of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Contracts (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) public works contracts include a clause on Pay and Conditions of Employment which requires all those employed on the works to be paid in accordance with all applicable law.  The following reference is made in relation to payment and conditions of employment of workers: The Contractor shall ensure that the rates of pay and the conditions of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Solidarity Fund (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: On 16 January 2014, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, reported to the House on the recent severe storm damage. In that context, he advised the House that the Government is exploring all possible sources of funding to meet the costs which have arisen from the storm damage, including a possible application under the EU Solidarity Fund. He said that...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I welcome the opportunity to support this motion in the House. This will permit the making of regulations to enable the application of the provision of the freedom of information legislation to Irish Water, Uisce Éireann. The measure is being introduced in line with the procedures set out in the existing FOI legislation, but will of course continue in force once the new FOI legislation...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: They have not yet been determined.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I thank Senators from all sides of the House for their support for this motion. Fianna Fáil’s record on freedom of information is inglorious and we will take no lectures from the party on it. There is a certain populist tone coming from Senator Byrne when he speaks about a bonus culture and so forth. That runs well in a newspaper headline. However, practices have been bedded...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I want to hear reasoned arguments and if they are reasonable I will accept them. I am not surrendering or U-turning because I hear wise counsel-----

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Brendan Howlin: -----on a rare occasion. Senator Barrett inquired about Irish Water coming under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General. That office has the distinct role of monitoring voted expenditure. It cannot oversee expenditure in a commercial company. We vote moneys for a purpose; the Comptroller and Auditor General’s job is to ensure it is spent accordingly. Is he to judge the...