Results 1,861-1,880 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: It is on the printing presses as we speak.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: Due to tax changes.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: Can the local authority housing department now take action in court against a tenant in the private rented sector just as it can against someone in its own housing stock?

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Second Stage. (2 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: Can ordinary citizens complain directly to the board?

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: It is important that all the amendments tabled on the Committee Stages of these Bills are discussed. A complaint was made in the Lower House last week in regard to the Residential Tenancies Bill 2003 about the fact that 25 Government amendments were not even reached. This House needs to discuss all the amendments and I thank the Leader for making time available for the debate. There is still...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: Fianna Fáil is full of little Irelanders.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: They don't believe Senator Kitt.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: It is a matter for the Standards in Public Office Commission.

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, subsection (1), line 32, to delete "Government" and substitute "Houses of the Oireachtas". I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This grouping of amendments encompasses one issue on which, I suspect, we will need to spend some time. My party has welcomed the publication of this Bill and we see the operation of the new commission as an important new...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: The Minister of State is right that this matter was discussed at length on Committee Stage in the other House. The views we have outlined are genuinely thought out and it is appropriate that the establishment of these new commissions should be within the remit of the Houses of the Oireachtas. We are establishing a new set of inquiries which hopefully will have more political effect in...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: There are more whipping boys if anything goes wrong.

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: I agree with the Minister of State on the need for all-party committees. People need to read the Abbeylara judgment. The Houses still have the potential to do much greater committee and investigative work. While we may not make findings of fact against individuals, we may make clear recommendations on a range of other issues related to policy, outcomes and performance. Too often, the...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: As I will not have an opportunity to discuss my amendment later, I ask the Minister of State to clarify the position with regard to appointments. Whatever about a Minister establishing terms of reference or receiving a report from a commission, the notion that he or she would hand pick people to serve as members of a commission without reference to the Government is a step too far. I am sure...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: Section 3(3) states that the "order establishing a commission shall specify" the matter to be investigated and, in paragraph (b), "the Minister responsible for overseeing administrative matters relating to the establishment of the commission, for receiving its reports and for performing any other functions given to him or her under this Act." I presume that if a commission is established...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: That is precisely the point because it is unusual in a legislative context for retrospection to be included in a Bill of this nature.

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: I move amendment No. 7: In page 8, subsection (2), line 7, after "reference" to insert "so as to incorporate a particular matter". The amendments both deal with the constraints regarding amendment of a commission's terms of reference as stipulated in section 6(2). It is necessary to include the words "so as to incorporate a particular matter" after "reference" in this subsection. One must...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: The problem with all these matters is that they may ultimately come to the High Court or Supreme Court for decision. We only have one chance to get this right. We are all aware of some well celebrated court cases where individuals have driven a coach and four through existing legislation. It may well be the case that the format proposed in these amendments does not meet the desired end and I...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: The section deals with amending the terms of reference to provide for the consideration of other matters. According to the advice we received, the section states the terms of reference cannot be amended where to do so would prejudice the rights of any person who has co-operated or provided information to a commission. This grants immunity from further and deeper investigation to those who...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Brian Hayes: I accept that.