Results 19,281-19,300 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: It was a bit churlish of me not to state that, unusually, two of these amendments, amendments Nos. 101 and 104, are jointly sponsored by myself and Deputy Sean Fleming. To deal with the specific points he made which relate to the energy network companies, Deputies will be aware of statements made by the former Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, in...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The company itself and all its records will be subject to freedom of information. EirGrid will be subject to freedom of information.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: In so far as there is a monopoly of transmission, EirGrid will be subject to freedom of information.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: This is a work in progress. It has not settled yet.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: While I cannot pre-empt the passage of the Bill through the other House, my ambition is to have it done early in the next session. There is a six-month preparation time for it to become effective. During the course of next year, I expect all the bodies listed in these amendments to have a functioning freedom of information system. It will also be backdated. While this is a matter for...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 86:In page 72, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following:“(e) the Data Protection Commissioner, or an officer of the Commissioner, in relation to a record (save as regards a record concerning the general administration of the Office of the Commissioner); (f) the Director of Corporate Enforcement, or an officer of the Director, in relation to a record held...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 87:In page 72, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following:“(f) Gaslink Independent System Operator Limited, other than insofar as it relates to records held by it relating to its functions under its—(i) transmission system operator licence granted under section 16(1)(d), or (ii) distribution system operator licence granted under section 16(1)(f), of...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 88:In page 73, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“(i) Iarnród Éireann, insofar as it relates to the operation of Rosslare Europort and its freight operations in the State; (j) the Office of the Information Commissioner, in the performance of its functions under this Act or under the European Communities (Access to Information on the...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: We have discussed this at length. Deputies Donnelly and McDonald are proposing the deletion of the entire list of exempt and part-exempt bodies. I do not propose to accept the Deputies’ amendments. I do not believe one could have a commercial State sector operating to a completely different set of rules from its competitors. It would hamstring their capacity in achieving the best...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 90:In page 73, line 36, to delete “Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2011” and substitute “Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2014”.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 92:In page 75, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “(w) The Revenue Commissioners, in relation to a record that relates to the formation of an opinion under section 811 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 that a transaction is a tax avoidance transaction, save as regards a record that was created before—(i) the date on which an officer of the...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 93:In page 75, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “(x) The Residential Institutions Redress Board, in the performance of its functions under the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002, other than insofar as it relates to records concerning the general administration of those functions; (y) The Residential Institutions Redress Review Committee,...

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 94:In page 75, to delete lines 13 to 21.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 97:In page 75, to delete lines 31 and 32.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 101:In page 76, to delete line 6.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 102:In page 76, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “Ervia”.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Fleming may move this one.

Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: I have taken a long time with the legislation. Sometimes the Houses of the Oireachtas are criticised on the slow passage of Bills but the Bill has been significantly improved by the work of the Members of the House, in particular on Committee Stage. I have given very careful consideration to all the very strong cases made. I responded in very careful terms to very good amendments tabled by...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy within the available timeframe. I have asked the Public Appointments Service to provide the information directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (16 Jul 2014)

Brendan Howlin: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is currently conducting a competition to recruit Clerical Officers (CO) for the public service, including the Civil Service, Health Service Executive and local authorities. In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for Civil Service recruitment. Given the impact of the moratorium and the lack of...