Results 21,321-21,340 of 35,889 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: 792. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of pre-financing, by programme, her Department has applied for in the current phase of EU funding programmes; the amount that is likely to be reimbursed to the European Commission; the reasons this money will be reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20582/16]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: EU Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: 813. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of pre-financing by programme her Department has applied for in the current phase of EU funding programmes; the amount that is likely to be reimbursed to the European Commission; the reason this money will be reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20574/16]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: 837. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount of pre-financing by programme his Department has applied for with regard to the current phase of EU funding programmes; the amount that is likely to be reimbursed to the European Commission; the reasons this money will be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20576/16]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: My comments on section 2 will connect with amendment No. 5 to section 3 for the purpose of following the debate. The concern which I raised on Second Stage is that section 2 confers on the Minister the ability to do "[a]ll such things as are necessary or expedient to be done for the purposes of the State's performing its functions under the Loan Facility Agreement". Section 3 states very...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: We are focused on the quantum of money and how sections 2 and 3 interact. Obviously, there is a bigger issue which goes beyond the amount of money that could be paid by the State from the Central Fund. This relates to whether any of the other articles in the agreement could be reviewed or amended without prior notice or the consent of the Oireachtas. If we take the word of the Minister of...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: All of the articles of the agreement, for example, those on the payment of interest, fees, information undertakings, payment mechanisms and the calculations, can be changed with the consent of the member states and with the consent of the Minister at that point in time.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: It might be highly unlikely but we have seen dramatic changes. We even see what is happening in Italy, where there would be an undermining of what we are discussing if the authorities in that country bail out their banks as opposed to bailing them in, which is now commonly accepted as what would happen in Europe. All of this is in flux. There have been amendments and changes as issues have...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: Does the Minister of State understand the concern we have about this? Setting aside the fact the quantum of money cannot increase, with the agreement of the European partners who are signed up to the agreement the terms can change. They could change substantially with agreement at a meeting in Brussels or Frankfurt. All of the agreement upon which the legislation hinges could be altered...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: No, it is actually about the areas contained in the agreement itself, which can be changed as allowed for by Article 24. The conditions of utilisation could completely change. The interest could completely change. The repayments could completely change overnight, without any question coming back to the Dáil or Seanad. We have committed €1.8 billion on the basis of this.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: There would not be a net cost to the Exchequer. Parties like me would support the legislation because we have argued in favour of bailing in bondholders and a backstop. While we do not agree with this formulation, the ECB should provide a backstop and there should be a separation of sovereign debt. At least we are getting somewhere, but all of this could change without reverting to...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: Yes and there is no requirement for a change to be approved by the Houses.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: We are dealing with section 2 which reads:Minister may perform functions for purposes of Loan Facility Agreement2. All such things as are necessary or expedient to be done for the purposes of the State's performing its functions under the Loan Facility Agreement may be done by the Minister and there is conferred, by virtue of this section, on the Minister all the powers necessary in that...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: Of course, it could.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: We are giving the Government a blank cheque.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: Look at it-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: That is the problem.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: Will the Minister of State let me finish?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister of State got very defensive. It is a blank cheque in all matters, except the amount of money that we will make available to the facility. There are likely to be more problems in Europe in the future and people will consider how we should address them. One of the ways to do so would be by amending the loan facility agreement. The Government would not have to revert to...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: I will conclude on this point. The Minister of State has championed political reform previously and I am sure he still holds those views. Given all of the difficulties, why would he be opposed to any amendment to the loan facility agreement being laid before the Houses for its approval? That is democracy. That represents proper parliamentary oversight in the best way possible. If it is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Single Resolution Board (Loan Facility Agreement) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Pearse Doherty: Okay.