Results 2,221-2,240 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan
- Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: I am delighted the Ceann Comhairle chose this issue and thank him for doing so. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, for being here. The Topical Issue concerns flood relief, particularly on the south Kilkenny bank of the River Suir. My part of the world is blessed with many things, including many rivers, which have many beneficial effects in terms of tourism and scenery, but...
- Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: I just need one minute to thank the Minister of State for being present. It is amazing the number of times in my time in both Houses that Ministers - I suppose, naturally - could not be present to answer Topical Issues, which they are now called. They used to be called Adjournment matters when the Acting Chairman was in his heyday, although his heyday still has some time to go.
- Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: I say sincerely that this is very good news and I am sure there will be more contact between me, my office, the council and the OPW before these measures are carried out. The Kilkenny county song is "The Rose of Mooncoin", and there is a line in it about the banks of the Suir that flows down by Mooncoin. If and when these works are delivered-----
- Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (27 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: -----we will look forward to welcoming the Minister of State to the banks of the Suir that flows down by Pilltown and Mooncoin sometime soon.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: Before we begin, I remind members and delegates to turn off their mobile phones as the interference caused by them affects sound quality and the transmission of proceedings. Apologies have been received from Deputy Pearse Doherty and Deputy David Cullinane, who is being substituted for by Deputy Maurice Quinlivan. I welcome the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal...
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: The old practice in State agencies - I am thinking particularly of local authorities but it was seen in other aspects of public service - was that funding for roads, for example, was granted at the start of the year. Sometimes that would lead to spending later in the year to ensure that funding was not lost the following year. We all have some experience of those practices, as many of us...
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: If the phone causing interference is not turned off, we will have to tell people to leave them outside the door.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: The Deputy has made his point. The Minister has a different perspective. Does the Minister wish to address other questions that were asked?
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: For those sceptics who thought that the new politics were not real, it is interesting to see the last speaker agreeing with Deputy Boyd Barrett. That is a flippant comment and, in fairness, I know that Deputy Seán Barrett's view is genuine.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: I have a number of questions. It was reported on the front page of yesterday's edition of theIrish Examinerthat the European Commission gave a rather strong rebuttal to the Government on the new first-time buyers initiative and the suspension of water charges. In light of this, and the evidence the committee has heard from experts who previously came before it to the effect that the housing...
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: Ironically, the Minister was the only person to mention agriculture. There are not many farmers in Phibsboro, Cabra or Stoneybatter.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: There has been much comment and speculation in the agricultural media on downward pressures on agricultural capital spending. In particular, I am thinking about investment in the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, which the Department operates to help farmers with capital projects they are aiming to construct. I wish to relate to the Minister the importance of this matter....
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: I do not believe anybody asked about new recruits to the public sector and those who have come into the public sector in recent years. There have been indications on pay restoration for younger teachers, nurses and gardaí. Will the Minister briefly outline what has been set aside and what impact it will have on the fiscal space? The issue of retention was brought to prominence for me...
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: We are talking about the budget.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: Is this related to the budget?
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: Okay, but-----
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: The Minister might answer Deputy Boyd Barrett briefly.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: No.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: It is not to do with budget 2017.
- Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Current and Capital Expenditure: Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (21 Sep 2016)
John Paul Phelan: The Deputy did raise that earlier on.