Results 2,361-2,380 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: It seems as if we are just going to have to wait for the guidelines. The purpose of NAMA is to sort out the banks. However, the scale of the problem must be examined from the people's view. Loans in this country total approximately €390 billion, many of which were backed by interbank loans made by Irish banks with their international counterparts. The feeling is that when the Government...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Senator O'Toole does not like the negativity of this so perhaps the Minister should change the words to: "The Minister shall approve a restructuring plan or business plan that does comply with the laws of the State and the European Communities". That might satisfy the Senator and make the Minister more positive in his dealings with Europe.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: We engaged in an interesting debate in respect of an earlier amendment in respect of how much power the Minister or the Government will have in the context of compelling institutions to lend money to small and medium enterprises and to extend credit to individuals. We have not yet seen the guidelines and, therefore, we do not know if they will work. I am of the view that they should be...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: I concur with Senator Donohoe's assertion that the level of ministerial accountability to this House is extremely weak. When he served as a Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, the Minister dealt with issues relating to illegal nursing home charges. One of his colleagues in that Department, who is now a Member of this House, attended regular meetings involving HSE...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: It was historical all right.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Like all legislation, this boils down to politics, economics and the legislation itself. I read somewhere that the Title of this Bill is structured in such a way that it deals with this issue as if it is some sort of national emergency and, therefore, the Minister can take very strong powers upon himself because of the pressing need for the Irish economy to have this legislation.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: I am not disputing that. I am simply stating that is the way I am reading it.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Senator is getting support that it is definitely a national emergency. When I asked the Minister on Second Stage whether this Bill would be referred to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality, he replied that he felt there was no need for that. He did not return to the issue when he responded on Second Stage, which I did not really expect him to, as almost every Senator in the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: He does not want to hear about Japan or France.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Senator should try to move a little to the left but not too much.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Where does the amendment say that?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The amendment states "by a Resolution of the Houses".

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: They usually are drawn from the Dáil.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: The Minister should explain why chairpersons of the Houses of the Oireachtas committees are normally drawn from the Dáil.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: That sounds like the Taoiseach. He has no mandate and the fellow before him had a false one.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: It is ironic to receive the letter from you this morning, a Chathaoirligh, stating that Fine Gael's proposed home owner support amendment to the National Asset Management Agency legislation is ruled out of order when the headline in the newspapers is that 1,000 people are in trouble with their mortgages and only half of those individuals are receiving support from the State. I seek an urgent...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: On a point of order, the Members of this institution cannot close it.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: We would appreciate a pre-budget speech.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Liam Twomey: Like for the banks.