Results 221-240 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: The Bill states "identifiable".

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Nobody is going to argue against the proposition that the Defence Forces should be apolitical, should be perceived to be apolitical and should not be involved in any political controversy. That is a given. However, we are not still in 1954. In other developed countries, such as the Netherlands and others, there is a more participative discussion with defence forces personnel as workers on...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 2: In page 9, lines 10 and 11, to delete "in relation to a political matter or matter of Government policy" and substitute "in relation to a matter for political controversy". I wish to discuss amendment No. 2 and all the amendments that are related physically and, I suppose, transubstantially, in various ways. Amendment No. 2 is an important amendment and it...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: I very much appreciate what the Tánaiste has said and I look forward to the debate but perhaps we might just have a modicum of democracy about it. Would the Tánaiste not present the discussion paper in the House before it is actually presented to us as a fait accompli in legislation so we can actually have that sort of discussion? I know it is a radical suggestion that Parliament...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Tús maith, leath na hoibre.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Tánaiste for that. I am no wiser on his intentions in relation to that. It will be a debate on a paper that is being produced but I would like the Oireachtas to be part of that debate, not after the decisions are made by way of being presented with heads of a Bill but in the sort of complication of debate the Tánaiste has just outlined. I fully accept the amendment I...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Okay, well-----

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Well, let us have that discussion and see how we can do things better. I do not intend to press my amendment. I take on board exactly what the Tánaiste has said but would like to hear from him whether he might share with us his ideas when they are fleshed out a little bit better and before they are presented to us and we are told that amendments are wonderful but are not accepted and...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Could the Tánaiste respond for one minute?

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: In truth, that will be the Department of Defence presenting it because other Ministers will not really be involved in that. As the Tánaiste has said, I have some experience in Government.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: The Tánaiste will present it to his colleagues and there will not really be the type of scrutiny I would like.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: After the Tánaiste has decided what is going to happen.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Tánaiste. I will withdraw the amendment.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: “Command of the Defence Forces 6. Command of the Defence Force is exercisable as follows: (a) the supreme command of the Defence Forces vested in the President is exercisable by him or her on the advice of the Government; (b) under the supreme command of the President and subject to the...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: -----but the command structure is fundamentally the same. Obviously the primacy of civilian authority over the military remains a critical one. That is understood and a matter of law, as it should be. However, those arrangements and that primacy must have practical application. I think the Tánaiste will agree we need to fundamentally alter the long-standing current provision and give...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: Good.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (12 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: 74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision not to provide an additional ASD class at a school (details supplied), despite the school having been contacted by her Department in March asking if the school was interested in opening an additional class to cater for pupils in the school in need of ASD support, some of whom have now been advised to transfer to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (11 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: 100.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 9 May 2023, if he will revisit the supports provided by his Department to family members of former Defence Forces personnel, including funeral costs for family members as an additional benefit, to aid recruitment and retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24628/24]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: 551.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 30 May 2024, in relation to a person (details supplied), if she will identify how this person should engage with her Department in order to revert to their true identity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25199/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Grant Payments (11 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: 911.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he plans to review the current SUSI grant system, in particular with regard to assisting mature students, some of whom because of the housing crisis are still forced to live in their parents’ home and are therefore not entitled to receive grants to pursue their chosen course of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter....