Results 2,441-2,460 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: We are going to go into private session in order to allow Mr. Tom Malone to present some of the options. On Deputy Eamon Ryan's suggestion about the Secretaries General, I acknowledge we have power to order our own business as a committee. Traditionally, Ministers have appeared before committees and outlined the position of the Government and the Secretaries General, officials or others...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I understand what the Deputy is saying.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: We are an arrangements committee. I agree with the Deputy’s point that there will be some element of overlap. However, we have a little bit more than two weeks to produce our set of guidelines, as mentioned by Deputies Barrett and Pearse Doherty, as to how the committee will operate. There will be a natural overlap with the process which is ongoing from a budgetary point of view....

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (8 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Perhaps but I could not physically drag them here. We will move on to the option papers circulated to members in advance of the first meeting. This discussion will be held in private session.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I thank members for electing me. Would that every election was uncontested; it would make all our lives a little easier. I have just realised the Chairman's chair is higher than everyone else's.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: I did not realise that previously. We are marking a new departure. Many people have referred to it as the first step in what is termed "new politics". We have a task for the next 30 days to chart what role the budgetary committee will play ultimately. I thank members for putting me in this position. The clerk to the committee has given me documents which I am supposed to go through....

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Mr. Tom Malone and Mr. Barry Comerford will speak after the members have had an opportunity. They will answer some of the general information questions the Deputy mentioned.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: On that particular point, on the note here those matters regarding equality budgeting are listed to be considered by the committee in our deliberations in the next 30 days or however long we have. I will follow up with the clerk on the point the Deputy made. He is right. We do not need to reinvent the wheel and get bogged down completely in oral hearings. I believe we should have written...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: As mentioned earlier by Deputy Pearse Doherty, this committee is charged with scoping out how ultimately the budgetary and supervision committee will work. That is the process to which we must devote ourselves this month. At that end of that process the committee will examine the timeline regarding work on this year's budget. We must focus at this stage on the job required of us over the...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: We have to go through the agenda as set out. I am informed that a legal representative will attend next week's meeting to discuss the committee's legal limitations.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: That is mentioned in the programme for Government anyway.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: With respect to Deputy Broughan's question, the two gentlemen will reference the parliamentary budget office in their comments in a few minutes. Deputy Calleary is right, I suppose, and he arguably struck the nail on the head. Traditionally, the budget process has been shrouded. We are lucky in that we have three people who have been at the head of Departments, so they have some insight...

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: My understanding is that it firmly does.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: That question is probably more suited to when the legal adviser comes in next week. As I understand it, "scrutiny" would allow us to examine, but maybe not to alter. That is just my layman's interpretation of what "scrutiny" is, so we should probably wait until next week when we get legal advice.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: According to the clerk, who has just informed me, it does come under our terms of reference.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: No.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Yes.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Good.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: Through the Chair, please, Deputy.

Committee on Arrangements for Budgetary Scrutiny: Business of Select Committee (1 Jun 2016)

John Paul Phelan: You spent five years chairing yourself-----