Results 26,661-26,680 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Masts: Telecommunications Masts (23 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for ensuring compliance by mobile network operators with certain conditions, one of which relates to non-ionising radiation emissions. The way in which ComReg ensures compliance is a matter for ComReg and I have no function in the matter. Electronic Communications Network transmitters are licensed by ComReg. I understand...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: My Department aims, in its dealings with suppliers of goods and services, to pay all invoices as soon as possible after the goods and services have been satisfactorily delivered and the supporting documentation necessary to enable the payment has been received by my Department. Since 19 May 2009 86% of all payments made to suppliers have been within 15 days; 8% have been between 16 and 30...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (22 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over the telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre. Details of broadband availability from service providers together with the availability of broadband services in specific areas, including areas in County Leitrim and County Sligo are available at...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: This Bill is designed to get people back to work. Deputy Burton suggested that there might be political advantage to staying in Government at the moment - that it was an easy call to stay in and it would be good for a political party.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is not an easy time in Government-----

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: -----but it is a time when one can do a significant amount of good. One can make effective change for the sake of the common good, particularly if one saw this crisis coming, as the Green Party did. Only two and a half years ago, while in Opposition, I saw the obsession with property taxes. We were told we had to keep house-building going and cut stamp duty. In the seven years I have been...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In my experience of looking at the kernel of this problem, which party can hold its hands up and say its members have not been engaged in the most reckless and now clearly wrong zoning?

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It was the kernel of the problem we had. More than any other party, we said it was wrong.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: What other party but ours saw the growth illusion for what it was? We were told we could have constant growth and that markets would rise forever. We were told that Celtic tiger growth of 7% or 8% per year was ordained to last forever and a day. What other party but our own went into the last election with the lowest growth expectation?

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Having seen this problem coming, we are well placed in Government to help the country get out of it. It is a hard time to be in Government, but I believe it is the right time for the Green Party to put its vision into action for it is a time of real change. We will ensure that there is change in the strangely conservative and reckless banking system we have, conservative in that it was...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Yes it is, but in failing to do so the difficulty would be that the failure of one bank would lead to a failure in another. It would lead us to the same problem we had at the start, which would have been a systemic failure in our banking system. It was not easy to make the decision to put money into AIB and Bank of Ireland, but I believe it may be a decision from which we can ultimately...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I do not see where they money would come from.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I also have a concern about the delay in addressing the fundamental difficulties in our banks that would result from this proposal. In addition, Fine Gael referred to the possibility of defaulting on subordinated debt. I agree it would not be difficult for us to say to bondholders that they took a risk, which will lead to a loss. However, if one examines what has happened in our banks,...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There is a difficulty with this in that even if the State defaulted on senior debt bondholders, it would have to go back to them the next day seeking money for the banking system or Exchequer borrowing and that could be more difficult to secure. One cannot be certain but the Government has to take that risk into account. It is easy on a hypothetical basis to say we should try this idea, but...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The ECB has stated it will provide the funding. It is needed as part of a stimulus. We are in a classic recession as we spiral downwards because of a lack of confidence and, in turn, a lack of spending, which has led to deflation. All the economic analysis says a state must stimulate in those circumstances. It is slightly counterintuitive to spend one's way out of debt and the problems...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: NAMA will be a small agency. It is correct that the banks should be used. Tens of thousands ordinary, decent, capable and enterprising people work in our banking system and we should not throw that away and say that they do not have a role in this. The Government can use their skills and credit management facilities to our purpose. The banks' shareholders have taken a hit, losing...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: -----and what are the values. If they are not what we think they are, although a fair bit of analysis lies behind the figures given today, they will be adjusted. It is the valuation on a loan-by-loan basis which will determine what happens. Another crucial point is that people need confidence that we are not going back to price rises in property. The prospect of spending 25 or 30 years...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: We are in Government not frozen by fear or locked by ideology but we are ready to play our part in getting the country out of a difficult time. We need to give people confidence that we can do it. We need to have confidence in ourselves because we are legislating for ten to 15 years or whatever time it takes to work it out. All sides of this House will manage NAMA in that time. Does...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Does Fine Gael believe it can overcome some of the mistakes it made in planning - there have been a lot of them in council after council in recent years?

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Can it learn lessons from that and take part in the recovery of this country which says-----