Results 2,681-2,700 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: 2013 Allocations for Public Expenditure - Office of Public Works: Discussion with Minister of State (17 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I congratulate you, Chairman, on your recent appointment as Chairman of this committee. I and the officials in the Office of Public Works had a very good working relationship with your predecessor, and we look forward to having the same relationship with you and other members of the committee when we appear before the committee. I wish you every success in the time ahead, Chairman. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Ownership (17 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: The company in question was dissolved in 2010 and all property registered to it has consequently become vested in the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the State Property Act, 1954. Companies Office records indicate that the dissolved company owned properties in Passage West, County Cork. There are a number of ongoing legal issues in relation to the dissolution of this...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Environmental Schemes (17 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: The Recycling Centre at the corner of Sarah Curran Avenue and Grange Road is located on land owned by South Dublin County Council. The Office of Public Works (OPW) which is responsible for the adjoining St. Endas Park at Rathfarnham, would greatly prefer it if the recycling facility in question was relocated as its general appearance distracts considerably from the entrance to St. Endas. OPW...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. I am well aware of the impact that flooding has on businesses and householders. Having visited affected areas this summer, I am aware of the hardship and loss suffered as a result of flooding. Most people are reliant on their insurance policies to protect them against the worst of the financial cost and loss arising. In this...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Deputy for his constructive comments in this debate. For an agreement to be reached, two parties much come together. The State wants that agreement because it is in the interests of the State to establish a written protocol with the insurance industry on the standard of work we have put in place, which is to a minimum of a 100 year event, meaning the works on flood defences will...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: The Office of Public Works received an application from Monaghan County Council earlier this year under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme for funding of €125,000 for a study of the flooding at Monaghan Creamery and in the Milltown and Ballyalbany areas around Monaghan Town. The purpose of the study was to investigate the causes of the flooding and to identify appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: EU Presidency Expenditure (16 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: The contracted cost incurred to date by the Office of Public Works in preparation for the Irish Presidency of the EU is €1.66m (capital and current expenditure). The estimated total cost to be incurred is €9.8m. All of the contracts to date have been awarded to domestic firms.

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: The Deputy should not apologise for raising this matter in the House as he is quite entitled to do. I understand his frustration at the bureaucracy he has encountered both from our side and from Dublin City Council. He is absolutely within his rights as a Member of this House to highlight the matter publicly. The Naniken river runs underground for most of its length through the built-up...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I assure the Deputy that I will organise a meeting between the Dublin City Council engineers and officials from the OPW to see whether a more creative solution can be found. I will attend this meeting myself and will invite the Deputy to join me. Just as the OPW is governed by its mandate, the council is equally governed by the mandate it receives from the Department of the Environment,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Bank Branch Closures (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I very much agree with the point the Senator is making. It is not acceptable for banks to refuse to send representatives to a public meeting in circumstances where a local banking service is potentially being withdrawn. Given the long-standing relationships that exist in this community and the customer base the bank has built up, the failure to engage is particularly disappointing. If it...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Bank Branch Closures (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank Senator O'Donovan, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, for raising this matter. As the Senator will be aware, and notwithstanding the fact the State is the significant shareholder in AIB, the Government must ensure the bank is run on a commercial, cost-effective and independent basis so as to maintain the value of the bank as an asset to the State, as per the memorandum on economic and...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: There has been a tenfold increase in staff numbers since the Senator inquired some years ago. We are very cognisant of the administrative changes within the Valuation Office. There has been a reorganisation of work teams, an extensive development of a computer system and the development of an integrated database for both the revision and revaluation programmes. The whole objective of the...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I thank colleagues for their very constructive contributions to this debate. One of the benefits of reading the concluding speech which is provided by the Department is that it gives an idea of what the reaction may have been. I note it states that those Members who contributed have given a general welcome to the Bill. However, I will change that to "a more subdued welcome", which I am on...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: -----that the world changed in March 2011. I agree it did.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: However, I think the Senator needs to be a little more humble in his appreciation of history. Much of what has been included in this Bill was also worked on by the previous Government when Senator Byrne's party was in office.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: Pol Pot maintained that his first day in office marked the beginning of history.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I am not suggesting that the Senator killed one million people.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: This Bill represents the cumulative work of two Administrations-----

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: I agree with Senator Barrett about the reorganisation of local government. I agree with his opinion that it is top heavy with managers with too few cognitive staff undertaking specific work. Wearing my public sector reform hat, I assure the Senator that the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, will present radical proposals over the next few weeks which will examine the question of amalgamation,...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Oct 2012)

Brian Hayes: Words, words, words.