Results 27,681-27,700 of 35,959 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: It is clear that the Minister of State and I are not going to see eye to eye on this matter. I am not sure whether he does not understand the position or whether it is just arrogance. Nobody is claiming that NewERA can just start to sell off State assets of its own volition. I am not sure whether the Minister of State is of the view that that is the argument I am putting forward. I must...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: My focus on Committee Stage was on section 19(5). Let us deal with that. What are designated bodies? This is where directions can be given concerning designated bodies. The previous section tells us that designated bodies are ESB, Ervia, Bord na Móna plc, Coillte Teoranta, EirGrid, Irish Water or any other State body specified in an order under subsection 3 or a subsidiary of any...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister of State keeps talking about Uisce Éireann, but we have asked him to deal with other State agencies. It is not about whether the Minister of State, or any other Minister, is getting additional powers to sell off State assets. As the sole shareholder in the company owned by the State, obviously the Minister of State has the power to sell State assets unless he is prevented...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 1:In page 10, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following:“(2) Every direction (other than an order under section 1(3)) made under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Fuel Rebate Scheme (8 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 214. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to provide for a new fuel grant scheme for disabled drivers which will have the same levels of support as the current excise relief scheme. [29793/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (8 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 702. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has had the file relating to their medical card application closed when they consider that they have complied with all requirements and are entitled to a medical card; if the file will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29222/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Complaints Procedures (8 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 704. To ask the Minister for Health if any allegations of a conflict of interest in the awarding of contracts by the Health Service Executive is currently being investigated by the HSE or any other authority; if so, the number of allegations; the hospitals concerned; and the nature of contract to which they relate. [29234/14]

Other Questions: Mortgage Schemes (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 8. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the criticism by the IMF and others of his suggestion for a scheme for first-time buyers that would include a mortgage deposit scheme; and his plans regarding same. [28491/14]

Other Questions: Mortgage Schemes (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: A number of weeks ago the Minister gave a commitment to introduce a scheme for first-time house buyers in the Finance Bill. There was not much detail about the scheme, but it was reported at the time that officials in the Minister's Department did not think much of the plan. The plan has also been subject to criticism from quarters outside this country. The IMF referred to it and the EU...

Other Questions: Mortgage Schemes (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I take it from the Minister's reply that he is not as hot about the idea as he was when Construction 2020 was announced, when he said that this would definitely be included in the Finance Bill. I welcome that. The Government must proceed with extreme caution on this. I do not like the idea. It smacks of the type of ideas that got us into this problem in the first place. I am not saying...

Other Questions: Mortgage Schemes (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: That 10% or 15% of mortgages is a massive liability. While it will have an effect on the supply side, it could also have an effect with regard to unsustainable mortgages. It could have an additional effect when accompanied by a culture in the banks that lends to people who should not take out a mortgage in the first place. The problem is that this will be announced in the Finance Bill,...

Other Questions: Mortgage Schemes (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I do not know the two commentators the Minister referred to so I cannot judge it. We must judge things on their merits. Given the criticism of this proposal by the IMF, the EU Commission and others, including political parties on this side of the House, the Minister should produce a discussion paper. In Construction 2020 there are no details about the Minister's scheme. He has given more...

Other Questions: Banks Recapitalisation (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I appreciate the Minister is not in the game changing, I mean, the fortune telling business. That was probably a Freudian slip. However, when he was announcing all this game changing stuff on the radio programme "Today with Seán O'Rourke", he said he expected it to be concluded by November 2012. While the Minister cannot make an application until November at the earliest, and possibly...

Other Questions: NAMA Code of Conduct (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 5. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether there is an appropriate period of time allocated for notice of leave and cooling-off periods for senior staff in the National Asset Management Agency in view of the new approach of accelerated disposals. [28492/14]

Other Questions: NAMA Code of Conduct (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: For some time now, and the past couple of months in particular, high profile members of NAMA staff and executives have been leaving their positions in NAMA to take up occupations in the private sector. While that in itself is not a key issue, what is at issue is that because some of those staff have taken up employment in companies that are involved in property development there could be a...

Other Questions: NAMA Code of Conduct (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I thank the Minister his response, which is the same as that given by him in the House on 4 March in response to another parliamentary question. My question is whether, in light of the asset disposal within NAMA and the decision of one of its executives to take up a position in the private sector, there are adequate cooling-off periods in place. I am well aware of what Matheson's advised...

Other Questions: NAMA Code of Conduct (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: Yes.

Other Questions: NAMA Code of Conduct (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: I believe there is need for further discussion on this issue. My real concern is that because NAMA has already disposed of many of its assets and will, in my view, wind up before its anticipated timeframe - whether that should happen is a different debate - the private sector is at this point in time poaching our best NAMA staff. Staff currently employed by NAMA who will perhaps be out of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Stability and Growth Pact (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 21. To ask the Minister for Finance if he supports the reported calls from France and Italy for greater flexibility in the way the EU’s fiscal targets can be met. [28488/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Legislative Process (3 Jul 2014)

Pearse Doherty: 22. To ask the Minister for Finance the timeframe for the implementation of the sale of loan Books to unregulated third parties Bill; and his views on whether the Bill will be in force before the proposed sale of some of the loan books at PTSB. [28489/14]