Results 28,121-28,140 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: The Minister of State does not believe that.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: If dominance is a criterion and it cannot be defined, no protection is in place. That is the issue.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Of course not.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: One cannot determine what is dominance and, therefore, the bulwark the Minister of State suggests is in place is not there. It is an illusion.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: The Minister of State is beginning to sound like the Taoiseach. That statement has all the clarity of the Taoiseach.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: The Minister of State is trying to pour smoke to cover an impossible wicket he has been given.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Can the Minister of State not just say he is against it too?

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Why is dominance the issue?

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Does the Minister of State not regard Tesco or Dunnes Stores as dominant?

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following: "(6) A person who contravenes section 15B shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to the penalties provided by this Act for breach of sections 4 and 5.". We had a long and rather tetchy discussion on this with the Minister on Committee Stage. I suggested that, if he were feeling so tetchy, he might...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: I do not intend to rehearse everything I said in the committee. It was a very long Committee Stage, which I am sure the Minister of State has had a chance to read in detail. Suffice it to say the amendment is the straightforward insertion of a new subsection (6) in section 1 to state that a person who contravenes the new section 15B shall be guilty of an offence and liable for penalties...

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Is his promotional tour to promote himself?

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: It was entertaining only in the debate on my amendment.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: I anticipated that the Minister of State might rehash the same arguments. Has he had any dialogue with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who seems to argue that offences should be criminal offences and administrative penalties are inappropriate. Obviously, Ministers differ despite the consequences.

Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (1 Mar 2006)

Brendan Howlin: I will not take up more time making arguments I have already made, given that the Minister of State's approach is simply to follow his riding instructions on the matter. However, I will make this final point. The Minister of State said that not all instances of the activities prohibited by subsections (1) to (4) of the new section 15B will necessarily be outlawed. However, subsection (5)...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (28 Feb 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Question 62: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent increase in the consumer price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7856/06]

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Feb 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Question 138: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with other Departments or State agencies which are concerned at the potential loss of expertise and corporate knowledge as a result of the Government's decentralisation programme; the steps being taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7872/06]

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (28 Feb 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Question 242: To ask the Minister for Finance if a site has been acquired for a new Garda divisional headquarters in Wexford town for the Wexford-Wicklow Garda division; when it is expected construction work will commence on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8060/06]

Written Answers — PAN African Parliament: PAN African Parliament (28 Feb 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Question 283: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government is taking to support the Pan-African Parliament; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8108/06]

Written Answers — Garda Stations: Garda Stations (28 Feb 2006)

Brendan Howlin: Question 420: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if funding has been allocated to build a new Garda divisional headquarters in Wexford Town in 2006 for the Wexford -Wicklow Garda division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8061/06]