Results 3,181-3,200 of 6,046 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Opportunities to Prevent Youth Unemployment and Promote Job Creation: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I thank Ms Croskery.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Opportunities to Prevent Youth Unemployment and Promote Job Creation: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I am going to bring in Ms McDonnell here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Opportunities to Prevent Youth Unemployment and Promote Job Creation: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I think Dr. Hughes wants to come in on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Opportunities to Prevent Youth Unemployment and Promote Job Creation: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Opportunities to Prevent Youth Unemployment and Promote Job Creation: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: Does anybody else wish to comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Opportunities to Prevent Youth Unemployment and Promote Job Creation: Discussion (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: Thank you. On behalf of the committee I thank the officials for meeting us today. The discussion has been informative and productive. One aspect that is clear is that the initiatives you have outlined demonstrate the value of EU funding in cross-Border co-operation and regional development. It has been a wonderful meeting. I thank my colleagues for their questions and the witnesses for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: On behalf of the committee, I am pleased to welcome Mr. John McCallister, MLA, Independent Unionist, and Mr. Peter Hutchinson, policy adviser, to brief the committee on Mr. McCallister's Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill. Before inviting Mr. McCallister to make his presentation, I advise the witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I will ask a few questions and the Senator may come back in when she returns.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I thank Mr. McCallister for his presentation and for taking the time to travel to engage with the committee on his Bill. I suspect some of the issues have been resolved with the so-called fresh start for the Stormont House Agreement, but before I ask a few questions I invite Mr. Maskey to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: Mr. McCallister's proposals are interesting, constructive and a great contribution to politics in Northern Ireland. He is to be congratulated. How does he think the Assembly will react to them in its debates on them? He referred to moving away from party designation and petitions of concern as a means of reducing the tribal nature of politics in Northern Ireland and focusing more on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I totally agree with Mr. McCallister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: The Bill proposes the Speaker would be elected by Assembly Members by weighted majority in a secret ballot. This is something that has been called for in our Parliament. What are the down sides to this? Are there any down sides?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I certainly agree with Mr. McCallister's views on the two previous speakers, Mr. Willie Hay and Mr. Mitchel McLaughlin, because they certainly transcended the loyalties or various traditions. Tomorrow the North-South Inter-Parliamentary Association will meet. It, along with the Ceann Comhairle, has made significant inroads in bringing a certain trust and cross-party respect. I am delighted...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: Your approach is very reasonable and constructive. It is very welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: We have an arrangement here whereby the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts is from the main opposition party, and it brings the Government to task effectively. It is a very powerful brief. Paul Maskey MP said that it works fine. Is there a balance in between the two or any compromise in that regard? I am not saying either one of them works in one way or the other, but when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: That is an interesting compromise as well. Does Mr. McCallister have any views on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I thank you for meeting with the committee. The discussion has been very informative. I commend your commitment to the future of the Assembly in initiating the Bill. I also thank all the parties for the fresh start, as we might call it, and all the people involved in the deliberations. I believe it is a good step forward. The committee's duty is to monitor the implementation of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: I have adjourned the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill: Briefing (26 Nov 2015)

Frank Feighan: That was dealt with in private session. If you wish to put forward a question for the next meeting-----