Results 32,441-32,460 of 32,983 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I join many colleagues in congratulating our new Commissioner on her nomination to her new role. I wish her the best of luck. The comments made here this morning and the commentary in the media about our new Commissioner tell a story about our relationship with Europe. When any European job is to be filled, there is considerable media and political interest in it. Today's newspapers are...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I concur with colleagues on the Leader's side who suggested that our new Commissioner should come to this House to give an update on the work she is doing. In doing that we should bear in mind that her job is not to represent Ireland at the Commission table but to represent her portfolio and Europe. In so doing no doubt she will do very well for our country. I support Senator Fitzgerald's...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: We are being set up by leaks from a bank. My colleagues are correct in calling for a debate on the matter this evening to expose what is happening.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with my colleagues who called for a debate on the banking matters that have been discussed so far this afternoon. I disagree with Senator Callely's description of the Minister for Finance as being hamstrung at the moment.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: No previous Minister for Finance was more enabled or strengthened, in the context of the banking situation, than the current Minister, who led the way for the recapitalisation of the banks, introduced the banking guarantee scheme and was praised for his virtuoso performance during last week's debate on the National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009. If any Minister in recent Irish history...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to pick up on a theme that Senator Fitzgerald mentioned in her contribution, when she called for a debate on competitiveness and particularly on the interaction between our welfare system and how people work. There is an excellent analysis in The Irish Times today that merits discussion here. It compares the income for a married couple working in the PAYE sector with two children...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I fear that, owing to what is happening with income tax and decisions that have been made concerning the social welfare system, there is growing evidence that the same situation could currently exist. I want to make two practical suggestions to the Leader in this regard, the first of which adds a valuable dimension to the discussion taking place about the reduction of the minimum wage. If...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: It is an agreement all right.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator should not worry. I understand it perfectly.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator will listen very closely.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support both amendments. I am particularly looking forward to having the opportunity to vote on the amendment tabled by Senators Mullen and O'Toole. They are interesting amendments. If the Government is to be serious about tackling this problem amendment No. 9 achieves that because it does not use the phrase "preferential purchasing rights". Most of the specified service providers for...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: That would be one hell of an asset.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Hear, hear.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Well said.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Nobody said that.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: We are trying to be constructive.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The answer to all these questions, as Senator Norris indicated, is in subsection (3). The key phrase concerns whether the communication "is made in the public interest". This is the line of which we must be on the right side. Senator Coghlan gave an excellent example of how it should be done. Regardless of whether the public interest is served in the Oireachtas or in a meeting with another...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: We can see why.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: We previously engaged in a good discussion on the need to review the activities of NAMA continually to ensure it delivers on the objectives laid down in the Bill. Section 224(3) states: As soon as may be after 31 December 2012, and every 5 years after that while NAMA continues in existence, the Minister— (a) shall assess the extent to which NAMA has made progress toward achieving its...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister for his reply. He stated that this all depends on whether we believe NAMA will be in existence for longer than five years.