Results 3,401-3,420 of 5,580 for speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I hear what the Minister of State is saying and what many members have said. In some ways, this blunt instrument is pulling the emergency brake, protecting our system and forcing the hand of the Government and Commission to implement regulations that would be more nuanced. This is once-in-a-generation legislation. One might be sceptical that the necessary protections will be implemented in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I move amendment No. 84: In page 129, after line 9, to insert the following: “Regulations 146.(1) The Minister may make regulations for the general purpose of this Act and may, by regulation, provide for any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed. (2) Every regulation under this Act shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: Is there a reason amendment No. 85 was ruled out of order?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I accept the ruling of the Chair and the Bills Office on the matter, but I believe a comparison can be made between advertising online and advertising on a lamp post. They are not that dissimilar. There is cross-party agreement on this. The Minister of State would be one of the people principally in favour of limiting the number of election posters and devolving powers to local authorities...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: We do not want that. That would be too blunt of an instrument. I was accused of proposing too blunt of an instrument earlier.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I welcome the amendments and think they are important for all the reasons Deputy Nash outlined. I had expected we could, perhaps, go further on some of them, which might have helped Deputy Ó Broin in understanding the specific application of the provision. I would like to see more detail and adjustment on Report Stage. Deputy Ó Broin makes a very valid point regarding the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I seek clarification about subsidiary organisations. If, for example, there was an organisation like the Friends of the Green Party in the United States and it were to provide a benefit rather than a cash donation, let us say an office or truck or whatever during an election, that is equivalent to a donation. If the Friends of the Green Party was to fly the Minister, Deputy Ryan, over to...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: Yes.

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Instruction to Committee (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I thank the Minister of State for allocating to me the remaining part of his time. It is unfortunate that in a debate that will last an hour, there are 50 minutes for opposition statements and seven and a half minutes for the 82 Members on the Government side. If we are talking about electoral reform, perhaps the Business Committee might start with those disproportionate arrangements. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: 277. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the passport of a child (details supplied) will issue given that it has been estimated for issue since 21 April 2022 and the family are travelling in the coming days. [27226/22]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: Given that we have a quorum, I propose that we defer the start of the meeting for 15 minutes, which will bring us to 4.25 p.m., at which point we will recommence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I welcome this provision. I put on record the support of Deputy Ó Cuív. He passed related legislation in the previous Dáil. There is broad support across the House for this important change for people who live on the islands. My amendments are Nos. 3, 82, 83 and 84. A few were ruled out of order. I believe the Department found a better way of implementing that. I thank...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: The point is that we have gone beyond it but, in this case, not only are we doing that, even smaller operators are being exempted under this amendment. To be consistent, I have to speak to the broader point.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I will not repeat the points later on.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: That is fine.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: I move amendment No. 36: In page 40, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “55.There will be a requirement for political parties to provide full transparency on their property portfolio including proof of property purchase funds.”. I welcome the work that has been done in the background by the Minister on this issue, as well as the amendments that have been...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: Whether the Department is willing to make this commitment or if it needs to be made in legislation, the amendment has the merits the Deputies described, particularly as regards younger people. It is obvious there are many issues affecting young people, for example, mental health, employment and major economic decisions the country makes during periods of growth and contraction. We should...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Paul McAuliffe: Persuasive arguments have been made, Minister of State.