Results 4,581-4,600 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: No, and I have no proposals in that regard.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The general approach to staffing issues in section 12 is to provide for the standard enabling powers regarding the appointment of staff including some minor powers to hire staff to be given to Cork and Shannon before the appointed days, combined with a range of specific provisions covering the transfer of staff to Cork and Shannon after the appointed days, and the future terms and conditions...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: That is a very detailed question, the response to which I must check carefully. Anybody who works for Aer Rianta remains there with the newly named Dublin authority until the changeover date, 30 April 2005, at the earliest. Then, subject to all the checks and balances built in, including the agreement of the Oireachtas, staff would transfer. There will be no staff transfers before 30 April...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: There is a significant difference between temporary, seasonal and permanent staff and that distinction will remain. Temporary staff will not be covered.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Subject to checking, if they are taken on in a permanent capacity, they will transfer to the authority of the airport to which they are assigned. That must be negotiated. If one is taken on in Shannon Airport tomorrow as permanent staff under all the normal trade union consultative arrangements, I assume one is then a member of the staff at that airport and whatever the legislation says about...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am trying to give the Senator clarity on this matter. Aer Rianta personnel who remain in Dublin or transfer to Cork and Shannon are covered under section 12(9) and section 12(12) which reassure them their terms and conditions will not be lessened. I am informed that personnel of Cork, Shannon and Dublin authorities who are recruited directly will not be covered under section 12(9) and...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Senators for moving this amendment. Senator Daly raised the matter on Second Stage yesterday and has pressed the point with me on many occasions. I considered the issue overnight and I understand that a representative of a small group of Aer Rianta pensioners who transferred to the company from the Civil Service in the early 1970s wrote to the Secretary General of the Department...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I will return to the issue and contact both Senators on the matter.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Subsection (9) referred to by Senator McDowell has been very carefully crafted after extensive discussions with trade unions. Every word was carefully negotiated through a number of long nights. I am satisfied it is balanced in guaranteeing that staff will not be brought to any less beneficial conditions of service or remuneration, including conditions in regard to tenure of office, than...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I fully acknowledge, as always, the rights and duties of Senators in pointing out what they regard as flaws in legislation. I wish to state, in the strongest possible terms, that there is no flaw in section 12(12). Senator Browne's amendment No. 43 is not necessary. Section 12(12) was added to the Bill on Report Stage in the Dáil to address concerns that the legislation should explicitly...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am dealing with amendments Nos. 17, 21, 22, 23, 48 and 49. Paragraphs (i) and (ii) of amendment No. 17 provides that the Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas or appear before an Oireachtas committee. I am always available to appear before Oireachtas committees whenever I am required to do so to discuss any issue within my portfolio. We do not need to change an...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Will the Senator tell us how often he gets letters from constituents indicating they have no problem? I do not get too many of those. I get letters telling me they are experiencing problems but they do not write to tell me that everything is grand. I spelt out the position clearly yesterday. Everybody in the financial sector in this country must now know about this issue. It has been in the...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I understand that Aer Rianta is in touch with all of its lenders. It has supplied them with copies of the legislation and kept them briefed on its progress. It is a matter for Aer Rianta to deal with its lenders. It would be appropriate neither for the Department or me to get involved in trying to do that on behalf of a State company.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am assured it is not a difficulty. I made that clear yesterday and I do so again today. I know Senators are trying to be helpful as are many media commentators. However, it is not helpful to continue to suggest, nationally, that there is any scintilla of doubt over the ability of a major State company with substantial lenders, such as Aer Rianta, to repay and live up to its commitments. Aer...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: That can surely happen to any company in the country.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: There is no risk of any sort to the taxpayer. The Aer Rianta organisation is solvent. It has enormous assets which cover its loans many times over. It is probably one of the most secure companies here to which a creditor could lend money. I do not know of any bank which would not queue up to lend funds to a State company of this sort. The taxpayer has no concerns about this matter.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have nothing further to add to what I have already said.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Amendment No. 18 seeks to delete references to arrangements for the delegation of functions at section 8(1). I consider it important that the Cork and Shannon authorities have the option of agreeing such a delegation of functions between them. It would not be right to delete such references. Amendment No. 19 would provide that the entering into arrangements by Dublin Airport with Cork and...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The legislation is of necessity finely balanced in this regard. Section 8 states that the Dublin Airport authority "shall" pending the Cork appointed day enter into such arrangements with Cork Airport for the performance of functions on its behalf regarding Cork Airport as may be agreed between the parties. The clause for Shannon is exactly the same. The language used is clear. The Dublin...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jul 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Again, the Bill is clear in that regard. That cannot happen until at least 30 April 2005. Staff cannot legally transfer until then.