Results 5,881-5,900 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: If I can close my remarks there might be an opportunity to discuss it. Deputy Burton raised a number of important points. The position relating to former Taoisigh is unique. One currently serves in the House and there are another four who have retired from the House. The position of a former Taoiseach is unique and a former Taoiseach has always been paid a full pension with no reduction....

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I appreciate that, Deputy. Deputy O'Donnell also asked the question and Deputy Shatter addressed the legal issues. Deputy Bruton asked about increments in the public service generally but they do not arise in this legislation. Fine Gael has consistently advocated that increments be frozen in the public service. Typically, increments in the public service are earned by the lower grades...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have considerable sympathy with the amendment tabled by Deputy Bruton. The Standards is Public Office Commission has a statutory oversight role that relates to party leaders' allowances. The commission has made a recommendation on the statutory effect to be given to the guidelines on the allowance issued. I am considering the recommendations and will consider this proposal in that...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I have not yet had the opportunity to digest that matter but the chapter headings show that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is within the scope of the report. Deputy Creed raised a number of issues. This has been a very constructive debate so far. In regard to ministerial pay, Ministers are the only people who have taken a voluntary pay cut as an absolute and general class in the...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is a vouched and an unvouched option available to Ministers and to Deputies. Deputy Creed pointed out the fact that a Minister gets some provision for constituency staff from the public service.

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: There is a point that must be borne in mind and it is that those officers are not allowed to engage in political activity.

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is not a fine line.

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will not go into the detailed application of the rules-----

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am simply making the point that there is a line to be drawn here. Certainly they could not circulate literature, something at which Deputy Varadkar has always been a great expert. They certainly could not draft and circulate political propaganda. There is a distinction to which I draw attention. We have seen in recent elections that increasingly these distinctions are enforced and...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputy had better remind me what walk-about allowances are.

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, before section 3, to insert the following new section: 3.---(1) Where a member of the Oireachtas is entitled to--- (a) payments for travelling facilities prescribed under section 5 (as amended by section 18 of the Act of 1998) of the Act of 1964 and granted under section 2 of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) Act 1938, (b) the overnight allowance under...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand that the reference to retrospective effect is a standard provision in enabling provisions of this type. On the issue of the point of substance raised, it has always been the position that the Minister draws up the regulations relating to expenses on the advice of the commission. That is the statutory template. There is, therefore, no question of interference with the autonomy...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: On which sections did Deputy O'Donnell require clarification?

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The section relates to the existing legislative provisions. There are already sections in legislation providing for all of these matters such as the payment for travelling facilities, overnight allowances, telephones, miscellaneous expenses, constituency office and constituency travel. Each of those has a distinct statutory existence. The first sub-section enables me to make a regulation...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The requirement that it follows the advice of the Oireachtas Commission is contained in the primary Oireachtas Commission legislation, which binds me. I hope that clarifies the point.

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Burton ranged far beyond some of the issues raised in the amendment. I agree with her point that the presentation of the expenses is often very unfair because a Deputy who lives a long way from the House is highlighted as the typical expense collector, and while the general Deputy expenses are published, the ministerial ones are not. As the Deputy spoke I was reminded of a former...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Commission has raised this issue. There is a wide variety of arrangements for constituency offices. It would be impossible in my constituency to have a main street office whereas in many provincial constituencies it is possible to rent property on a main street. In my constituency only a back office arrangement is possible because a front office would be too expensive. One would need...

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move amendment No. 2: In page 8, subsection (2), line 17, to delete "section 2" and substitute "sections 2 and 3".

Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, line 11, after "SALARIES" to insert "AND ALLOWANCES".

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (9 Jul 2009)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The conditions for participation in the euro area are defined in the Treaty and are part of the common legal framework. The criteria defined by the Treaty for adopting the euro are essential to ensure a high degree of sustainable convergence for countries entering the euro area. In the run-up to potential euro adoption, EU member states stand to benefit from a policy strategy focused on...