Results 6,021-6,040 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

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

Terry Leyden: It is a fact. There should be in place a mechanism which allows public representatives to make representations on behalf of their constituents. That is all I am asking for. I am not asking for special deals.

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

Terry Leyden: I am asking for-----

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

Terry Leyden: The reality is this will involve property in every town and village throughout the State and issues will arise from time to time.

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

Terry Leyden: This means councillors, Deputies and Senators will not be in a position legally-----

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

Terry Leyden: -----or they will be fined €1,000 and will receive a sentence of six months in prison, or both.

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

Terry Leyden: I am amazed at how righteous Members are. I am surprised half of them were elected to this House. I have never heard such righteousness.

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

Terry Leyden: The Members are becoming political eunuchs. One cannot communicate or contact the organisation and it may not be possible to even raise a matter in this regard in the Seanad.

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

Terry Leyden: The Cathaoirleach will, perhaps, tell me in six months' time when I try to raise an issue in regard to the activities of NAMA that the matter is out of order and I cannot raise it.

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

Terry Leyden: It will not be possible either to raise the matter in Dáil Éireann, even by way of parliamentary question.

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

Terry Leyden: I will have a job getting around this. Paragraph (3)(a) states: "is to be made public at the time of communication". Will Senator Coghlan make public the person on behalf of whom he is raising an issue?

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

Terry Leyden: If making a point of behalf of a constituent or somebody else, he will have to make all communications in that regard public. Paragraph (3)(b) states: "is made without any intention to benefit, or confer an advantage on, any specific person, or", which is fair enough. This would mean that a widow with a small site adjoining another with which problems have arisen cannot make representations.

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

Terry Leyden: Paragraph (3)(c) states: "is made in the public interest". It is obvious the representation would be in the public interest. When one communicates with a person, he or she must note the communication and report it straight away to a member of the Garda Síochána. This means if one picks up the phone and contacts an official of NAMA in regard to an issue on behalf of a constituent one...

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

Terry Leyden: Members have got very righteous. I do not understand from where they are coming in this regard.

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

Terry Leyden: All Members have at some point made representations on behalf of their constituents. They have made representations to hospitals, the HSE and other organisations.

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

Terry Leyden: Doing so is part of one's life. One might as well give up altogether and close the Dáil and Seanad and not have any public representatives because they will not be needed. I never heard such righteousness in all my life. I do not mind if I am a minority of one in this House explaining my point, as did people, who in the parliamentary party in 1970s, said that when we set up Eircom and An...

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

Terry Leyden: -----within the confines of parliamentary privilege. I intend to take on NAMA in regard to any damage caused by its activities to a community, village or person. If I have to use parliamentary privilege to do this, I will do so.

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

Terry Leyden: I am asking the Minister to consider tabling an amendment that will allow Deputies, Senators and councillors to make reasonable representations on behalf of their constituents.

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

Terry Leyden: I compliment the Minister on that section. It has been very carefully drafted to ensure the Bill going through the Seanad which might not come into law until next year will apply to NAMA. The Minister is making provisions to ensure that if permissions lapse, there is protection for the State. That is a very shrewd move in this regard. A different approach could possibly have been taken,...

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

Terry Leyden: I want to place on record my appreciation and admiration for the Minister for being so attentive to this legislation. I have listened to almost all the contributions. Although the members of the largest Opposition party, Fine Gael, have strong reservations about the Bill, they have endeavoured to improve it to the best of their ability. I commend them and the Labour Party for their...

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

Terry Leyden: Senator Harris referred to the Frontline Alliance protest, as did Senator Norris. I thank the Minister for receiving its letter. I was contacted by one of the organisations, the GRA, of which I am a nominee in the Seanad.