Results 6,101-6,120 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: Let us talk about it.

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: How long?

Leaders' Questions (3 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Micheál Martin has already raised a most distressing case. Almost a month has passed since the House debated the urgently needed reform of An Garda Síochána. The Minister will recall that the debate was a bit of a farce in that the amendment tabled by my party was carried while every other amendment and then the substantive motion itself were all defeated. As such,...

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: It is slightly surreal that we are asking questions that might be fully addressed in the briefing we are going to have in an hour's time.

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: In my questions, I want to deal with what we can do pro-actively, as I did in my own contribution earlier. I have one observation. I am a little intrigued by the Minister's comment that he expects the UK to accept a liability without quantification.

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: That is the same thing. I cannot imagine any sovereign government accepting liability without quantification. Having been the man responsible for the money for five years, I could not see myself going into any negotiation and saying that the UK will accept the liability, although we will not tell it how much it is until the end of the process. It would be interesting to hear the Minister's...

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: We do not hear that.

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: Europe cannot be about Brexit and nothing else.

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Donnelly is ahead of the rest of us then.

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: Beyond this, I have also consistently said that Europe must adapt. We have proposed changes to the Stability and Growth Pact and to the fiscal rules, along with the implementation of a European pillar of social rights. It is interesting that there are now voices, even from those who are very pro-European, like Mr. Macron - I see our Minister for Social Protection supporting his campaign...

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: In recent weeks and months I have been critical of the Government with regard to its approach to Brexit. It has been my consistent view that whatever about behind the scenes work, and we cannot obviously know exactly what is going on, there is a need for the Government to expand the concrete visible actions to be taken to protect our nation from the known fall-out of Brexit and do the proper...

European Council Meeting: Statements (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: To structure a briefing after a debate on it is bizarre.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: 10. To ask the Taoiseach if the officials in his Department with a senior role in Brexit negotiations will engage in public communications on their work over the course of the two-year process. [18288/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: There are different questions in the group. My question relates to officials in the Taoiseach's Department with a senior role in Brexit and whether they will engage in public communications on their work over the next two years. The Taoiseach would be aware it is common practice for EU Commission officials to take a very public role in these matters. The Secretary General of his...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: It is a little odd that we will not be briefed until after we have had the discussion and the statements.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: It seems to be putting the cart before the horse. It would have been nice to be briefed on the Irish Government's position in order that we could give our views from a more informed position. I am sure we will have other opportunities. Whatever about the appropriateness of President Juncker's telephone call to the German Chancellor, it was very instructive. Those of us who have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: The Taoiseach was going to do it last week.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: When was the last time the Taoiseach went to a Council meeting without a decision being made in advance?

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: The Taoiseach should also mention the social Europe agenda.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (2 May 2017)

Brendan Howlin: Do they understand that?