Results 7,001-7,020 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan
- Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: The facilities of those who lived in mud cabins in the Middle Ages were almost better than the accommodation of those to whom I refer, who do not even have basic washing facilities. The type of accommodation in which they find themselves is unacceptable.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister for Finance. I am not sure, but I believe this is his first visit to the House since I became a Senator.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister back to the House in that case.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: It is good to see one area where there are no broken promises.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: Mr. Haughey was very innovative with finances.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: Cut back in year one and spendâ
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, subsection (1), line 32, after "Finance" to insert "and Project Management". This acknowledges that the problem with the national development plan is not one of funding but of managing the projects. It is with that in mind that I tabled the amendment. Given that the Minister has gone to the trouble of setting up the new agency, he should take into...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, line 41, after "authority" to insert "provided that the opportunity to offer a financial package is open to competitive offer by other providers". The amendment seeks to ensure that the sponsoring Department does not find itself restricted only to public private finance packages put together by the agency. If there are competitors who can offer better...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, subsection (1), between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following new paragraph: "(e) to manage the investment on behalf of the National Pension Fund of moneys assigned by the Fund each year for the purpose of investment in infrastructural projects that yield an adequate return to the Fund.".
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: That is not correct.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: The Minister of State has missed the point of the amendment. We are not proposing that the new agency tells the national pensions reserve fund where to put its money. The amendment would allow the use of public funds by the NDFA. Different Government agencies are involved and it is logical that there should be contact between the National Development Finance Agency and the pensions fund when...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, subsection (3), line 17, after "Agency" to insert "and the Minister, after issuing such guidelines, shall present them to the Oireachtas or the appropriate committee of the Oireachtas and provide 21 days during which time the guidelines could be amended or revoked by the Minister or by a motion in either House of the Oireachtas". Last week, when debating the...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: If the guidelines are to be freely available to all Members in the library or elsewhere, it is not much of a leap to have those guidelines discussed in the Houses. That is the purpose of the amendment and the Minister of State should consider it.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 5: In page 5, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following new subsection: "(4) The guidelines referred to in subsection (3) shall require in respect of each project where a public private partnership is anticipated that an assessment shall be published in advance of the following: (a) the principles underpinning the pricing policy to be pursued, (b) the provisions...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 6: In page 8, subsection (2), line 45, after "members" to insert "one of whom shall have relevant experience in public policy development and the appropriate role of pricing in the delivery of public services". This amendment is self-explanatory. Section 12 states that the board of the agency shall consist of a chairperson and four ordinary members. I have mentioned in...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: That is very Christian.
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 7: In page 13, subsection (4)(a), line 42, after "is" to insert "reasonably". This section primarily states that information expressed by the board or the Minister is confidential. As it stands the Minister can define anything as confidential. This goes beyond what would be desirable in this situation. This amendment would provide that information that is reasonably...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 8: In page 14, before section 20, to insert the following new section: "20.â(1) It shall be an offence for any member of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a member of staff of the Agency or the National Treasury Management Agency or a consultant adviser or other person engaged by the Agency to receive any improper payment from persons involved directly or...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 9: In page 15, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following new paragraph: "(b) the policies adopted by the Agency in implementing its functions,". The amendment is self-explanatory. It seeks to expand the role of the Committee of Public Accounts in dealing with the authority and the chief executive officer of the authority, whereby the committee can question the...
- Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)
John Paul Phelan: I move amendment No. 10: In page 15, between lines 39 and 40, to insert the following subsection: "(7) The Chief Executive Officer and the Chairperson shall whenever required by a committee of the Oireachtas give evidence to that committee on any projects with which it is involved that fall within the terms of reference of the said committee.". This amendment seeks to broaden the scope of the...