Results 701-720 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

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

Dan Boyle: The question of direction is at the core of the legislation if it is to achieve what we hope it will as soon as possible. The contributions made so far are all very worthy. Mine would probably be somewhere between the contributions made by Senator O'Toole and Senator Alex White. Of the five financial institutions we shall have 100% direct ownership of two and substantial, close to...

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

Dan Boyle: He inhaled.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: I support the several calls made for a pre-budget debate, particularly given that the European Commission is prepared to consider allowing us an additional year to adjust our fiscal position. That does not mean, however, that we can avoid an adjustment of €4 billion. Our tax returns indicate a further shortfall of €2 billion this year. We need to have a debate that seems to be ongoing...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: The National Asset Management Agency Bill is the most significant Bill the Houses of the Oireachtas have had to debate for many years. It is era-defining legislation. In fact, it is an era-straddling Bill. It brings to an end the Celtic tiger period of prosperity when our economy improved to the largest possible extent in our political history. It also deals with many of the excesses of...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: The borrowing of money at a cost that is far higher than the value of the house itself is the concept of long-term economic value. To the Minister's credit, the amendments that have been made acknowledge that there must be some assets included under NAMA that can only be taken at current market value. Indeed, some assets that will be acquired have minimal and even zero value. Different...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: Fine Gael supports a carbon tax.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: We are in the midst of our daily economics debate as part of the Order of Business. There are regular requests for the opportunity to speak on economic matters. However, the debate needs to be properly framed. The selective quoting of reports to allow people to maintain their particular argument is not helpful to the wider debate. I welcome the OECD report and the EU report released the...

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: It is unusual, in one sense, to see an amendment to a motion which is longer than the motion itself. The spirit in which it is being tabled is not part of the usual cut and thrust of Government and Opposition politics. All of us in the House recognise that a significant problem exists in our society that must be identified and dealt with. The purpose of a debate such as this is to work...

Seanad: Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (3 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: I welcome the Minister. It is interesting to receive an update and have a discussion on developments in Northern Ireland, particularly on standing agreements. This House has been spoken about and has spoken to itself about its future function. One of the functions that has been strongly mooted is a stronger role in Northern Ireland affairs, not only in assessing the ongoing political...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: This debate is something of a cart before the horse exercise in that the National Asset Management Agency Bill will not come to this House until it has finished its passage through the other House, but it is useful in its own right in the sense that the business plan is now part of public debate and this House is only right and proper to address it and those ongoing concerns. The business...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on the National Asset Management Agency business plan, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 4.15 p.m., on which spokespersons may speak for 15 minutes and all other Senators for ten minutes, and on which Senators may share time, and the Minister shall be called upon ten minutes prior the conclusion of...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: He is not here.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: Senator Twomey raised the question of impending public sector disputes as regards decisions likely to be made on public finances. In this he was supported by Senators Joe O'Toole, Alex White, Paul Bradford, Terry Leyden, Larry Butler and Paul Coghlan. All in this House want to ensure such disputes do not occur. Whatever efforts can be made to bring about further dialogue should be...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: It is a central question. Whatever model is chosen, the effect has to be to restore liquidity and get money moving in the economy again. Even after NAMA, it has to be admitted that the capital reserves of the financial institutions and the ratios between deposits and what they are lending will probably still not be adequate. An ongoing job needs to be done to get that money flowing. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: Senator Leyden talked about the possibility of a windfall tax on those within the financial services industry who have walked away to date following practices which, at the very least, have been incompetent and possibly corrupt. Questions have also been asked by Senator Callely on what action is being taken. My understanding is that the Director of Corporate Enforcement is engaged in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: -----or indeed who the next European Commissioner should be, or whatever positions become available in whatever European institutions.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: Senator Coghlan asked about the banks, which I neglected to mention when talking about the National Asset Management Agency Bill. The timing of the Bill is dependent on what happens in the other House. The Second Stage debate in the other House was one of the longest on any Bill in recent memory. In fact there was criticism from some Opposition Members that it was being unnecessarily...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: I am not adverse to debates in this House on the report of the Commission on Taxation, or on the McCarthy report. Such debates will inform the debate that will eventually take place when a budget is formed on 9 December. I do not think anybody in this House should second guess what is likely to happen on 9 December. The Government is committed to a budget adjustment of €4 billion. The...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: The Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1963 is thought off as seminal legislation in our legal canon. It was important in that it drafted, for the first time, legal principles on planning. It is disappointing that the means to enforce the principles included in that Act were never applied. The 1960s were seen as a time of attack on our built infrastructure. There were many...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Oct 2009)

Dan Boyle: I will get to that point. Access to services, the existence of a transport infrastructure, the provision of key elements of infrastructure such as shopping facilities, schools, access to Garda stations and libraries are the principles that should inform the proper planning of any community but, sadly, they have not done so in too many of our communities. While the 1960s were a time of trying...