Results 7,361-7,380 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: ——but no legislation is needed.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2008: First Stage (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: No.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It is proposed to take No. 3, Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). Private Members' business shall be No. 43, motion re the Irish economy (resumed) to be taken after the Order of Business and to conclude after 90 minutes, if not previously concluded.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, the committee charged with dealing with this matter met yesterday. We are trying to achieve a consensus. If such a consensus is forthcoming, further deliberations can be engaged in and decisions can be made. However, it would be appropriate to allow the committee to complete its deliberations. My party has submitted a detailed proposal on this matter and it is on...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: This is an extremely important issue and if we are to address it, the most appropriate and mature way of doing so would be through consensus. I believe that is the considered view of the majority of Members of the House. I refer to the submissions. The committee agreed on the methodology by which people would put forward their views. The legal advisers would then assess that and a decision...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There is a process in respect of the budget which has been established for many years. The Minister for Finance indicated he would make as much information as possible available to Members of the House within the normal budgetary constraints. On the last issue and the little quip, I work within the realms of the Department of Finance's regulations, as do all my colleagues.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy knows, we are currently dealing with a number of Bills, including the employment law compliance Bill, which is a huge piece of legislation, an industrial relations amendment Bill, an industrial development Bill and the Employment Agency Regulation Bill. One or two of those Bills will have to be amended to reflect the agreement. That will be on the basis that the agreement is...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Taoiseach answered the question yesterday.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The legalities have been addressed and we anticipate that the matter will be brought forward very quickly.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It is not possible to say when it will be brought to finality. The Minister has indicated that there are 102 heads to the Bill, so it will take a considerable amount of work.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle could answer the question.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It will be available in the middle of next year. I wonder why I answer the questions in the first place when Deputy Durkan has the answers.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As I indicated in the House yesterday, the Comptroller and Auditor General has been requested by me to investigate the matter. We will await the discussions and deliberations of the Committee of Public Accounts at which stage terms of reference will be finalised. I hope there will be a speedy examination of the investigation. The report will then be laid before the House and will come to me.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There was considerable discussion on that matter yesterday. The situation is that we have yet to make a final decision as to whether we will have an omnibus piece of legislation or make three or four amendments to existing legislation. The Attorney General will consider that in the context of the work we did during the summer, with a view to bringing it to Government very soon. We are...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The work has been done. It is now just a matter of deciding on the methodology of how the legislation will be brought to the House.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: No. It is important to get clarity on this for once and for all. It is under the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and there are three Ministers involved in the legislation. The quickest method of bringing the legislation to the House is the format we want to advance. A final decision must be made by the Attorney General and he must advise whether we should amalgamate and...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: That is the reason there are three Ministers working on the matter. They worked at it on a number of occasions during the summer holidays. The question is whether we want proper legislation brought to the House and that is the final decision to be made. The legislation will be enacted quickly. We had to await the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission and the heads of a Bill were...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The answer has not changed since I responded to the question five minutes ago.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: That is due next year.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Bill is in the Seanad currently. The Deputy's concern is important and I am sure it could be raised on the floor of the House. I will advise the Minister of the Deputy's views on the matter and, perhaps, the Deputy can follow it up with him.