Results 781-800 of 2,815 for speaker:Tony Killeen

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: -----it is descending into a political football. It does not need to. I remind Deputy Creed that the legislation was introduced by a Fianna Fáil-led Government, contrary to what he said. He also made a reasonable point that in the previous case the hearing committee did not lead to the outcome sought by the Ombudsman. That is accurate, unlike much of what was said in the Chamber.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: The point is made that in this instance if the report is not complied with in full it undermines the Office of the Ombudsman. Why did that not happen in the previous instance? Deputy Creed also warned against selective quotations. The difficulty for all of us is that we have little time.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: I ask him to look at the rest of the appendices, particularly section F, with regard to what he quoted. He also referred to advertising and claims the former Minister muddied the waters. The former Minister holds a particular view. Deputy Creed must recognise that people are entitled to hold a view and it does not have to be the same view as that of others. I hold the view that the...

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: I did not interrupt Deputy Sherlock.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Creed also made the floodgates argument and suggested we should step out of the straitjacket. Is he sure that is the appropriate thing to do in these or other circumstances? I refer to the points made by Deputy Sherlock and the extraordinary attack with regard to what he claims was my attack on the motivation of the family. The motivation of the family is entirely irrelevant. I set...

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: Deputy Sherlock made an extraordinary point, that I could have rejected this report in ten seconds. Deputy Sherlock is suggesting I do not have the right to say anything. If I said that he would have quickly suggested I was insulting House by refusing to explain further.

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: The Deputy went on to suggest I was questioning the motives of the family. I was explaining the context of the scheme and how it would seem to apply to the family. We must be careful not to ignore the imposition of a totalitarian, Trotskyite approach so that I do not have the right to hold an opinion or have the temerity to comment. We must be careful because this is a House of Parliament....

Special Ombudsman's Report: Statements (4 Feb 2010)

Tony Killeen: I will not tell Deputy Creed what he should think. However, it is open to be construed as derogatory. It is important to remind all Members that Ministers routinely meet constituents and officials all the time. Much of the time, Ministers meet officials about cases referred to them by colleagues in this House. Quite frequently these representations are from the Opposition benches. We must...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together. In her report, the Ombudsman stated she received several complaints in respect of the lost at sea scheme. She recommended that compensation should be paid to one family. Following further correspondence between the Ombudsman and the Department, the Ombudsman laid a special report before the Dáil and Seanad on 14 December 2009 outlining...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: Under the conditions, any capacity awarded could not be traded, sold on or otherwise disposed of, and the vessel to which it applied had to be skippered by the successful applicant or an immediate family member. The success rate of only six from 68 applications received reflects the stringent conditions of the scheme. The case, which is the subject of the Ombudsman's report, was not one of...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I am happy to respond to the points raised by the Deputy. With regard to the family not knowing and therefore not benefitting, the scheme was advertised in a number of industry publications - the Fishing News in June 2001, the Irish Skipper in July 2001 and in the Marine Times in August 2001. It is a matter of opinion as to whether advertising in the trade papers is the appropriate way to...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I assure the House and both Deputies that I have the height of regard for the Office of the Ombudsman and the work it does. I have no difficulty defending the Department and I also have no difficulty accepting that either I or the Department is wrong if that happens to be the case. In this instance, the Department has clearly stated that it was scrupulous in administering the scheme. Each...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: The advertising issue is a matter of opinion and, clearly, Deputy Sherlock and I take opposite views on it. I am not sure that people in any community necessarily read the advertisements in the daily newspapers, for example, which is another medium where advertisements might have been placed. It is highly unlikely. I certainly do not-----

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is also important to bear in mind that this information was made available to the fishing organisations and to the only cases that were on file in the Department. Interestingly, only one in eight of those cases actually qualified under the terms of the scheme.

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I appreciate that point but the argument cannot be brought to any conclusion because it is impossible to know where one would need to have put this information to ensure that everybody received it. However, had the Department been aware of 16 cases, as it clearly was, and had it not informed the people concerned that this scheme was in place, a case could be fairly made that information was...

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: -----it will be possible to pay compensation on those criteria. It is not possible to do that.

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: On the question of taking legal advice on the issue, not only did I take it but it is outlined in the Ombudsman's report.

Fishing Vessel Licences. (27 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: It is in the letter.

Turbary Rights. (26 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: I understand the Deputy's desire to raise this matter which is obviously of concern to turf cutters affected by the cessation of cutting. In 1999, 32 raised bog special areas of conservation, SACs, were designated. At that stage the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands ended commercial turf cutting on these sites but allowed turf cutting for domestic purposes to continue...

Turbary Rights. (26 Jan 2010)

Tony Killeen: Last year, The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government established an interdepartmental working group on cessation of turf cutting in designated areas. This is examining all the implications of cessation, including the question of replacement fuel sources. The working group invited and received submissions from interested groups and individuals. It also met...