Results 8,041-8,060 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: If an oversight is discovered, they have to publish.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am being told that although it does not affect the legal——

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am told that relates to the Central Bank and does not concern commercial banks.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank the Senators who attended the debate and the Whips for giving priority to the Bill. As has been mentioned, sections 5 and 8 are stated in the text to have effect as of 1 November next and, therefore, this Bill must be enacted by that date. The Seanad amendments will go to the Dáil today for debate and a motion for early signature is down on the Seanad Order Paper for 7.10 p.m....

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on developments in the housing market and to hear the views of Members on a topic that is of great importance not only to my area of responsibility but to the overall economy. The past year or so has seen significant changes in the housing market. A key point I want to make is that recent trends in aspects such as house prices and housing output...

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I am past that now.

Seanad: Housing Market: Statements (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: These are the next generation of Irish workers who may further boost demand for housing in the longer-term. There are also a number of positive factors in the more immediate context. The prospects for income growth remain positive. Increased mortgage relief, first-time buyer stamp duty exemption, greater accessibility to the market as result of easing prices and the prospect that we may...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——and to deal with it on a logical and truthful basis. The provision brings payment to Ministers into line with civil and public servants who make late applications for a preserved pension. Whether or not an individual case arose, ministerial pensions must be brought into line, irrespective of whether they make a late application, in the same way senior civil servants, to whom we are...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes. When the former Minister made an application to the officials in the Department of Finance, it became obvious to them that there is an anomaly in the system as it relates to Ministers, as opposed to public and civil servants. The departmental officials recommended to the Minister for Finance that the anomaly should be rectified. The recommendation did not come from the Minister for...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is mentioned in the explanatory memorandum.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: If the Senator gets the memorandum, he will find that the reference I have mentioned is in it. I have lost my train of thought.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is important to note that this issue arose during the debate in the Dáil. If my memory serves me correctly, it was raised by Deputy Burton. When she asked the Minister for Finance if these provisions apply to any former Minister, he specifically said that they do. When Deputy Bruton was asked about this issue yesterday, he acknowledged that it had been discussed in the Dáil....

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: A number of other issues were raised. Senator Boyle suggested that this issue could be dealt with in the forthcoming finance Bill. However, it could not be addressed in that Bill because it has the status of a money Bill. Other Senators argued that this measure should not be attached to this legislation at all. Given that some other issues are dealt with in the miscellaneous provisions...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: He has already benefitted.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: If a late application for a pension entitlement is made by a public or civil servant, he or she is entitled to get the full benefit of the pension. In this Bill, the Minister for Finance is regulating to ensure that the same thing that applies to civil and public servants also applies to any Minister.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can deal only with matters relating to the Minister for Finance. If the Senators want to take up these issues directly with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, they are welcome to do so. I will address the issues which were raised in respect of the garda, if Senators would like me to do so.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: The former Minister's case is not comparable to the case of the garda that was highlighted in a newspaper article today. The garda in question was dismissed from the force in 1973. At that time, forfeiture of superannuation benefits applied in the case of dismissal. Preservation did not become a feature of the Garda Síochána superannuation scheme until October 1976. Under the terms of...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: He was fully informed. During the debate in the Dáil it was asked if a former Minister was involved and the Minister for Finance said "Yes". Deputy Bruton acknowledged this yesterday in a radio interview.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Batt O'Keeffe: They changed the mind of one of my partners when she found out the true facts.