Results 8,461-8,480 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: That is very useful. I thank the Minister. I have one other point on this section. The troops may only be sent "but only if, the contingent or member is not so deployed until a resolution under subsection (1) of this section has been passed by Dáil Éireann approving of their despatch for such service". It is absolutely clear. If the Government needed to take a decision in July, August or...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Minister and his officials for attending the House and the Labour Party for the Bill. Given the fact that the Dáil would have to make a resolution on these matters, I suggested to the Minister that the advice of the Attorney General might be put into the public domain. The precedent should be broken in this regard because every Deputy will be involved in deciding on whether to...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: If the price was right.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: There are a few birds inside as well.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: Sir, can we rise above this?

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: Another committee, possibly a Seanad committee.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: When the UN makes a request for support for a mission, the Government asks the Defence Forces to carry out an assessment. This is forwarded to the Minister who then brings it to Cabinet. Has the verdict of the military on a mission been different from the position adopted by the Government? If such a scenario arose, the public would not be aware of it. How many UN requests does the Minister...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: I refer to members of the Defence Forces who signed up before 1993 and who did not sign up under the post-1993 conditions. Presumably, if they consent to so do, such people can still go on such missions.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: They can change their terms.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: I presume that some people who enlisted before 1993 have gone on operations subsequently.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: The Minister is aware that the last time he came before this House, it passed legislation to put in place an ombudsman who would take responsibility for investigating claims of bullying or harassment within the Defence Forces. In the context of this section, I wish to raise a point, given that the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 predated the Government's decision to amend this Act in...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: I know such people are in a military setting when carrying out such an operation and are subject to all kinds of pressures and all the rest of it. However, what is the rationale behind the exclusion of such personnel? Regardless of whether they are on an operation, but in particular if they are away from home, what is the rationale for excluding them from making a complaint under the existing...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(a) by inserting "or International Peace Mission" after "International United Nations Force" in each place where those words occur.". The House had a preliminary discussion on this issue during the Second Stage debate last night. Undoubtedly, the Government's position differs from that of the Fine Gael Party...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: At the beginning.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: This has been an excellent debate and it is getting better.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: I appeal to the Government to do everything in its power to support the Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2006. In recent years, stage payments have become a particular problem in the Munster area. I ask the Government to accept the Order for Second Stage, so that we can consider improvements to the Bill on Committee Stage in the autumn. For a number of years, Senator Coghlan has been consistent...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: There is an election on the way.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: I am not getting excited as Senator Minihan will always act in the interests of his party. I am assured of that.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: Will the Minister give way?

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

Brian Hayes: My understanding is that the Government is not accountable to this House. It is Dáil Éireann that approves the nomination of the Taoiseach. Given that the Government makes the decision, the logic is that the Dáil must sanction any decision of the Government. Under the Constitution, therefore, the Government does not have to come into this House at all. There is no provision in that regard.