Results 8,961-8,980 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: All I am doing today is addressing the Sinn Féin Bill originated by Deputy Doherty. That is why I am bringing the amendment forward. It was not included in the original Bill. We are dealing with the Bill, not anything else, today. The Government Bill may address it. We can have a look at that in the fullness of time. I am simply trying to improve the already substantially...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: With the greatest of respect, the answer provided by the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, on 11 May and the one provided just now was probably cut and pasted word for word. That is fine because it was probably a very relevant answer. However, it suggested there was a misunderstanding on rectification versus compensation which I alluded to at the start of my discussion...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I move amendment No. 17:In page 7, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:“Requirement to hold oral hearings 10. Where a complainant has made a request to hold an oral hearing, and where there is a discrepancy in the account of events between the parties that is fundamental to arriving at a conclusion, the Financial Service Ombudsman shall be obliged to hold an oral...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I reiterate that there is no doubt that mediation is the best option. The amendment provides for an oral hearing only where a complainant makes a request. It does not force people into oral hearings they do not seek. While I agree that one should be careful what one wishes for in the sense that people should not take the oral hearing route if they do not know what is involved. The...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: The Bill was introduced in good faith by Deputy Pearse Doherty in the Dáil and Senator Conway-Walsh and her team in this House. We are all working to achieve the best outcome for consumers. I speak on behalf of consumers and the people who put us here, as opposed to the Financial Services Ombudsman. If the ombudsman does not want a change in legislation, it is not a reason for me not...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: It would be preferable and would improve the legislation if it was included. I will not press the amendment. I welcome the legislation in so far as it goes. I thank Deputy Pearse Doherty, Senator Conway-Walsh and their colleagues for putting it forward and my party colleagues, Deputies Michael McGrath and McGuinness, who are members of the select committee and who also contributed to the...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: It was in the interests of getting the legislation passed rather than in the interests of the consumer. It will benefit the consumer.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Senator Conway-Walsh said I withdrew the amendments in the interests of the consumer. I did not withdraw them in the interests of the consumer but there is an indirect benefit if the legislation is passed more quickly. I think the amendments would have made the Bill better, but in the context of its passage through the House and arriving at a consensus, I am happy to allow it to go to the...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and congratulate her on her reappointment. I think this is her first time in the Seanad since her reappointment to Cabinet.

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank Senator Swanick. Before I bring in our next speaker I would like to welcome Deputy Darragh O'Brien, a former Senator, who was the leader of Fianna Fáil in the Seanad during the last term. He is very welcome to the House. We had two former Senators present during our last debate as the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy was in the Chamber while Deputy Pearse Doherty were in the...

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Second Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I am in the unusual position of having to leave the Chair in order to speak briefly on the Bill. I thank Senator Wilson for taking the Chair to let me do so. I wish to add to the contributions of the Senators on Senator Swanick, the sponsor of the Bill. It is a simple yet effective way of highlighting the day. If one asked many schoolchildren and even adults when the Dáil first met...

Seanad: Visit of Finnish Delegation (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I welcome a very distinguished guest, Mr. Timo Soini, the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Finland and Deputy Prime Minister of Finland, and his delegation. We hope they enjoy their time in Ireland.

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Declaration of Independence Day Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: On amendment No. 1, Senators Conway-Walsh and Ó Donnghaile have tabled a substitute amendment by adding their names to the original amendment No. 1. As the original amendment No. 1 has already been moved and debate commenced on it, the Cathaoirleach has had to disallow the substitute amendment. This is a technical disallowance and does not in any way impede the right of the Members...

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Four more speakers have indicated on this grouping of amendments. They are Senator Conway-Walsh, Senator Murnane O'Connor, Senator Conway and Senator Ruane, in that order.

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank Senator Conway-Walsh for her brevity. I remind Members that there are 54 amendments in 22 groups as well as some to be taken singly. We definitely will not finish today given that we are still on the first amendment after half an hour, with three more speakers to speak on it. If Members try not to repeat what others have said, where possible, we might get through it a little faster.

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I will allow Senator Norris in after the next two speakers. We are almost a full hour into amendment No. 1 and there are-----

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I accept that. There are 54 other amendments and people should be aware it is not the only amendment to the Bill.

Seanad: Report on Dying, Death and Bereavement: Statements (4 Jul 2017)

Gerry Horkan: It will be hard to try to follow that. I congratulate Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell; it is a fantastic publication. It is not my area of expertise normally, but I am delighted to be asked to speak on behalf of my colleague. It is a very fine 256-page report. I cannot say I have read every page and all the details, but I have read and absorbed a considerable amount of it. As it happens,...