Results 9,121-9,140 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: The issue of the lengthy evaluation process for equivalence and determinations arose. Do the delegates see it as a particular concern in the context of Brexit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: In terms of the Solvency II directive and third country equivalence, it applies to reinsurance firms but not to insurance companies, e-money or payment services. Is that a big problem for insurance firms that might potentially relocate to Ireland that these mechanisms do not apply here?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Has there been much interest in FinTech? Ireland has a reasonably good base of technology companies. It may be an area in which there is more portability than in other areas. Perhaps Mr. Cross might give us his thoughts on the sector.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Mr. Cross referenced proportionality. Will he develop that point? In the old days there was light touch regulation which we did not want. Some were looking for it and, in hindsight, it was not the right way to go. To what does proportionality refer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: The common rule book is in place. In theory, every member state should adopt the same approach, with the same level of regulation and intrusion or otherwise. Mr. Sibley may be unable to answer this question, but certain countries are rushing to attract jobs from the United Kingdom. They are stating, "Come here and it will all be fine." It has been suggested the Central Bank, as the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Therefore, in terms of competitive advantages other countries that might be trying to suggest they have, through lighter touch regulation or easier rules, realistically every one has the same rule book and, regardless of in which country one operates within the European Union, one is subject to the same level of supervision and regulation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: It is important to nail this issue. References have been made in the media to countries stating, "It is all grand and the Central Bank of Ireland is more difficult to deal with or more by the book than we could be."

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank Mr. Sibley, Mr. Cross and Mr. Flynn for attending, their submission and engagement with members

Seanad: Mid-term Capital Review and Public Service Pay Commission Report: Statements (30 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister for coming to the House at this, no doubt, busy time in his schedule. It will be a busy couple of days in the life of his party. As the Minister alluded to, we are talking about two different, but interrelated, topics this afternoon: the mid-term capital review and the report of the Public Service Pay Commission. The capital plan was announced with significant fanfare...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: There is obviously a future after Leinster House. I am sorry I had to step out for a little while but I was listening to the debate. I have a couple of points. Have the Revenue Commissioners examined the relationship that other EU countries have with third parties, particularly on the eastern European side, for example, Hungary or Poland? I refer to the countries that have borders...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: They also have freedom of movement of people and so forth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I can see that. It is obvious from Michel Barnier that one cannot be in as good a position after one leaves as when one stays. We can all understand that. If one is part of the system one is part of the system but if one wishes to walk away and take whatever advantages one perceives from leaving, one equally cannot benefit from all the advantages of being part of it. The witness spoke...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: It appears at this stage that the UK is seeking a harder exit - leaving the customs union, getting rid of free movement of people and so forth. There is a significant contradiction in what it is saying in terms of wanting to maintain the common travel area and free movement on the island of Ireland while simultaneously saying it wants a hard Brexit. What have we heard from the UK? It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: However, if there are 200 or 300 points on the 499 km to cross how will the Revenue Commissioners, as a customs authority, ensure that the integrity of the EU is maintained with regard to a third party country while simultaneously allowing people to go back and forth, buy their dresses as Senator Conway-Walsh mentioned and so forth? How can they do both?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Will somebody who gets on a train in Dublin still be able to travel to Belfast without checks somewhere along the way?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Okay. It is really about the trade and goods rather than the people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I wish the witnesses the best with it. I thank them for their opening statements and their interaction with the committee.

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (24 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: There do not seem to be any other Senators in the Chamber who have not already spoken, so I will ask the Minister of State to respond to the debate. In theory, he would only have five minutes but because we have plenty of time, he can take as long as he likes until 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (24 May 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I ask Members to speak through the Chair.