Results 901-920 of 2,834 for speaker:Paul Gogarty

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: I am a great fan of George Orwell's slogan, "four legs good, two legs better!" I remind Deputy O'Donnell that the revised programme for Government shows that the Green Party is now running the farm. I am happy with that.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: Yes.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Cuffe is not here because, as our party's Whip, he has arranged for Green Party Members to discuss the forthcoming budget between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: The two matters are of equal importance and I will have to make my apologies to attend that meeting. In fairness to Deputy Cuffe, at least 150 other Deputies are missing from the Chamber because, I assume, they have pressing business. Deputy Cuffe made his contribution against the clock and I thank the Chair for facilitating him. This amendment is welcome in terms of requiring NAMA to have...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: One cannot tie everything into NAMA.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: I am trying to explain the reason the National Asset Management Agency cannot deal with everything. The agency will deal only with the banks and assets.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: Yes, I am simply pointing out that there are measures for mortgage holders, to make planning more sustainable, on corporate donations and to deal with other issues.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: The National Asset Management Agency should deal with assets. Other matters are addressed elsewhere. The Labour Party amendment ties external matters into the NAMA legislation. I hope that rather than sniping constantly members of future Governments will adhere to the legislation to ensure planning is sustainable because planning in the past 20 years has not been sustainable.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: The Green Party is changing the legislation which is the reason we are in Government.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: I spoke on Second Stage.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Kenny asked Deputy Sargent to speak to the leader of Sinn Féin but told porkies about it afterwards.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: We have heard many a conspiracy theory over the lifetime of NAMA, that it is a bail-out for banks and a bail-out for developers. Deputy Burton seems to believe that this small little technical amendment is a conspiracy in itself whereas I regard it as crystal clear. NAMA does not operate in other jurisdictions, which is stating the obvious. There is no other way around it and there is no...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: It is in line with Green Party thinking and I support any welcome amendments——

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: ——and would like to discuss them——

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: ——rather than talking about conspiracy theories. It might be helpful if the Minister could reiterate for the benefit of Members of this House and also for members of the media, the exact percentage of the overseas assets that may be held currently in jurisdictions with whom we have no agreements and no reach. Assets held in Britain, the United States and other EU states are eminently...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: That is the way it operates now.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: I will try to stick to the amendment but if aspersions have been cast on my party in the House I presume I have a right to respond.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: From the Seanad (12 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: I acknowledge and welcome the Minister's acceptance of this amendment. He pointed out that it was deliberated upon by Ministers from the Government parties. I welcome the fact that it is a Labour Party amendment and I know Deputy Burton had much to do with it being introduced at various stages of this debate. I thank her for acknowledging most graciously that the Green Party supports this...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: We have not heard much from him these days.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)

Paul Gogarty: Deputy Burton would know much more than I would about being tough, but to be tough we must have the legislation and the regulations in place. Part of the problem we had over the years was that even though we had a lax regulator, we also had very lax regulations. The only way to enforce this is either to nationalise the institutions in question, or to become the de facto owner. The Minister...