Results 921-940 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins
- Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: I am well aware of that, as is the whole country.
- Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: The Tánaiste does not need to bother about my vociferousness. I will look after it myself.
- Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (10 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: Question 101: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made to date in 2009 regarding the implementation of those sections of the programme for Government under the headings of community payback, parental responsibility and anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40143/09]
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: Question 127: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the Garda representative bodies at the implications of proposed cutbacks on Garda services; the discussions he has had or plans to have on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40144/09]
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: I welcome the fact that the Minister has accepted the principle of including social and economic development. Last evening we discussed the relevance of the word "sustainable". I will not delay too much on that except to say that as we finished our deliberations the definition of sustainable was not the usual one. The Minister was inclined to present it as something permanent. I do not...
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: I think the latter is amendment No. 72 so we will certainly not reach that.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: The Minister will appreciate that we saw it.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: No.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: If the Minister is suggesting that sustainability can be achieved in another way in the legislation, I look forward to that.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: I look forward to that. It is on that understanding I will not press the amendment. I want to just make one point because I did not speak previously on this matter.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: It seems that social and economic is being qualified within the context of the commercial. I am not splitting hairs in this respect. The argument is----
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: Yes. I want to make a small core point. If one says that the achievement of sustainability is an issue for the local authority and that responsibility for new large derelict sites - perhaps due to the collapse of commercial proposals - is a function of the local authority, this raises a resource issue for the local authority. This may appropriately be a matter for another discussion on the...
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: I will confine myself to amendment No. 9 because amendment No. 10, which is in the name of Deputy Morgan of Sinn Féin, is being taken with amendments Nos. 79 and 80, which are in the name of my colleague, Deputy Burton, and deal with related matters of liquidity to SMEs. I want to raise a point with regard to amendment No. 9, which suggests the addition of four additional paragraphs, with...
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: And the new conditions.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: Amendments Nos. 10, 79 and 80 are grouped together as they all deal with credit flow, so I presume we will be able to deal with the other amendments that deal with credit flow.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: Give us the child and we will give you the man.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: I will be brief because there are other groups of amendments that we have yet to discuss. It makes some sense to group related amendments and to be flexible about that to use the time to hit the most serious issues upon which there may be disagreement. This group deals with a few core elements connected with the Minister's strategy for re-funding the banks and the real economy. The banking...
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: It is quite usual.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: I have such a strong credit rating.
- National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (5 Nov 2009)
Michael D Higgins: The Jesuit effect was in the rhetoric.