Results 981-1,000 of 1,403 for speaker:Noel Harrington

National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2013)

Noel Harrington: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the National Lottery Bill. Much of the Bill is concerned with the creation of an independent regulator for a new national lottery brand and amending the original legislation regarding the issuing of the next licence. At the outset, I wish to declare that until a few years ago, I was a national lottery agent but, thankfully, I am no longer such.

National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2013)

Noel Harrington: Indeed and it is a lot more volatile. I welcome the provisions in the legislation to create a regulator for a new national lottery but I have some concerns, nevertheless. The idea of creating yet another regulator is somewhat problematic. We have regulators for communications and energy as well as various other independent regulatory authorities, and I agree that they should be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (30 Jan 2013)

Noel Harrington: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal on penalties issued on a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4623/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Forensic Science (29 Jan 2013)

Noel Harrington: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 12 December 2012 (details supplied), if he will state the number of human remains that are in possession of the Forensic Science Laboratory that remain unidentified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4347/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Marine Casualty Investigation Board: Discussion with Chairman Designate (23 Jan 2013)

Noel Harrington: I welcome Ms Cassidy and congratulate her on her nomination as chairman designate. I have had the sad duty of reading MCIB reports on many occasions in recent years. Many of those involved in the incidents investigated in the reports were friends or acquaintances of mine. Ms Cassidy is right to suggest that the reports often make for distressing reading. I hope the professionalism shown...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Shannon Airport: Discussion with Shannon Airport Authority (23 Jan 2013)

Noel Harrington: I congratulate Ms Hynes on her appointment. I was going to mention cargo but Deputy Fleming covered that. Ms Hynes has a very ambitious plan and a very challenging job to increase passenger numbers and I do not expect she will get those numbers overnight. There will have to be a steady increase. She will report through the Minister on, I hope, increased passenger numbers at Shannon...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (20 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will have the files in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork reviewed again, regarding the penalty imposed this year on their single farm payment, taking into consideration the inaccuracies outlined in documents attached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57508/12]

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Services (19 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I thank the Minister for his reply and for his commitment to delivering what he regards as vital infrastructure. I join him in welcoming the appointment of Lord David Puttnam as our digital champion. It is a brilliant appointment and I believe his passion and knowledge will bear fruit. I was in his home and I have seen what he can do, which is quite remarkable. While I do not want to pour...

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Services (19 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I thank the office of the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topic. It is one of those debates that comes to this House and its committees quite often - the idea of providing adequate broadband to the country. It is parallel in importance to railway, road or other infrastructure in terms of driving economic activity. Broadband, literally, is vital in this day and age, not just for home use...

Order of Business (13 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: The Deputy is wrong.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Editorial Review of The Frontline Presidential Debate: Discussion with RTE (12 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I welcome Mr. Curran and the other witnesses from RTE. On the night, if that tweet had not been part of the programme, would we be here at all? Would we have said everything was fine and there is no problem with the editorial oversight of and production of this format? I know the tweet has been dealt with but has it uncovered an even greater underlying problem? Is there a role in future...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Repayment (11 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: To ask the Minister for Finance when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will get receipt of the tax repayment that is due to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55204/12]

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I wish to share time with Deputies Twomey and Kyne.

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I welcome the opportunity to speak on what has been a very difficult budget. It has been one of the most challenging budgetary processes this country has experienced. It goes without saying that any effort to correctly balance Ireland's books by €3.5 billion could be expected to meet with approval or popularity. Nevertheless, it had to be done and it is worth noting it was agreed by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Ombudsman Special Reports: Discussion with Ombudsman (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I thank Ms O'Reilly and Mr. Butler for attending. There is a certain inevitability about the matter. Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh referred to kicking it to touch, but a ball kicked to touch is inevitably returned to play. The game does not finish. This issue will have to be dealt with and it may be unpalatable, but that does not mean it is not right. It will have to be dealt with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I think "anomaly" is a misnomer. In my view it is far more fundamental than merely being anomalous. I agree with the suggestion of inviting the Minister and her officials to attend the committee. This may well be a policy decision. The Minister or her officials may have decided to deliberately exclude persons from the scheme. Therefore, it may not be an anomaly. We could be in danger of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: We should be briefed on the powers, role and oversight of the Central Bank.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I do not expect that this matter will be on the agenda at the December meetings. When will there be an opportunity to discuss it? It is appalling that those involved will ultimately be rewarded for their bad behaviour. I suspect that some of the Minister's colleagues on the Council will not be as appalled as us in respect of what happened. The Minister referred to some of the mercenaries...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: I am not a member of this committee but I am very pleased to have heard the presentation from the Minister. Obviously, every year the Minister and his officials go through this tortuous process of negotiating the total allowable catches, primarily based on a proposal from the European Commission on the back of scientific advice and the strategies this country needs to adopt to maintain a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (6 Dec 2012)

Noel Harrington: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding single area payment for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54852/12]