Results 1,041-1,060 of 4,363 for speaker:Arthur Morgan

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

Arthur Morgan: Would the Chair not cede to Deputy Mulcahy to chair this session as the Deputy seems to wish?

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

Arthur Morgan: On Report Stage of the Bill in this House, we got through only a small number of the more than 200 amendments. In other words, we did not have an opportunity to debate the proposals sufficiently, and today's Order of Business ensures that we will not have time to debate the Seanad amendments adequately. Given that €54 billion of taxpayers' money is involved, it is critical that this House...

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

Arthur Morgan: I agree with Deputy O'Donnell that these are technical amendments, although I have some concerns.

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

Arthur Morgan: I very much share Deputy Burton's concern about this matter, given the potential to draw many implications, but later amendments are more important and I do not propose to delay the House.

Written Answers — Money Advice and Budgeting Service: Money Advice and Budgeting Service (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Question 214: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to an upsurge in attendance at Money Advice and Budgeting Service offices; the consequences of the increased numbers on persons seeking this service and on its staff; if the quality of the service is effected; and the effect of that reduced service on its customers. [37608/09]

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I support the amendment. The Minister of State should imagine a reversal of the current parliamentary situation, with Deputy Penrose and I as Government Members of a strong republican and Labour Party coalition. In that scenario, if we were to seek to silence the director general of a State body who has a terrific notion on a matter within his or her remit, the Minister of State, as an...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: In the series of engagements and meetings we hold, it is rare to meet an ogre who insists on using the title "chairman". I have attended meetings where the chairperson was a woman and some people decided to address her as "chairman". I would not question anybody's gender because that would be ridiculous. In a spirit of co-operation, I hope the Minister of State will accept the amendment.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: These are very important amendments. I acknowledge the diligence of my relatively new personal assistant, Ms Kathryn Reilly from Cavan, who found the correct legislation and cited it into amendment No. 17. This was a significant achievement. The appointment of a worker director helps to reduce the "them and us" attitude and creates a better flow of information between the board and the...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I would have called a division on this amendment but we have just had one. It is a pity there is another capitulation by the Green Party Members because their clearly stated policy was in favour of worker representatives.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I move amendment No. 18: In page 12, to delete lines 1 to 8 and substitute the following: "(2) The Members of An Foras shall be nominated by the Minister, after having received recommendations from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and after consultation with the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, from among...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: While that is a laudable sentiment from the Minister of State, as a former member of the committee he would have an honest and open approach to that committee. The difficulty is he could be shifted at any time, not least to this side of the House. However, even if he is shifted sideways, given that it is only a verbal commitment, it is not worth the paper it is written on and this is...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: The board of FÁS is pretty much like the bankers. The new board will have a long way to go to earn the trust of people and even Members of this House. The Minister of State has far more credibility on this issue than the Government he represents. However, we will not move substantially forward on this discussion. The matter has been considered on Committee Stage. I withdraw the amendment.

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I support the amendment. A short time ago in this Chamber we heard the Minister for Social and Family Affairs reaffirm that the Christmas bonus will not be paid to welfare recipients. Yet the chief executive officer of a State body can walk away with a €1 million payment, a substantial pension and a State car. The dubiousness of that transaction leaves a bad taste in the mouth for...

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Can the Minister of State provide any information in regard to the examination of the severance terms granted to the former director general of FÁS and indicate whether he is hopeful-----

Labour Services (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: That is why I did not name the individual in question. I hope the Minister of State understands my question and will respond.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (10 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Question 473: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the measures he is taking to ensure that the school transport scheme is cost effective; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are instances in which children have been allocated free travel under this scheme but are not availing of the service and therefore applications for concessionary bus tickets are being...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: I thank the Labour Party and Deputy Broughan for sharing some of his time with me. The old adage about the inch and the yard will not be forgotten by me again. The need to ensure that accountability and transparency mechanisms are put in place to avoid the wastage of public money is absolutely critical. When we are unable to get clarification from Government Ministers or under the Freedom...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: The lack of transparency and accountability should not be used to promote the privatisation of public transport, nor should transport contracts be opened up to competition. Efficiency cannot be gained by snatching services from the people. Experiences such as Aer Lingus and Eircom have shown that profit overrides the public need and given the current economic circumstance we are in, we...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Arthur Morgan: Not so.

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

Arthur Morgan: I share the bafflement as to why the Government will not accept the word "sustainable" as it indicated on Committee Stage that it would. Given the short time we have, will the Minister be helpful and advise us if there are other Opposition amendments that he will accept? If he were to indicate what he will accept, it might expedite proceedings because less time would be needed to debate them.