Results 10,841-10,860 of 11,979 for speaker:Billy Kelleher

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I welcome Deputies George Lee and Maureen O'Sullivan to the House and wish them well in their role as public representatives. The decision to table a motion of no confidence was taken at a time of palpable excitement and joy in the Fine Gael Party following the election results it recorded on Friday last. Tabling such a motion on foot of a good election is akin to a man who has a good...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The motion of no confidence is nothing more than theatrics arising from the results of the recent elections. Much of the debate in the House has been disingenuous. In recent times, the Dáil has held debates on the economy and serious challenges facing the country. The Government has not shirked from its responsibility to address these issues, nor has it denied Deputies an opportunity to...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: To argue that the Opposition parties possessed a font of knowledge on this issue is factually incorrect because their predictions on growth were wide of the mark. The economic position has changed fundamentally. Ireland's vulnerable position is due to developments in the international economy and internal difficulties and dynamics with which we must contend. The motions before the House...

Small Claims (Protection of Small Businesses) Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Many people waited with bated breath to ensure the Government won the motion of confidence today. I can assure the House that many people in the Opposition will wait with bated breath to ensure we win the vote to adjourn in early July and return in September.

Small Claims (Protection of Small Businesses) Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: However, I understand and appreciate the views opposite.

Small Claims (Protection of Small Businesses) Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I congratulate Deputy Varadkar on bringing the Private Members' Bill to the floor of the Dáil. It may be an indication of the usefulness of Private Members' time and of the Parliament in getting involved in constructive work as opposed to some of the more facile debates we have from time to time on the serious issues affecting small businesses. As has been expressed by my colleagues, the...

Small Claims (Protection of Small Businesses) Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: We will continue to pursue that credit being opened up to flow to businesses to protect the economy and jobs; Deputy Feighan mentioned a 100 year old shop in County Roscommon. The Government is conscious of the problems being encountered by businesses in terms of cash flow and credit availability and the consequential debt problem. The availability of credit to business is essential if we...

Small Claims (Protection of Small Businesses) Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: If we postpone this we could have further discussions with the Attorney General and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. That is why we request a postponement for six months. I want to express my appreciation and that of the Government to Deputy Varadkar.

Small Claims (Protection of Small Businesses) Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I am quite sure Deputy Varadkar will not allow us to forget that.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I commend the Senators on the comments they made in respect of this matter. Senator O'Toole tabled amendments on this matter on Committee Stage. As promised at that point, the Tánaiste reflected on the inclusion of a provision in the Bill to require that directors' compliance statements be provided. Section 45 of the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 provided for the insertion...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: It is not as if it was never discussed. It was discussed.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: Is the Senator inquiring if it has been commenced?

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: No, it has not been commenced. The company law review group was requested to examine the matter. Its report of July 2005, which included a detailed cost benefit analysis and a screening regulatory impact assessment, resulted in the majority of the review group recommending a requirement for the provision of mitigated directors' compliance statements. One of the dissenting voices in respect...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: We took the Senator's views on board and they were discussed and brought to the attention of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, who accepts-----

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: -----it is a matter for Government to legislate. The director also confirmed that his proposals to seek amendment of certain provisions in Parts 2 and 3 of the Companies Act 1990, which form the main part of the Bill before the House, arose directly from a number of specific weaknesses in the current legislation. The latter were brought sharply into focus by current investigations and, in...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: It is shrinking. We are consolidating legislation.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment gave an undertaking on Committee Stage to reflect on Fine Gael's proposal to amend section 5 by inserting new subsections 2(F) and 2(G) into section 20 of the Companies Act 1990. The essence of the proposal was to introduce timelines within which terminations and separations should be made once the proposed new extended powers...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: The issue regarding the Data Protection Acts will be dealt with separately as amendment No. 4.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: During the Committee Stage debate, the Tánaiste informed Senator Cannon that she would consider further his comments on the data protection rights attached to information seized by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, under the extended power of seizure mechanism provided for in section 5. In further examination of this matter, the views of the ODCE and the Data...

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (9 Jun 2009)

Billy Kelleher: I thank the staff of the Seanad and I thank the Members for their contributions, support and co-operation in getting this legislation through. While it is primarily technical legislation, it is very important. I am new to the position of having responsibility for trade and commerce but the Government likes to be co-operative. When ideas come from the Opposition or Government sides in...