Results 11,581-11,600 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: It is taken as a lottery.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I assure the Deputy that I am here every Friday morning and I have never seen Deputy Martin turn up.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Perhaps Deputy Martin was here on one occasion.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Martin might have been here on one occasion.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Martin might have been here on one occasion.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: He made a fair few errors himself when he was in government and he never corrected the record.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I assure Deputies that the Government has been most proactive when it comes to Dáil reform. I have referred to Topical Issues and sittings on a Friday. The Order of Business has been time limited. The Taoiseach is getting through more questions than any of his predecessors.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Deputies can go to the Ceann Comhairle if they are unhappy with any reply from a line Minister. We got rid of the Standing Order 32 arrangements because they were a waste of time. There is additional time for Leaders' Questions on a Thursday morning. Statements on European Council meetings are now held prior to the Taoiseach going to the meetings. I intend to introduce more reforms in the...

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: They will be outlined. As Deputy Collins is aware, his party Whip is involved in and attends the Dáil reform meetings we hold. I have informed him that we will bring in more reforms between now and the summer. There will be more reforms and I trust Deputies will look forward to these. We have introduced more reforms than any previous Government and I assure Deputies there is more to come.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Ó Snodaigh will recall that before we introduced any reforms, we held a debate and statements in the House on Dáil reform. Perhaps the holding of statements on Dáil reform is something we can discuss at the Whips meeting since people have settled in for one year. They are familiar with the procedures of the House and how they work. They may have other ideas as well. It is okay...

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Collins should note that I am here on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I do not see Deputy Collins here during the week at all times.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: The Friday sittings are an opportunity for backbench Deputies to bring Private Members' business to the Dáil. This was something I was asked for and something we implemented. It was asked for by the Deputy's party Whip.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: Deputy Collins referred to the Taoiseach not being available.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: I allowed Deputy Collins to talk. Perhaps he would give me the opportunity to reply. Deputy Collins referred to the Taoiseach being less available. He is here on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as was the previous Taoiseach.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: There is more accountability now than ever before because there is Leaders' Questions on a Thursday. I do not recall Leaders' Questions on a Thursday previously. At times, the Order of Business continued for two hours.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: It was because the person sitting where I am now would not answer the questions being asked by the then Opposition. At least we attend now and there is some coherence. People know exactly what takes place on a Thursday morning. They can question the Tánaiste. If the Tánaiste is not here, the next most senior Minister will be here. This takes place every Thursday morning. It does not...

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: On the Friday sittings, the quorum is not made up by any one party. When Members come in on Friday mornings, as I have done on occasion, there could be five people on the Opposition side and five on the Government side. The quorum is ten.

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: There could be five Members from the Opposition and there could be five Members from the Government side and the Dáil business will start. It is not up to any particular party to ensure a quorum. It is up to whoever proposes the motion to ensure there are ten Members present. However, I assure the Deputy, that I have seen, on occasion, -----

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: What is the Deputy's point?

Parliamentary Reform (27 Mar 2012)

Paul Kehoe: It is up to the person bringing forward the motion to ensure there is a quorum of ten Members. On occasion, I have seen a Member of the Opposition bring forward a motion when there were five Members of the Opposition in the Chamber and over five Members on the Government side and the business has continued. Therefore, it is wrong to say that business does not continue just because the...