Results 12,921-12,940 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Motion. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I certainly will reply.

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Motion. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: Senator Daly should say something about it now.

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Motion. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: Outside or in here?

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I move amendment No. 36: In page 17, between lines 44 and 45, to insert the following: "16.—The Freedom of Information Acts shall apply to all aspects of or relating to the functions and activities of the Minister and the Board under this Act and the Principal Act.". All the activities of the board and the Minister should be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. I presume there is a...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Minister who stimulated the debate. He does not just follow the party line but gets involved in the issue. We set out our stall in regard to future distribution of State moneys and public funds through what I hope is a more organised multi-State agency approach. As a point of reference, we must look at the whole area of process. I use the example of progression in regard to...

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Motion. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I move: That Seanad Éireann condemns the Government for its inaction in relation to: (1) A full review of days at sea, and also a comprehensive review of tonnage allocation, particularly in relation to the white-fish industry; (2) fishermen and co-ops who are frustrated at licensing delays with the lack of response from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources; (3) the...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: The Minister makes a plausible case and I do not believe he is being devious or trying to mislead Senators. As Senator Ryan stated, he is genuinely trying to map out the way forward and I agree with much of his language and many of his hypotheses. The bottom line, however, is that this dormant accounts fund will be a slush fund subject to ministerial approval at Cabinet level. It flies in the...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I agree with the Minister, but will his Cabinet colleagues be on the same wavelength?

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: The Cabinet was not involved in that decision.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: There is a great difference.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: The Cabinet can be the watchdog and safeguard against any discrepancies in plans not being followed, as Senator Ryan rightly pointed out. The Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board should be used to decide which projects, on the basis of merit, deserve funding. The Minister and his team may be thinking this through, but we still need a commitment on the safeguards. That is the kernel of...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I move amendment No. 16: In page 12, line 16, to delete "is to have regard" and substitute "shall strictly adhere".

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I move amendment No. 12: In page 12, to delete lines 8 to 29. A great deal of information is contained in these amendments. They return us to the issue of funding distribution and the so-called board. I still have suspicions about and problems with who will be accountable and in who will have discretion in regard to the distribution of money. My fear is that this board will be established as...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, to delete lines 32 to 39, to delete pages 5 to 9 inclusive and in page 10, to delete lines 1 to 9. I welcome the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. He had a close call and I am glad he is recovering and before the Upper House again. The Committee Stage debate on this Bill was truncated and too emotional at times and I wish...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I will take the blame if an argument straying from the amendment arises. I am delighted the Minister said there is too much emphasis on reports and paperwork. Too much money, energy, expertise and time is spent on compiling reports of which the biggest culprit is FÁS. A supervisor running a community employment scheme, in tracking 15 participants, must produce progression reports from...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Joe McHugh: I concur with Senator Ryan. The Minister summed up his own stand on this issue in seeking the allocation and disbursement of money to be done on a transparent basis. We are all in the game of protecting ourselves and not putting ourselves in a compromising position. The Minister should not put himself in a compromising position. He should delegate the task of appointments to somebody else, be...