Results 1,301-1,320 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Deputy Spring for kindly sharing his time. He spoke earlier about family connections with this House and I remind him that it was 70 years ago this week when his grandfather was first elected to this House. I congratulate Deputy Spring and his family on that anniversary. Like many of the speakers in this debate, I have had the opportunity to serve in the Seanad. I spent three and a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: Will Mr. Freudenstein allow a brief intervention?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: Of course, we should add that Dresden is a very nice city.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Mr. Freudenstein for those comments. The joint committee has spent an interesting hour and a half in its meeting today. It is good to hear about what is going on and about Mr. Freudenstein's organisation's views on these issues. I believe we all have learned something from the discussions. I again thank him for a very informative meeting today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: Is that debate likely between now and the election or has it been kicked to one side until after the election?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: Is it the case that it is not part of the election campaign? It is in the background and will remain there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: He is. He will be here on Monday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: He is speaking at COSAC.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Deputy Durkan. He referred to Herman de Croo from Belgium who has kindly agreed to step in to take the place of Jacques Delors on Monday. Mr. Delors had to pull out for personal reasons.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: He will be leading the debate on the future of Europe. All three Deputies who are present will be at the meeting on Monday and they will have a chance to engage with Mr. de Croo then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: Before I ask my colleagues to contribute, I want to make a few points on the European elections. The potential to give the right of nomination of candidates to Europe parties would be resisted at a national level. It is important that we retain the link that exists when individual party members choose their candidate, because it ensures a certain element of democratic legitimacy for that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: That point was widely debated in this country during the first referendum campaign relating to the Lisbon treaty. Commissioners are supposed to be independent of the countries from which they come.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: The reality is, however, that countries want to have their own Commissioners. That was one of the reasons the first referendum on the Lisbon treaty failed. It was not the main reason but it was certainly a contributory factor. The Lisbon treaty was easier to sell during the second referendum campaign because we obtained a guarantee that Ireland would retain its Commissioner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: In light of the way in which the Commission works at present, is the presence of 27 Commissioners making it more difficult to reach decisions? Is the current structure unwieldy? Does Mr. Freudenstein have any anecdotal evidence with regard to how it is functioning?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: Would such a chamber be similar to the German Bundesrat, which takes members from the different länder?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Mr. Freudenstein. I call on Deputy Eric Byrne, followed by Deputy Paschal Donohoe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: We all know about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Democratic Legitimacy and Accountability in the EU: Discussion (Resumed) with CES (20 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: The first item on our agenda is democratic legitimacy and accountability in the European Union. On behalf of the joint committee, I am delighted to welcome Mr. Roland Freudenstein, deputy director and head of research at the Centre for European Studies. Mr. Freudenstein has travelled from Brussels to be with us today, for which we are very grateful. This is a continuation of the meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (19 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: 69. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is still committed to Ireland meeting the commitment to spend 0.7% of our GDP on foreign aid by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29569/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (19 Jun 2013)

Dominic Hannigan: 100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been any further discussions between his Department and the National Assets Management Agency in relation to a new site for a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29527/13]