Results 1,321-1,340 of 3,523 for speaker:Lucinda Creighton

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I will repeat-----

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I will repeat the point I made the last time I visited the House, which is that more time is needed for these question and answer sessions. I would be happy if an extra hour were allocated for a proper and meaningful exchange. I apologise in advance if I am-----

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I would not have a problem with that. I will talk to the Leader about the matter. I do not want to interfere with the business of the House. A number of questions were asked. Senator Colm Burke asked about Article 3.3 and the reference to "exceptional circumstances". Clearly it is a subjective test. It is impossible to predict what precisely is envisaged. Certainly, it refers to any...

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I am happy to speak for another couple of minutes, if that can be facilitated.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I am happy to do that in the short term.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I would prefer to return to the House for an exchange.

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: Okay.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I think he was probably talking about the Deputy rather than the people of Ireland.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: Where do you propose the money comes from?

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: I thank Deputies for their statements, comments and questions. The question asked by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl is connected to that asked by Deputy Martin. Programme countries such as Ireland, Greece and Portugal have paramount obligations which are taken into account in the treaty and allow for the programmes we are in to take precedence for the time being. The Government will conduct some...

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: When Ireland signs up to international obligations, we transpose them into international law. That is what will be happening, in effect, in the fiscal responsibility Bill.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: Allow me to answer the Deputy's question. If a Bill is repealed by the Parliament, we will no longer be in compliance with international law. There is no precedent for that in Ireland-----

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: -----but on the basis that any legislation that passes through this House can be amended in future legislation. The power to make, repeal or amend legislation still rests with the Parliament. If the Parliament were to repeal the legislation, we would be in breach of international obligations.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: That is not the intent. As with any convention we have signed up to-----

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: If we legislate in this Parliament to sign up to a UN convention or other international treaty, we do so in order to comply with it. However, if a future Government chose to introduce amending legislation to renege on obligations, then it would be reneging on obligations.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: That is open to the Parliament. It would, however, be in breach of international obligations. The circumstances are exactly the same in respect of any other international treaty we sign up to, as Deputy Martin well knows.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: He is long enough in this House to understand how legislation operates. At least, I hope he understands it.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: On Deputy Murphy's question on Article 3 and whether we have a picture as to what Ireland will look like in ten years, I can tell her what Ireland will look like in a year or a year and a half if we do not continue to benefit from the assistance we are receiving from the IMF, European Union and European Central Bank.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: It is the same question, however, because the bottom line is that this State is absolutely required to continue to fund day-to-day services, including educational and health care services.

European Council Meeting: Statements (1 Feb 2012)

Lucinda Creighton: We have no alternative, as the Deputy well knows, but to work with the programme we have. We will continue to do so and to comply with the sorts of obligations to which we have signed up. It is true that the treaty is very much anchored in existing EU legislation and treaties. A stated objective in the text of the treaty is to have a review within five years. Another objective is that the...