Results 13,461-13,480 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Yes.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Once the committee determines this, one would be so entitled as that is a final determination. My understanding is the commission itself will not be obliged to vouch for it. Sorry, there are two steps involved in this process. First, the committee will determine that one is to be legally represented. The decision on the amount to be paid will be made at the end of the inquiry and the...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, if one applies for such. Alternatively, one could apply in the middle of proceedings.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Yes.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The committee has determined that one is entitled to costs. What is determined subsequently is the quantum of the cost to be paid.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, that is covered in the Bill.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The provision is in section 45(1). If one goes through section 45, one will see this matter is covered properly.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 26: In page 44, subsection (9)(d), line 18, after “commenced” to insert the following:“or, in the case of a Part 2 inquiry which is a section 15 inquiry, after section 15 applies and the committee that is to conduct the section 15 inquiry was identified but before the section 15 inquiry commenced”.As the Chairman indicated, amendments Nos. 26...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: My understanding is the Deputy accepts the section but simply does not accept the vehicle for making the decision.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: We probably need to revisit the issue, albeit not of the Oireachtas commission being the appropriate body. However, the Deputy rightly has instanced issues in respect of the Oireachtas commission. It is part of the ongoing discussion regarding other legislation I am having with the Ceann Comhairle on having a representative Oireachtas commission. I do not want to say any more about that...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Fleming has made this point previously and it is a valid one. He will note from the section that I have provided that "the House may, at any time before it is given the finals report request the committee to give it interim reports in writing in accordance with rules and standing orders". Therefore, it is for the House to determine in this respect. I do not want to be prescriptive...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It might be a very unbalanced view, for example, if only one side of the argument is set out.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I felt it was a very unsatisfactory part of the tribunal system where evidence was adduced and presented and the rebuttal was presented months later.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I believe that-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Yes, but I believe the section captures what the Deputy seeks to achieve.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I am saying that the law provides for it. The section provides that "the House may, at any time before it is given the final report, request the committee to give it ... [an interim report]". If the Deputy was engaged in the middle of a process, he could ask for this as a Member of the House.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 23: In page 40, subsection (1), line 20, after "inquiry" to insert the following:"(or, in the case of a Part 2 inquiry which is a section 15 inquiry, as soon as may be after section 15 applies and the committee that is to conduct the section 15 inquiry is identified)".Amendment No. 23 provides for the insertion of a reference to section 15. Amendment No. 24 is a...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I move amendment No. 24: In page 40, subsection (2), lines 26 and 27, to delete "of a Part 2 inquiry" and substitute "is identified)".

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Subsection (1) provides that a witness whose good name is or maybe directly impugned in an inquiry may apply for costs in a Part 2 inquiry. The focus in relation to the recoupment of legal costs is on persons whose good name is at issue rather than other witnesses. The Oireachtas commission does not have a role in relation to the quantum of legal costs under the Bill. It does not make that...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Jun 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I refer the Deputy to the provision for an additional member under section 17: (5) A member who has been added to the committee after the committee has started conducting the Part 2 inquiry shall have regard to— (a) each interim report (if any) of the committee made by the committee before he or she became a committee member, and (b) evidence received by the committee before he or she...