Results 14,721-14,740 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: No.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There is no-----

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It is not lawful.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: How am I to ensure it remains entirely within the State-----

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: ----- unless I determine the outcome of the bid, which I am not entitled to do?

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Bidders from other jurisdictions, as well as Ireland, may well bid for the licence. I do not know yet but I hope they do. Therefore, it follows that the licence cannot deliberately be kept under Irish ownership. I have explained this point repeatedly. The State may set the terms for both the competition and the licence itself - these terms concern the duration of the licence and the final...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Moreover, that word will be tested very quickly because, as Members will be aware on foot of the announcement made yesterday by the Minister for Health, the Government is now advancing this development and a project team has been appointed. I have no other money available for this purpose. The Government will build the children's hospital in the shortest possible time and the dedicated...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Congratulations.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Go raibh maith agat. I am very glad to have the opportunity yet again to come to the Seanad to discuss this issue. I have had many discussions with Senator O'Donnell on this matter, including in my office. I thought we had a meeting of minds. I would not characterise her as she has characterised me as an opponent or an adversary on this matter. I respect her views. This House is a...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: This issue was previously debated in the Seanad in May of last year when I had the opportunity to discuss the matter and to hear the views of Senators, and have had heard the views of many individual Senators since. As member are aware, the National Lottery Bill was published before Christmas and has passed Second Stage. The Committee Stage of the Bill is currently before the Dail. I look...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: It has varied year on year. The most recent figures I have looked at were for 2011, and at that stage it was 30.05% in that year. The Bill has a number of purposes, in particular: to continue to provide a legislative framework for the operation of a national lottery; to continue to safeguard the integrity of the national lottery, for example through the continued safeguarding of cash...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I have instructed all senior officials in my Department on the clear channel, so that all issues relating to the awarding of this contract will be handled with absolute probity. There should be no doubt whatsoever about it. It is envisaged that the competition will commence during the second quarter of 2013. My Department is being assisted in the financial and commercial aspects of the...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Fianna Fáil had 14 years to amend it if Senator Byrne felt this way.

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: I met nobody. It is important that Senator O'Donnell understands that.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Property Ownership (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Section 28 (2) of the State Property Act 1954, provides that the Minister for Finance assumes responsibility for all personal property and land vested in or held in trust for a body corporate (other than personal property or land held by such body in trust for another person) immediately prior to its dissolution. Upon the dissolution of the body corporate, such property becomes State...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions Legislation (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Prior to 1974 pensionable female Public Servants were generally required to resign on marriage and, depending on their service, received a marriage gratuity in lieu of any pension benefits. Public Servants who received a marriage gratuity and returned to the Public Service have the option of (a) refunding the gratuity (plus interest where applicable) and having all reckonable prior...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Budget 2014 Issues (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: One of two draft economic and budgetary regulations, known as the “two-pack”, nearing finalisation in Europe, will introduce a common budgetary timeline for all euro area Member States. While this regulation would have implications for the existing budget and Estimates arrangements in Ireland, it is not yet possible to say when political agreement will be reached between the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Government Construction Contracts Committee (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: The Government Construction Contracts Committee (GCCC) was set up under Section 11 of Circular 40/02 ‘Public Procurement Guidelines - revision of existing procedures for approval of certain contracts in the Central Government sector’, which reconfigured the existing arrangements for the Government Contracts Committee. The GCCC deals with public works procurement and related...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Voluntary Redundancy Scheme (13 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: There are no plans for an early retirement scheme in the Civil Service. As the Deputy may be aware I recently announced that arrangements are being drawn up for targeted voluntary redundancy in specific areas of the public service where staff surpluses have been identified by management. At present there are no plans for a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme in the Department of Social Protection.

Promissory Notes: Motion (12 Feb 2013)

Brendan Howlin: Sinn Féin has Private Members' time next week.