Results 14,981-15,000 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: I am at the mercy of the Dáil and Seanad with regard to its enactment, but my ambition is that it will be published during this session.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: Does the Chairman wish me to mention the fees issue separately?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: In terms of non-public bodies, we have extended the Ombudsman's remit to bodies that are not de jure public bodies, but are substantially funded by the public. Under that remit, they will make full disclosures of their activities and how those relate to the public in the normal way. The legislation will affect them to the same degree as it affects public bodies. Restrictions and safeguards...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: We have approached the Bill by not being prescriptive or trawling through every body to decide which is in and which is out. Instead, we have set out criteria, namely, the absolute level of funding provided to the body, who gives the money if it comes from the public purse, the percentage that comes from the public purse, the significant funding provided annually as opposed to a one-off...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: They would be subject to the same scrutiny as a public body under the Freedom of Information Act. The normal exemptions in terms of commercial transactions and so on would apply.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: It will be a balance. I have held discussions with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, regarding these issues. The NAMA suite of companies - I will not list them all or their acronyms - operate in a very challenging commercial and economic environment. They handle deals that are commercially sensitive on a real-time basis. Important safeguards that ensure the well being of the State...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)
Brendan Howlin: That is a specific question, but I will answer in a general way. As the Chairman can imagine, organisations such as the Garda Síochána are reluctant to enter this territory at all. It regards any trespass into this territory as being almost dangerous. As such, I am pleased that we have an agreement at Government level - I hope that the Dáil also agrees - to the effect that...
- Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: That is a good parliamentary question.
- Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I try to give the Deputy free advice. What more can I do?
- EU Parliament and Council Decisions: Motion (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...
- Double Taxation Agreements: Motions (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I move the following motions:That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital Gains) (Arab Republic of Egypt) Order 2012,a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 10th December, 2012. That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital Gains)...
- National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000: Motion (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000 (Suspension of Exchequer Contributions) Order 2012,copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 7th December, 2012.
- Defence Forces Report: Motion (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2011, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 5th March, 2012, in accordance with Section 13 of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006.
- Order of Business (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: We have.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: One could just inherit it.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: That is why we grow them in the first place.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Only if the trees are sold.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Is this smoke and mirrors? Changing the facts.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Dec 2012)
Brendan Howlin: Is a question coming?