Results 1,521-1,540 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Mr. Lepassaar's contribution has been most helpful to our ongoing discussions and deliberations. I thank him for attending and wish him well in all the work he has before him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: On our interaction with the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, a number of points were made, one of which relates to the state obligation in some jurisdictions for a minimum investment of their ICT budget in cybersecurity. In Germany, for public bodies, the figure is 15%. Does the Minister of State envisage that should be replicated, whereby all state agencies would have a mandatory...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I refer to it being made a legal obligation for state agencies in the public realm.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: On the first issue, relating to there being a designated portion of expenditure for security, I expect that, as a Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Smyth, is trained to expect outcomes for outputs. If money is being expended, there will presumably be targeted outcomes for that. Nevertheless, it seems that if Germany is doing this, and if state...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister of State. Is there a final remark he wishes to make before we conclude the session?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

Brendan Howlin: I thank the Minister of State for sharing his views with us on this important issue. No doubt we will talk to him again. I propose we go into private session to deal with housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: It is very important we discuss this matter, even if the debate is very limited. There are very few issues that unite most if not all in this House, but this is one of them. I do not doubt the bona fides of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on this issue but I wish in the few minutes I have to deal with three specific issues. First, I add my voice to the issue that is now current and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (25 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: 118. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of incidents of Covid-19 in Irish prisons; the impact of Covid-19 infections on the Irish Prison Service and the Courts Service to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57611/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (25 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: 173. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has plans to amend the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 to include in the Act a definition of client in order to ensure that persons adversely affected by what they consider an inadequate standard of legal services can make a complaint to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority; and if she will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: 245. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58069/21]

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Connolly makes a very strong point. There is a need to fix an obvious problem with the existing legislation. It has again been indicated, and the Minister of State indicated in his speech on Second Stage, that only two prosecutions for smuggling have happened in the past 20 years. That is preposterous. If that is correct, it is a clear indication our laws in this regard need...

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: However, there is no guillotine motion on this either.

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Thus we can simply adjourn the debate.

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: That is fine.

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: May I make an observation first?

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: My apologies, I did not see the Deputy there.

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: This is the one controversial part of the proposals. Like Deputy Connolly, I read the Seanad debate in some detail. Section 9's humanitarian assistance defence, as I said on Second Stage, is of the utmost importance. It would be absolutely unacceptable to anybody in this House, Government or Opposition, if humanitarian organisations or those who were directly involved in providing...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: Very good.

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Nov 2021)

Brendan Howlin: If I could make mention since the Minister of State has raised the issue, I was unaware when I came in that there had been a tragedy. I had been working in my office. Last weekend, I went down to the memorial site in Drinagh Business Park because on 8 December it will be the 20th anniversary. Some local people have organised a commemorative event to mark 20 years since that awfulness of...