Results 16,441-16,460 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Seanad: Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption: Motion. (7 May 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Cabinet supports the Minister on all issues.

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements. (16 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I am pleased to have the opportunity to describe the extensive investment and reform programme which the Government has been promoting under the national cancer strategy, particularly since the launch of the health strategy in November 2001, and to set out the current position on cancer services nationally. The Government is committed to the development of co-ordinated and patient-focused...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Some people expect that.

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Senator Henry pointed out that it does not prolong a person's glamour for very long.

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I thank Senators for a constructive discussion on the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer. I am grateful for the universal welcome Senators have given to the proposal by the Minister for Health and Children to ban smoking in licensed premises and other such venues. I will report back to the Minister on that positive contribution from Seanad Éireann. Many Senators spoke of their...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services: Statements (Resumed). (16 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: It is also important to note the matter of expenditure. Senator O'Meara raised the hard cases that exist in the health service and the great difficulties we have in this area. If we are to develop cancer services we need to invest money but we also need to be efficient in how we spend it. That is the way forward in the health services. It is not enough simply to propose new expenditures; we...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The amendment suggests that a review of the operation of the Act should take place, the results of which would be presented to the Oireachtas within two years of the Act coming into operation. The Minister for Finance has stated that any review of the legislation should wait until we see how the legislation has operated over a few years. The Bill provides for the re-organisation of the...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The amendment proposes to change section 5A of the principal Act as inserted by section 5 of the Bill which provides for the general functions and powers of the Central Bank. However, responsibility for consumer protection is a delegated function of the bank to the regulatory authority, and the legislation relating to the authority provides a variety of measures that deal with the quality of...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The proposed amendment would change the provisions relating to the membership of the regulatory authority to provide that the Minister for Finance may designate the Director of Consumer Affairs as an official member of the authority. I am glad to advise the Senator that the Bill already allows for this possibility. The proposed new section 33E(2) of the principal Act as inserted by section 26...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The McDowell report recommended that funding for the operation of the new financial services regulatory authority should come from the industry. Levies to fund the authority will be prescribed by the chief executive, with the agreement of the other members of the authority, by way of regulations. This will be done only after a detailed consultation process. Any regulations made by the chief...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Of course it is intended to be on a break even basis. It is not a cash cow for the Exchequer. There is no suggestion of that written into the legislation. There is an extensive consultation process envisaged in the legislation.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: In regard to the credit union movement, there is a specific cap written into the legislation. As far as the other financial institutions are concerned, the proposal that will be devised in the regulations drawn up by the authority will require ministerial sanction. There is no intention in this legislation to establish a body which will make a profit at the expense of the financial services...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Bill provides that the consumer director may issue codes or impose requirements on financial services providers, but only in the name of the authority and with the approval of the other members of the authority. The amendment proposed by Senator Higgins is that the Director of Consumer Affairs be only required to consult with the other members of the authority in respect of issuing codes...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The provisions in the Bill set out certain items that must be contained in the consumer director's annual report. The chief executive will be required to specify if any other matters should be included. The chief executive will be the person in the body being established by the legislation who will have the power of initiative in this respect. I have no doubt that he or she will take into...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (9 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Senator McDowell raised the matter of the commencement date of the new authority. The date fixed will be 1 May this year.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (2 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I would not wish to accuse Senator Phelan of superfluity and redundancy, but I am not disposed to accepting the amendment. He has suggested that a review of the operation of the Bill take place and that the results of this should be presented to the Oireachtas within a two-year period after the commencement of the legislation. The Minister for Finance indicated at an earlier stage that any...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (2 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Senator has returned to his main criticism of the Bill, which relates to the combination of the prudential regulation function and the consumer protection function in one authority. The amendment proposes to change section 5A of the principal Act – the Central Bank Act 1942 – which provides for the general functions and powers of the bank. It is important to note that the...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (2 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Having studied the Bill, before it came to Seanad Éireann and during its passage, I can well understand the spirit that motivated this amendment. I disagree with the Senator in saying this consolidation could easily be done. It would be far from an easy task to consolidate this legislation. However, consolidation is very desirable and was requested by all parties on Second Stage in this...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (2 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That will be a very complex process for which the Minister for Finance has accepted responsibility. Because the regulatory authority deals with so many parts of the financial sector, some consideration will have to be given to whether consolidation alone is the appropriate way to go or whether there should be some harmonisation of the legislation for different sectors at the same time as...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Committee Stage. (2 Apr 2003)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As I pointed out to the Senator, the Minister for Finance has indicated he intends to deal with this matter during his tenure of office as Minister for Finance, from which I take it that he assumes that will be a five year period, given the complexity of this measure. He wisely decided to consult about the measures in the No. 2 Bill before settling on a final draft with the parliamentary...