Results 16,521-16,540 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There are those who do not wish success for the State. For political reasons they would prefer that we did not succeed-----

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: -----and want constantly to badmouth the progress this economy has made step-by-step over the past 12 months. I agree entirely with Deputy Higgins on the traditional gameplaying on these issues. Like him and all Members of the House, I have plenty to occupy myself fully for the next couple of weeks.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy asked a number of questions. The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2011, which is a Private Members' Bill, was discussed at Cabinet. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, is supportive of it being enacted and I am sure that will be facilitated. I understand that the Bill may require some tweaking but that will be worked on. As regards...

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Recapitalisation of the banks was debated at length a year ago when the PCAR numbers were published.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Let me explain. It was estimated at that stage that the recapitalisation would be of the order of €35 billion. The final amount is considerably less than that because of the actions of Government, in particular, the deleveraging of non-core assets of the banks. As regards purchase of Irish Life, the Deputy will be aware that it had been intended to use the sale of the insurance arm of...

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The referendum Bill will be dealt with the first week after the Easter recess. The European Stability Mechanism legislation will be published but not taken until after the referendum.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The consumer and competition Bill will be published mid-year. As regards the ongoing discussions with the banks, the matters raised by the Deputy are subject to discussion at that level.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Bill will be published later this year.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Deputy Stanley will be aware that that Bill was published as a Seanad Bill. It is being taken in the Seanad today. Once it concludes its passage there it will return to this House.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There is no problem with the legislative conveyor belt. I commend the Deputy opposite and his party on its industry in publishing its own Bills. It is useful that Bills are introduced by the Opposition and accepted by Government, which was not my experience when a Member on the opposite side of the House. My Department is publishing Heads of Bills to go to Committee. I have already done...

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The social protection Bill will be taken during the first week following the Easter recess. The two main pieces of legislation before the House that week will be the referendum Bill and the social protection Bill.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Bill will be published later this year. The heads of the Bill have not yet been brought to Cabinet.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy is probably aware that the companies Bill is an enormous project. There are 1,270 heads of the Bill.

Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: An enormous quantum of work will have to be done after the Bill has been published and sent to the committee. I understand it is still intended that the Bill will be published this year. Work on the prioritisation of criminal justice legislation is being undertaken by the Minister for Justice and Equality, who has been very assiduous on the legislative side. Nobody in this House is better...

Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: The Deputy opposite is his party's spokesperson on finance so he is uniquely well-placed to understand the economic situation this country faces. He also understands we are dependent to fund day to day services on an arrangement entered into by the previous Administration with the troika. Under that agreement we are obliged this year to have a household charge. We will migrate to a more...

Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: That work is already underway. We are obliged, however, to have the money this year.

Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Given the focus and controversy there is probably no household in the country that is unaware this charge is due. People know there are three ways in which the charge can and should be paid by the deadline of Saturday.

Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Half a million households have already paid. I ask Deputies on all sides of the House not to play party politics with this. This is part of the survival strategy for this country.

Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: There is a requirement for local government to fund its normal services and for €160 million to be raised. The local government fund requires the household charge this year in order to meet that figure.

Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2012)

Brendan Howlin: Wherever there is a shortfall and whenever a Deputy or somebody who is obliged to pay does not that will impact on the quality of local services.