Results 81-100 of 501 for speaker:Maurice Hayes

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: It might be helpful, in order to avoid the appearance of an illusion, if we were to use the term "if the Supervisory Authority forms the view that there is or may be". It is the use of the terms "appearing" and "or may be" with which Senator Quinn and several other Members find difficult to come to terms. If the authority forms a view that there is a problem with a company, it shows that it...

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: The authority would be acting as a court and it would probably be unconstitutional.

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: The Senator's point is reasonable because it would be wrong, and damaging to the intent of the legislation, if people were able to acquire the commercial confidential information of a particular firm simply by using the FOI Act. As Senator McDowell said, there is a distinction to be made between the operation of the organisation and the information on which it makes its decision.

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: Would it help if a distinction was made between private and public companies? I can see difficulties in this regard in a private company but, generally, public companies would be large enough to cast the play. It probably is preferable in such cases that a person other than the chairman should serve on the audit committee. There is no great problem in a private company and I presume that the...

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: I am pleased that Government amendments have been tabled that ease the position of subsidiary companies in relation to audit committees and others. I wonder if the same applies here, as it would make a big difference. I am a director of three organisations, one of which is a large international company while the others are a regulatory body and a charity. As I stated on Second Stage, I would...

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: I was not proposing to exclude charities from regulation because they need to be regulated. While there should be a charities regulation body, they should be removed from the ambit of this form of—

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: Before we adjourned remarks were made which were unfortunate and very rude. They seemed to cast a slur on all directors of all companies as being fat cats and motivated by nothing. It would be a pity if the House appeared to endorse those remarks or that the Government, in bringing in this necessary and important Bill, would allow people to be traduced in that way. I hope we can get over...

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: He is not here and I do not want to name names. I would rather the person were here. That is all I want to say. This is not about escaping control. It is not about asking people to take on tasks which they cannot, in conscience, necessarily do without doing a lot of others, as Senator Quinn said. The part I find the most onerous is section 43(4)(d)(ii). I can live with section 43(4)(d)(i)...

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: I will try to be helpful and respond to some of the points of Senator O'Toole. If one subjects one's car to an MOT, which is one's responsibility, it does not mean that one will be aware of a blown tail-light bulb while one is driving. I have no difficulty with a requirement that directors should inform themselves of their duties or do a course. Some of the companies with which I have been...

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: How right the Senator is.

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: That never happened in any company of which I was a director.

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: We can discuss the matter on the Order of Business tomorrow.

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: Senator Leyden made precisely the point I wanted to make. We should list Report Stage for tomorrow and discuss it on the Order of Business in the morning. I am sure the Minister of State will be compliant with any decision we take.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 May 2003)

Maurice Hayes: Regarding Senator Henry's point, it is a pity that we could not have arrived at this stage a couple of weeks ago without creating tremendous fear and hoo-ha. Since the Special Olympics are organised on an all-island basis, what consultation has taken place with public health authorities in the North? Senator Quinn referred to the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Bill and I was one of the...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (10 Jun 2003)

Maurice Hayes: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome also the earlier statement by the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. We should recognise the Convention for what it is. It has been an amazingly innovative way to try to sort out the problems of organising the business in Europe. We have all suffered and complained in the past about work being done in smoke-filled rooms during unsocial...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Jun 2003)

Maurice Hayes: Over the last month I have asked on a couple of occasions that the Minister for Health and Children provide the House with information on the basis of the expert advice he was getting in relation to SARS and the Special Olympics. I regret that this information has not been made available. It would be helpful, even at this late hour, if we knew who was coming to Ireland and under what terms,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Jun 2003)

Maurice Hayes: I apologise. I misread the wording. I have no problem with it.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Jun 2003)

Maurice Hayes: I join Senator Brian Hayes in welcoming the Special Olympics athletes. I also congratulate the organisers for holding the Games on an all-island basis. The welcome so manifest in the South is also manifest in the North, both from members of the public and the public authorities. It has been an exemplary act of community co-operation. Will the Leader ask the Minster for Transport to use his...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Maurice Hayes: If that is satisfactory.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003: Second Stage. (18 Jun 2003)

Maurice Hayes: With the permission of the House I wish to share my time with Senator Henry.