Results 241-260 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I am glad the Deputy mentioned this. The Office of Public Works is currently working on precisely the kind of initiative the Deputy speaks about whereby the State redeems best value from the property available to it. This came about as a result of the ideas campaign, which was a public campaign and this was one of its recommendations. The OPW is working to ensure that all lands, not just...

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I have to respond. The Deputy is mistaken.

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I wonder if I should bother responding to Deputy Arthur Morgan's insinuation about my party. There are many foul things I could say about his own party.

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I will refrain from talking about its record in the past 30 years and all the blood it spilled on the island of Ireland.

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Neither am I going to bother responding to Deputy Arthur Morgan's smear about auctioneers or people associated with the Fianna Fáil Party.

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Deputy Denis Naughten asked a fair question and we will address that issue. If he has examples of where businesses are not getting sites because one agency is pointing at the other, we would be delighted to take it up with them.

Departmental Properties (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: They are under standing instruction to redeem best value for the State from the properties and lands held by them.

Departmental Payments (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: In accordance with the Government's decision of 19 May 2009, all Departments are required to pay their business suppliers within 15 days of receipt of a valid invoice. Departments are also required to report quarterly to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on their performance in meeting the target. The first returns by Departments covered 15 June 2009 to 30 September 2009 and...

Departmental Payments (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I am not aware of any Department having been punished for late payments. Broadly speaking, the record is quite good. The Minister is determined to extend it to other public service bodies, including local authorities and the HSE. Local authorities report a 30-day average for payments while the HSE stands at a 45-day average. It has already agreed to reduce this to a 30-day limit. The...

Departmental Payments (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: With payments within the required time as high as 97% in some Departments, and the lowest at 79%, it is fair to say Departments are in compliance.

Departmental Payments (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: That is just one Department. I would be pleased to share the league table with the Deputy so he can examine it. If the average is 80%, then some Departments should pull their socks up and get their act together. However, the record is positive and is even acknowledged to be so by Deputy Willie Penrose. The object is to widen the 15-day requirement to the wider public service in which...

Departmental Payments (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: If the average is 80%, then some Departments should pull their socks up and get their act together. However, the record is positive and is even acknowledged to be so by Deputy Willie Penrose. The object is to widen the 15-day requirement to the wider public service in which 30-day and 45-day averages seem to be the order of the day. It is, however, easy to bash public service organisations....

Departmental Payments (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I agree with Deputy Leo Varadkar that there should be some element of sanction for agencies who go adrift of the payment average. This will be considered when extending the legislation.

Departmental Payments (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I thank Deputy Willie Penrose for clarifying the matter. I am sure Deputy Varadkar will absorb it.

Departmental Bodies (12 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Yes.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (5 May 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Department is responsible for licensing petroleum exploration in the Irish offshore. There are eight exploration licences covering areas of the Porcupine Basin and one licensing option in the Kish Bank off the coast of Dublin. These authorisations are held by partnerships involving both Irish and international companies and permit the holders to explore for both oil and gas. There are...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: ): This amendment is required as a consequence of the amendment I accepted on Committee Stage which removed the provision excluding members of local authorities from sitting on the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland. Section 40(4), as drafted, also precluded members of a local authority from membership of the board of IFI. Accordingly, it is necessary to amend this provision in order that it...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: ): I thank Members for their co-operation. This is an important Bill and an essential measure in delivering new management structures for the inland fisheries resource. We are entering a new era and a period in which this resource will become valuable to the country in the development and encouragment of fisheries and angling tourism. These are key themes that I have asked the new...

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: ): I welcome the opportunity to address Members on a new telecommunications technology, the TETRA system, an acronym for terrestrial trunked radio. It is a new digital mobile radio service primarily intended for use by the emergency services in responding to emergencies. It is envisaged that all emergency services in Ireland, including the Garda Síochána, the fire service, the ambulance...

Seanad: TETRA System: Statements. (29 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: ): I thank Senators McFadden, Wilson and Hannigan, among others, for their worthy contributions. We all know of and understand the technology. Senator Hannigan, more than most, got to grips with the issue. I do not intend to provide authorisation to allow the State to issue compensation to those whose television reception has been affected. Without washing my hands of responsibility for...