Results 1-20 of 406 for speaker:Charlie McCreevy

Seanad: Book of Estimates, 2003: Statements. (21 Nov 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: I am happy to have the opportunity to debate the 2003 abridged Estimates volume in the Upper House. Ireland may be an island geographically but it is certainly not an economic island. We live in a small open economy and cannot avoid the effects of the slow-down in worldwide economic growth. The pace of international economic activity is disappointing with continuing uncertainty about the...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: I am delighted to have the opportunity to present the National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002 to the Seanad today. The proposed National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, will assist in providing cost effective finance for priority infrastructure projects. It is a clear indication of the Government's commitment to the ongoing development of this country that the establishment of NDFA...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: No, I have been here before.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: If that is true, I must start worrying about myself.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: Senator Minihan is not a member of Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: It was a great slogan.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: We thought of it ourselves.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: I thank the Members who spoke in this debate. I was impressed by their well-informed contributions. I hope it proves informative for those who follow the debate outside the House. As I said on many occasions, the Bill is an important part of the Government's plan to address the country's infrastructural deficit. The Bill, when enacted, will establish a National Development Finance Agency...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: The moral of the story is that, with the exception of various specialists, nobody listens during election campaigns; the people tend to be asleep and do not pay attention.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: The NDFA will provide advice about financial packages and, for those who believe differently, it will not act as another layer of bureaucracy. The sponsoring Department will be entitled to either accept or ignore the agency's advice. Let us consider the example of a project in line with the overall schools building programme. It is likely the NDFA would state that it could provide a better...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: The central unit in my Department, along with other Departments, advised that processes be put in train to do with the social partners, etc. It has to do with the management of a project and has nothing to do with the Department of Finance.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Charlie McCreevy: The Senator's colleague asked – this question was also discussed on Committee Stage in the Lower House – why not change the NTMA Act to allow that agency to operate in this area. The reason is that the NTMA would be at cross-purposes. The NTMA's job is to borrow money for the State at the lowest possible cost while the NDFA will try to obtain the best possible deal for a particular project.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: I am pleased to introduce the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003 to the House. I am conscious that the Freedom of Information Act began its life as a Seanad Bill and that this House played an important role in shaping that legislation. It is essential that citizens have confidence and trust in Government and public administration. The Government is firmly committed to this...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: In extending this timeframe to four months, it is reasonable to expect that the vast majority of reviews will be closed within that period. The various technical measures in the Bill draw from a review conducted by the Civil Service users network in 1999, from discussions and interactions with the Office of the Information Commissioner and from experience gained since the Act came into force.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (4 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: As Senators will be aware, we have an elaborate system for supporting the implementation of FOI and for involving the various stakeholders and users of the legislation in dialogue on its operation. Within my Department, the FOI central policy unit chairs an interdepartmental working group and a public service users network with representatives from all sectors of the civil and public service...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: Many times, Deputy.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: If the Senator had stayed in Athy, he would probably be a Deputy now, but probably for a different party.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: The people of Athy and the Fianna Fáil Party might have gained.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: Senator Ryan could be classified as coming from the Fianna Fáil gene pool, although he likes to forget it.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (20 Mar 2003)

Charlie McCreevy: It is a very strong gene pool.