Results 1-20 of 939 for speaker:Noel Treacy

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Cardinal Healthcare, Longford. (16 Oct 2002)

Noel Treacy: Déanaim comhgairdeas ó chroí leis na Seanadóirí a ath-tofadh agus leis na Seanadóirí nua. Déanaim comhgairdeas speisialta leatsa, a Chathaoirligh, as ucht a bheith tofa mar Chathaoirleach ar an tSeanad. Tá meas mór agam ar an dTeach seo agus ar an gcaighdeán ard díospóireachta polaitíochta atá le fáil anseo le blianta fada. Tá mé féin agus mo chomhghleacaithe sa Rialtas ag...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Cardinal Healthcare, Longford. (16 Oct 2002)

Noel Treacy: The previous Government gave special status to Longford on two occasions. It was given status in terms of urban renewal, which accorded special status for development in the greater Longford area. We have given special status to the BMW region, resulting in the highest priority rating possible to create the biggest incentive to locate a company in that area. That is one of the reasons...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Disease Eradication Schemes. (16 Oct 2002)

Noel Treacy: The disposal of reactor animals under the TB and brucellosis disease eradication schemes operates countrywide on the basis that meat factories tender on a weekly basis for the slaughter of these animals. The Department selects the meat factories on the basis of the prices that they offer for different types of animals.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Beef Industry. (16 Oct 2002)

Noel Treacy: The current events in the beef industry began as a protest three weeks ago and were originally confined to farmers protesting at AIBP owned plants, which were prevented from sorting cattle on Monday, 23 September. The protest has been extended to the point that five plants, accounting for 20% of the national slaughtering capacity, are disrupted by the dispute. I understand the protest was...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: The proposed national development finance agency is not intended to undertake project management. The functions of the agency, which are very specific and are set out in section 3, include providing advice and, in certain circumstances, finance in respect of public investment projects, including public private partnerships. It will be a matter for the relevant Ministers or, where there is...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: Section 3(3) provides: "In carrying out its functions the Agency shall comply with all guidelines and instructions that the Minister may, from time to time, issue to the Agency." Such guidelines will be drafted by an interdepartmental group of experts and will be subject to the advice of the Office of the Attorney General. They will take full account of national and EU procurement procedures...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: I have listened with great interest to the important points made by Senators Paddy Burke, Mansergh and Ulick Burke. Senator Paddy Burke raised the question of tendering for PPPs and asked about the companies that put forward the best overall deal. The NDFA will advise State authorities on the financial elements of the tenders and will assess and evaluate what has been proposed. Invitations to...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: I would not say that. The Senator is in the middle of it and I hope he can use it to the maximum advantage of our constituents. He was on that local authority for a long time. I hope all of these innovations and structures are working.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: It is not the first time that the charge has been levelled at the Government that it is creating another layer of bureaucracy. It is not the first time that the Opposition has been wrong. We have created agencies—

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: Always remember that it is very important for a politician to be optimistic. Tomorrow will always be better than today.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: Do I hear my old friend, Senator Brian Hayes? It is good to hear him. As my colleague, Deputy McCreevy said, it is not another layer of bureaucracy. It is an added dimension, providing financial expertise to Ministers, Government Departments and State agencies and authorities to get the best value for money. If we wanted to create another layer of bureaucracy we would do what the Opposition...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: The NTMA is saving, on average, €1 billion per annum for the Exchequer and taxpayer. It has an outstanding record of success and outstanding people. It is a small, focused agency, able to deal in the international marketplace, give advice to the Central Bank, the Department of Finance and the Government of the day, do the job and deliver to the people.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: This is a similar body with a different role and it will work parallel to, and in co-operation with, the NTMA. Expertise on technical and structural issues will be found in the NRA or any other agency this new body will be dealing with and need not be duplicated in the NDFA. The new agency will bring many benefits. It is expected that these will include maximising value for money by helping...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: It will underpin the PPP approach to the delivery of infrastructure and will centralise commercial, financial and legal expertise, reducing dependence on external consultants with consequent cost savings to the State. What more can we do? How could one do it better? How are we to get rid of the delay caused by tendering for consultancies, going through the interview process, advertising and...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: My definition of value for money is very clear.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: Value for money is what I judge to be value for money by my standards. Value for money for the taxpayer is different. As public representatives we, along with bodies, authorities and agencies working for the State, are obliged to ensure that in the delivery of any public project we get the best deal for the taxpayer by tendering publicly, operating according to best international practice,...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: Senator Paddy Burke is correct – of course public private partnerships are commercial entities that exist to make money. There is nothing wrong with that. We are giving a new dimension to the State financing and procurement area, giving it commercial teeth and taking it away from the situation where it has been a constant drain on the Exchequer, where the tap is run and the nation is bled...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: This agency will be responsible to the Committee of Public Accounts and there will be plenty of options to scrutinise its management, operations and successes. Senators have raised the matter of the guidelines on State authorities seeking advice from the NDFA. The legislation provides that the Minister for Finance would issue guidance on the circumstances on which National Development Finance...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: It is therefore a matter for the Minister to revoke such guidelines and instructions. The legislation is clear in what it proposes. Consequently, I regret I cannot accept the amendment but I assure the House that once the guidelines are available they will be available to everybody.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Noel Treacy: I listened with interest to what Senator Paddy Burke said about accountability. I served for six years on a local authority and became chairman on my second year there. The situation pertaining to local accountability has not changed. My recollection is that a project is advertised and tendered, it is decided who is to get the tender, it goes to construction, is opened officially and there is...