DOCSLIB.ORG

Dáil Éireann

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dáil Éireann DÁIL ÉIREANN AN COMHCHOISTE UM FEIDHMIÚ CHOMHAONTÚ AOINE AN CHÉASTA JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT Déardaoin, 05 Feabhra 2015 Thursday, 05 February 2015 The Joint Committee met at 10.10 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Deputy Seán Conlan, Senator Maurice Cummins, Deputy Seán Crowe, Senator Jim D’Arcy, Deputy Martin Ferris, Senator Mary M. White. Deputy Michael P. Kitt, Deputy Dinny McGinley, Deputy Joe O’Reilly, Deputy Thomas Pringle, In attendance: Deputy Seamus Kirk, and Mr. Pat Doherty, MLA, Ms Michelle Gildernew, MLA, and Mr. Conor Murphy, MLA. DEPUTY FRANK FEIGHAN IN THE CHAIR. 1 DEVelopmentsin C ross-BorderT ransportI nfrastructure:M inisterfor T ransport,T ourismand S port The joint committee met in private session until 10.20 a.m. Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tour- ism and Sport Chairman: On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. We are meeting to discuss cross-Border developments in transport infrastructure. This topic has been identified by the committee as a priority for examination this year. The Minister had an informal meeting with the committee members on 12 November 2014 to discuss the A5 road project, in particular the allocation of funding for the development of a section of the N2 between Aughnacloy and Clontibret. The Minister agreed at that meeting that he would appear before the committee early this year to outline cross-Bor- der transport infrastructure developments with specific reference to the A5 road project. The committee held an informal meeting with representatives of Monaghan and Donegal county councils yesterday to discuss that project and the development of the section of the N2 between Aughnacloy and Clontibret in particular. The Monaghan County Council delegates were Mr. Eugene Cummins, chief executive, Councillor Jackie Crowe, an leas-chathaoirleach, and Mr. John McKiernan, acting senior engineer responsible for roads. The delegate from Donegal County Council was Mr. John McLaughlin, director of services. The committee also wishes to raise issues regarding the Narrow Water Bridge project. The committee engaged in an outreach visit on 13 November last to that project, following which it wrote to the Minister and other relevant stakeholders urging them to keep it on their collective agenda. I invite the Minister, who is very welcome, to make his opening statement. Following that, I will invite members to ask questions. Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Paschal Donohoe): It is very good to be here with all the members this morning. I acknowledge that the issues we are discuss- ing today are very important to members, their constituents, the country in general and all the people on the island. I will start by referring to the projects the Chairman alluded to, namely, the N2, A5, N14 and N15 projects. I am fully aware that the financial crisis has had a major impact on capital investment in roads and public transport. This was unavoidable to get the country’s public finances back on track. It has meant, however, that it has not been possible to make progress on a range of projects, and the reality is that budgets will continue to be constrained for some years to come. From a road safety perspective, the primary focus needs to be road maintenance and renewal rather than new projects. In this context, the only major road projects going to construction at present are those included in the 2012 Government infrastructure stimulus pro- gramme. However, I hope that over time the road budget can be restored to facilitate projects that can and will support economic development. The proposed N2 upgrade project is one of the projects that has had to be suspended. Pend- ing progress on the scheme for the road from Clontibret to the Border, phased improvement work is being undertaken by the National Roads Authority on the existing N2 national primary road between Monaghan town and Emyvale village to provide interim road safety and travel quality improvements. 2 1 On the A5, implementation of the upgrade project is the responsibility of the Northern Ire- land authorities. The quashing by the High Court in 2013 of the Minister for Regional Develop- ment’s approval for the construction of two sections of the road has resulted in significant delay. The Northern Ireland authorities have been working hard on the additional evaluations needed in respect of the project. They have completed public consultation exercises on four reports in- tended to address impacts on all areas with environmental designations, including special areas of conservation, special protection areas and Ramsar sites, together with proposed mitigation measures. I understand that once consideration of the outcome of the public consultation on these reports is completed, the Department intends to initiate a public consultation process on an updated environmental statement, draft vesting order and the draft direction order for the scheme. It is possible that this will be followed by a new public inquiry regarding the scheme. However, this will be a matter for decision by the Northern authorities. I will continue to liaise with my northern colleagues on the project through the transport sector of the North-South Min- isterial Council. The next meeting of the council is scheduled for April this year. In Donegal the N14-N15 proposed link to the upgraded A5 has planning approval and could be progressed, subject to the availability of funding, once the connecting part of the A5 is upgraded. Turning to the Narrow Water bridge, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provi- sions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authori- ties’ resources supplemented by State road grants paid by my Department. The selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. My predecessor, Deputy Varadkar, and the Government were very disappointed that the outcome of the Narrow Water Bridge tender process in 2013 was a doubling of the initial costs budgeted for by the project partners for the construction of the bridge and that, as a result, it did not prove possible to proceed with the project under the INTERREG IVA programme. I had a meeting last year with officials from Louth County Council to discuss a possible alternative plan being considered by the local authority to advance the Narrow Water Bridge project. At that meeting I indicated that it was for Louth County Council and other stakeholders to develop the project proposal further. As the project, as outlined to me, would cost in excess of €50 million, it is necessary for a viable project proposal that will meet project appraisal cri- teria to be developed and for the project partners to identify sources of funding for a revised project. In practical terms such a project would require support from both sides of the Border. As I indicated earlier, my Department continues to operate under a very constrained budget with the primary focus on repair and renewal of regional and local roads rather than new proj- ects. I hope to be able to come to the committee with better news in the future, as our economy continues to recover, but I am confident that whatever progress can be made, given our current constraints, is being made. I look forward to hearing the contributions from the members. Deputy Seán Conlan: I welcome the Minister. It is important that we discuss the is- sue of cross-Border connectivity and the upgrading of our road structure. Unfortunately, over many years during the Troubles the road network was neglected and there is a serious need for capital funding to be provided to improve the cross-Border road network. The roads between Monaghan and Tyrone, Monaghan and Armagh and Monaghan and Fermanagh are all in a poor state. In the earlier phases of the PEACE funding a small amount of money was made available to open the Border roads, but no funding has been forthcoming in the intervening years to upgrade those roads to a standard that people in the rest of the country would expect of roads connect- 3 DEVelopmentsin C ross-BorderT ransportI nfrastructure:M inisterfor T ransport,T ourismand S port ing major towns. The main road between Monaghan and Armagh, linking Belfast, requires upgrading but there are currently no proposals to upgrade that road. There are no proposals to do further work on the road between the county towns of Monaghan and Enniskillen. We are discussing the N2 and A5 in particular but all of the Border roads linking population centres must be upgraded. Without that infrastructural development it will be very difficult to increase trade in the Border region and improve the connectivity which it is hoped will lead to increased job numbers and increased investment in the region, which badly needs such investment. The region has been left behind over many years. Both Governments must focus clearly on developing it. A large number of young people have had to leave areas on both sides of the Border to go to Belfast, Dublin or elsewhere to seek employment. We must start to focus on keeping people in the region. With regard to the N2 and A5, we met a deputation from Monaghan County Council yester- day. Its members asked that the Government consider providing money for a design phase for the N2-A5 and for the N2 in the Republic. I appreciate the financial constraints on the Govern- ment. I understand that the capital requirements were previously agreed in 2012 and that it will be 2017 or 2018 before they are revisited.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A March of Moral Panic?: an Examination of Reaction to Crime in Ireland in March 2006
    Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin Dissertations Social Sciences 2007-10-01 A March of Moral Panic?: An Examination Of Reaction To Crime in Ireland in March 2006 Robin Maginn Technological University Dublin Follow this and additional works at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/aaschssldis Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Maginn, Robin: A March of Moral Panic?: An Examination Of Reaction To Crime in Ireland in March 2006:Masters Dissertation. Dublin, DIT, October 2007. This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Social Sciences at ARROW@TU Dublin. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ARROW@TU Dublin. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License A March of Moral Panic? An Examination Of Reaction To Crime in Ireland in March 2006 A thesis submitted to the Dublin Institute of Technology in part fulfilment of the requirements for award of Masters (M.A.) in Criminology By Robin Maginn October 2007 Supervisor: Claire Hamilton Department of Social Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology Declaration I hereby certify that the material submitted in this thesis towards the award of the Masters (M.A.) in Criminology is entirely my own work and has not been submitted for any academic assessment other than part-fulfilment of the award named above. Signature of candidate………………………………………………………………….. Date……………………………………………………………………………….......... Abstract Moral Panic is a concept that examines disproportionate reaction towards an event or persons. In March of 2006, several events occurred which provoked strong reactions from the media and from politicians.
    [Show full text]
  • Ezine Issue 13
    Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil Donegal - community in touch ISSUE 13 AUGUST 2011 / EAGRÁN 13 LÚNASA 2011 News 2 Welcome - Fáilte Donegal Business 7 Education and Learning 10 Social and Cultural 12 Donegal Community Links 15 Message From Mayor Hello everyone, I have just completed my first month as Mayor of Donegal and I must admit it is indeed a wonderful experience and a learning curve. I am truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to serve as Mayor of our great County. This County and Country may be in recession but in Donegal we are upbeat, the sleeves are rolled up, our heads are up, and we will dig our way out. Many groups and organisations have come together throughout Donegal to plan for the future and are determined to get this county back on its feet again. had the privilege of addressing more like a sense of reflection mixed I myself have focused on tourism and tourist related activities the recent Donegal County with impatience, questioning how it as my number one priority for my year as Mayor and I hope to I Development Board Annual is that “we have all this information, present you all with some ideas shortly. I would also be grateful Strategy Day in Letterkenny, County all these organisations and support for any ideas you might have to assist me (noel.mcbride@ Donegal on the 18th May 2011. services, all these regulations and donegalcoco.ie) ways of doing things but. ”. We Two things stick out in my memory need to ask if the mix and balance Donegal at the moment is in the midst of our festival season and many successful festivals and events have already taken place from that day’s conversations and of all these resources are right for throughout the county with more to come.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to the 30 Dáil for Anti-Poverty Groups
    European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland Guide to the 30th Dáil for Anti-Poverty Groups ‘EAPN Ireland is a network of groups and individuals working against poverty and social exclusion. Our objective is to put the fight against poverty at the top of the European and Irish agendas’ Contents Page Acknowledgements 2 Introduction 2 The Parties 4 Dáil Session Guide 5 A Brief Guide to Legislation 7 Dáil Committees 9 The TD in the Dáil 9 Contacting a TD 12 APPENDICES 1: List of Committees and Spokespersons 2: Government Ministers and Party Spokespersons 1 Introduction This Guide has been produced by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland. It is intended as a short briefing on the functioning of the Dáil and a simple explanation of specific areas that may be of interest to people operating in the community/NGO sector in attempting to make the best use of the Dáil. This briefing document is produced as a result of the EAPN Focus on Poverty in Ireland project, which started in December 2006. This project aimed to raise awareness of poverty and put poverty reduction at the top of the political agenda, while also promoting understanding and involvement in the social inclusion process among people experiencing poverty. This Guide is intended as an accompanying document to the EAPN Guide to Understanding and Engaging with the European Union. The overall aim in producing these two guides is to inform people working in the community and voluntary sector of how to engage with the Irish Parliament and the European Union in influencing policy and voicing their concerns about poverty and social inclusion issues.
    [Show full text]
  • Dáil Éireann
    Vol. 880 Thursday, No. 2 28 May 2015 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 28/05/2015A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 28/05/2015A00200Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 28/05/2015A00300General Practitioner Contracts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 28/05/2015A01300Patient Safety Agency Establishment� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4 28/05/2015B00800Cancer Services Funding � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 28/05/2015C00900Services for People with Disabilities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 28/05/2015D00350Hospital Waiting Lists � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 28/05/2015E00600Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 28/05/2015E00850Hospital Waiting Lists � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
    [Show full text]
  • Thirteenth Annual Report
    BRITISH-IRISH PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY TIONÓL PARLAIMINTEACH NA BREATAINE AGUS NA HÉIREANN Doc No February 2010 1 CONTENTS Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… Membership of the Body……………………………………………………………… Political developments……………………………………………………………… The work of the Body………………………………………………………………… Thirty-sixth Plenary ……………………………………………………………… Thirty-seventh Plenary……………………………………………………………… Steering Committee………………………………………………………………… Committees…………………………………………………………………………… Staffing………………………………………………………………………………… Prospects for 2009…………………………………………………………………… APPENDIX 1: Membership of the Body…………………………………… APPENDIX 2: Reports and other documents approved by the Body……… APPENDIX 3: Work of Committees……………………………………… Committee A…………………………………………………………… Committee B…………………………………………………………… Committee C…………………………………………………………… Committee D…………………………………………………………… 2 APPENDIX 4: Staff of the Body…………………………………………… 3 FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT THE WORK OF THE BRITISH-IRISH INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY Introduction 1.This is the fourteenth annual report of the Assembly since it was decided at the Plenary Session in May 1996 that such a Report should be made. This Report summarises the work of the Assembly during 2008. Membership of the Body 2.There were a number of significant changes in membership during the year. In the eary spring, the British Co-Chair, the Rt Hon Paul Murphy, returned to the Cabinet and was replaced by the Rt Hon Peter Hain. Sean O‟Fearghail was replaced as an Irish Vice- Chair and Chair of Committee C by Ms Margaret Conlon. Most importantly for the future of the Body, the October session was attended for the first time by delegates from the Democratic unionist Party and the Ulster Unionist party. Political Developments General Overview 3. 2008 was a year of consolidation for the peace process in Northern Ireland following the restoration of devolved government in May 2007. A Programme for Government and Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland, along with the Budget, were passed by the Assembly on 28 and 29 January 2008.
    [Show full text]
  • North South Ministerial Council 2011 ANNUAL REPORT 
    North South Ministerial Council 2011 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS Introduction by Joint Secretaries 3 Chapter 1 NSMC Plenary and Institutional Meetings 7 2.8 Food Safety 25 Chapter 2 NSMC Meetings in Sectoral Format 10 2.9 Inland Waterways 27 2.1 Agriculture 11 2.10 Language 29 2.2 Education 13 2.11 Special EU Programmes 31 2.3 Environment 15 2.12 Trade and Business Development 33 2.4 Health 17 Annex 1 NSMC Meetings in 2011 35 2.5 Tourism 19 Annex 2 NSMC Joint Secretariat 36 2.6 Transport 21 Annex 3 Board Members of North South Bodies 37 2.7 Aquaculture and Marine 23 Front Cover: Artwork for the inner atrium wall of the NSMC Joint Secretariat offices by Cork born artist Declan O’Mahony. The artwork was jointly commissioned by Armagh City and District Council and the NSMC Joint Secretariat and was to relate to the cultural and historical fabric of Armagh City and to the NSMC. The artwork typifies Declan O’Mahony’s current ‘acrylic- pouring’ working methods. There are seven distinct sizes in the multi-coloured layering in the artwork. In mythological terms the number ‘seven’ was known to symbolize perfection and completeness and Armagh, geographically, is nestled among the Seven Hills. The oldest surviving manuscript in Ireland is the Book of Armagh. The twin columns of abstract, calligraphic symbols contributed yet another subtle element of inspiration to the overall design of the diptych. Finally thousands of fragments of coloured glass adorn the elongated windows in both cathedrals in Armagh. The architects of such great towering structures were fully aware of the power of colour to raise the human spirit to higher levels.
    [Show full text]
  • Decentralisation Deconstructed ++ a Study Decentralisation
    TThhee IInnffoorrmmeerr COLLINS AND FINE GAEL TODAY WALK FOR PLUS Decentralisation deconstructed ++ A study of private education ++ Policy Manifesto Update The Official Ezine of Young Fine Gael September 2005 The Informer September 2005 Editorial So the summer passed away as quickly as it came, and Christmas is only 15 weeks away, so before we start the Christmas shopping, let me congratulate all those who passed their exams and are back for another year, commiserate with those who passed and are now finished and pass my deepest sympathies to those who have long since finished college. Let me also welcome any new members reading their first edition of the ‘YFG Informer’ especially the thousands of freshers enrolling in colleges around the country, may your year be successful as it is long, and may YFG be there to help you along the way. Welcome to the fourth edition of the ‘YFG Informer’. Inside, Michael Collins and what he means to Fine Gael, ‘The Intruder’ investigates President Pa O’ Driscoll. Decentralisation, Private Education, Blogging and reports from the President, Vice President and all around the country among others. But first let us reflect on the summer. Firstly to Summer school, which this year was hosted in the South East, namely, the Talbot Hotel, Wexford Town. Noted how the word ‘sunny’ was omitted. Well apart from the rain this was another tremendous success, hats off to Susie O’ Connor once again for this. Secondly, the Talk campaign continued to pick up momentum, as this was rolled out in major urban areas across the country and ‘memorably’ a sponsored walk from Galway to Limerick.
    [Show full text]
  • Athmhuscailt an Iarthair Awakening the West
    Athmhuscailt an Iarthair Ag sárú míchothramaíochtaí sóisialta agus eacnamaíochta Awakening the West Overcoming Social and Economic Inequality ReportCover.indd 1 22/01/2009 15:33:10 Athmhuscailt an Iarthair: Ag sárú míchothramaíochtaí sóisialta agus eacnamaíochta Awakening the West: Overcoming Social and Economic Inequality Presented to the oireachtas joint committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Rural, Community and Gaeltacht affairs Senator Pearse Doherty Sinn Féin representative on the oireachtas joint committee of Arts, Sports, Tourism, Rural, Community and Gaeltacht affairs November 2008 Researchers: Ruadhán Mac Aodháin and Pádraig MacLochlainn 1 PearseDohertyReportB&W.indd 1 22/01/2009 15:26:36 Clár Ábhair Brollach an Rapóirtéara lch. 6 Admhálacha lch. 12 Intreoir lch. 13 Giorrúcháin agus Gluais Téarmaí lch. 14 Achoimre Feidhmiúcháin lch. 15 Eochair-Mholtaí lch. 21 Caibidil 1: Intreoir lch. 29 Eochair-Theachtaireachtaí lch. 29 1.1 Daonra agus déimeagrafaic lch. 29 1.2 Éagothromaíochtaí Réigiúnacha lch. 30 1.3 Fostaíocht lch. 30 1.4 Coinneáil Céimithe lch. 30 1.5 Bonneagar lch. 31 1.6 Seirbhísí Sóisialta lch. 31 1.7 Fhorbairt Réigiúnach a Chothromú lch. 31 1.8 Maoiniú lch. 31 Caibidil 2: Geilleagar lch. 33 Eochair-Theachtaireachtaí lch. 33 2.1 Geilleagar agus Fiontraíocht lch. 33 2.2 Talmhaíocht lch. 34 2.3 Iascaireacht lch. 35 2.4 Tógáil lch. 35 2.5 Déantúsaíochta agus Tionscal lch. 35 2.6 Turasóireacht lch. 36 Caibidil 3: Fiontraíocht agus Infheistíocht lch. 39 Eochair-Theachtaireachtaí lch. 39 3.1 Seirbhísí trádála áitiúla lch. 39 3.2 Fiontair Dhúchasacha lch. 40 3.3 Rochtain ar chaipiteal lch. 42 3.4 Comhlachtaí Forbartha Réigiúnaí lch.
    [Show full text]
  • Dáil Éireann
    Vol. 701 Wednesday, No. 1 3 February 2010 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Wednesday, 3 February 2010. Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 1 Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 7 Visit of Foreign Delegation …………………………… 18 Order of Business ……………………………… 18 Arbitration Bill 2008: Order for Report ……………………………… 37 Report Stage ……………………………… 37 Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed) ……… 48 Ceisteanna—Questions (resumed) Minister for Finance Priority Questions …………………………… 52 Other Questions …………………………… 64 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 73 Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (resumed) ……… 74 Private Members’ Business Gangland Crime: Motion (resumed) ……………………… 110 Adjournment Debate Job Creation ……………………………… 134 FÁS Training Programmes ………………………… 137 Flood Relief Works …………………………… 139 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 145 DÁIL ÉIREANN DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL OFFICIAL REPORT Imleabhar 701 Volume 701 Dé Céadaoin, 3 Feabhra 2010. Wednesday, 3 February 2010. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Leaders’ Questions. Deputy Enda Kenny: These are very fretful times for families in this country. When the Taoiseach came to power in May 2008 the number on the live register was 202,000. The Central Statistics Office will release the comparable figure this morning at 11 a.m. for January 2010. Will the Taoiseach inform the House of what that figure is? The Taoiseach: The January live register will show an increase, as it has done every year for the past ten years. The headline total will be 436,900, reflecting five weeks activity. The month on month increase will be 13,300 or 3.1% and the year on year increase will be 110,600 or 33.9%.
    [Show full text]
  • Dáil Éireann Debate - Tuesday, 19 May 2009
    3/3/2021 Leaders’ Questions. – Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) – Tuesday, 19 May 2009 – Houses of the Oireachtas Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 19 May 2009 Vol. 682 No. 5 Leaders’ Questions. Back to table of contents Deputy Enda Kenny This morning, I listened carefully to the chairman of the Bank of Ireland, who has announced his resignation, state that accountability for losses must be taken at the top. While I am not a fan of bankers whose irresponsibility has threatened everything that hard-working people in this country built up over the years, at least Mr. Burrows was willing to accept responsibility and take accountability to its conclusion by tendering his resignation. He is not the only individual to have done so. By resigning, his industry colleagues in Allied Irish Banks, Anglo Irish Bank, Irish Life & Permanent and Irish Nationwide, as well as the Financial Regulator, have all accepted responsibility for their actions and seen to it that accountability is taken at the top. On the other hand, the Taoiseach appears to be the last person to do this. While he says he accepts responsibility for his actions and collectively of those of the Government during its years in office, he will not see this through to accountability. As Minister for Finance, he presided over a regime which put banks and developers before people and under which we have gone from a https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2009-05-19/15/?highlight[0]=all&highlight[1]=loans&highlight[2]=including&highlight[3]=performing&… 1/26 3/3/2021 Leaders’ Questions.
    [Show full text]
  • Ard Fheis RDS Ballsbridge Friday, 28 FEBRUARY and Saturday, 1 March, 2014
    77 TH Ard Fheis RDS BALLSBRIDGE FRIDAY, 28 FEBRUARY AND SATURDAY, 1 MARCH, 2014 For the latest details on Fine Gael, our policies, and our people, join us at www.finegael.ie, on Facebook or on Twitter at @FineGael Printed and published by Fine Gael, 51 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2. finegael.ie Ph: 01- 6198444, Email: [email protected], Web: www.finegael.ie #fgaf14 Loc8 Code NN5-95-LB7 CAR PARK CAR SIMMONSCOURT RD SIMMONSCOURT PUBLIC NOTICES: Lift / Elevator Male Toilets MINERVA SUITE Female Toilets MERRION Baby Changing ROOM 1st FLOOR Disabled Toilets ATM CONCERT CLOAK ROOM HALL CLOAK Refreshments ROOM Dining MAIN HALL FEMALE SHELBOURNE HALL GENTS EXHIBITION STANDS AND CLYDE CATERING ROOM EXIT SMOKING AREA EXIT EXIT INDUSTRIES HALL CRÈCHE VOTING/COUNT RDS FLOOR PLAN CONTENTS 2 Information North West 11 Candidates 3 What’s Happening South 14 Candidates Message from the 4 General Secretary Parliamentary Party 16 Candidates Message from 5 An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD Council of Local Public 17 Representatives Candidates Executive Council 6 Nominations 2014 18 Accounts Vice Presidential 7 Candidates Motions for 23 Debate 8 Dublin Candidates Dates for 31 your Diary 10 East Candidates As well as your accreditation, please remember to bring your 2013/14 Fine Gael/YFG membership card and photo i.d. to the Ard Fheis. ARD FHEIS 2014 // 1 INFORMATION REGISTRATION & PRE-REGISTRATION SHUTTLE BUS Don’t worry if you haven’t pre-registered for the Ard Fheis. A shuttle bus will run from the Simmonscourt Car Park, You can still register, but please be aware that you cannot stopping at Bewley’s Hotel and onwards to the Ard Fheis, register at the RDS.
    [Show full text]
  • The February 2011 Parliamentary Election in Ireland
    THE FEBRUARY 2011 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN IRELAND Derek S Hutcheson IBIS working paper no. 109 THE FEBRUARY 2011 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN IRELAND Derek S Hutcheson Working Papers in British-Irish Studies No. 109, 2011 Institute for British-Irish Studies University College Dublin IBIS Working Papers No. 109, 2011 © the author, 2011 ISSN 1649-0304 ABSTRACT THE FEBRUARY 2011 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN IRELAND The 2011 Irish parliamentary election was dramatic in its outcome. In the wake of a sustained economic crisis, the incumbent Fianna Fáil-led government was swept from power and replaced by a Fine Gael-Labour coalition that enjoyed a record ma- jority. )LDQQD)iLO¶VVXSSRUWFROODSVHGDQGDIWHUHLJKWGHFDGHVDV,UHODQG¶VGRPinant party, it was reduced to a parliamentary rump and its Green coalition partner elimi- nated from parliament altogether. The decisive change in the party system was marked by a high degree of electoral volatility that made the 2011 election the third most volatile election in post-War Western Europe. The new government faces un- SUHFHGHQWHGSROLWLFDODQGHFRQRPLFFKDOOHQJHVDVLWVHHNVWRUHVROYHWKHFRXQWU\¶V prolonged recession. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Dr Derek Hutcheson is Head of Subject in European Studies and Lecturer in Com- parative Politics in the UCD School of Politics and International Relations. His re- search focuses on electoral politics and voting rights in a comparative perspective, and he is a UCD co-partner in the European Commission-IXQGHG ³Access to citi- zeQVKLS DQG LWV LPSDFW RQ LPPLJUDQWLQWHJUDWLRQ´FRQVRUWLXPKHDGHGE\WKH(XUo- pean University Institute in Florence. THE FEBRUARY 2011 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN IRELAND Derek S Hutcheson INTRODUCTION If Ireland after the 2007 election resembled Japan or pre-1993 Italy, in which the dominant Fianna Fáil (FF) party seemed ³almost irremovable from office´ (Ó Muineacháin and Gallagher 2008: 154), by early 2011 the improbable had become inevitable.
    [Show full text]