Bruton, JohnTuesday, 10 October 1995 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers.
It was a Minister of State who answered it previously.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Constitutional Review Group.
Was asked: if he has received any progress report or communication from the Constitutional Review Group.
I have not received any communication from the review group since its launch on 11 May nor have I communicated with it. As envisaged in my reply to parliamentary questions on 3 May 1995, the group wa...
There have been no submissions of which I am aware. The parties will primarily make their input at the next stage when the joint committee has been established to process the recommendations of the r...
Yes.
Specific matters were not referred to the group which was given a mandate to look at all aspects of the Constitution in its review. However, as the House will remember the Government drew attention i...
The group operates independently of the Government and, therefore, has not furnished it with any reports on the Articles with which it is dealing or the Articles with which it is not dealing. All I h...
The list I gave relates to matters that I expect the committee would not deal with as priority because they are being dealt with otherwise. Issues such as electoral reform are not on the list and, if ...
The committee is being asked to review the Constitution and in light of that review to establish those areas where constitutional change may be desirable or necessary. The words “desirable” and “nec...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Official Visit to Canada.
Was asked: if he will report on his recent visit to Canada.
Was asked: if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Canada, in particular his discussions with the Canadian Prime Minister.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together. I undertook an official visit to Canada from 11 to 14 September. The objectives of my visit were to further develop the ties between Ireland and Can...
It is a well named group.
There were women there, but I must admit the majority were men.
The majority were men, but I am sure that will change as a result of my visit. A further key objective of my visit was to promote Ireland's economic interests. This was achieved by attendance at a tr...
The purpose of such a commission is to break the logjam on the road towards all party talks. While there is increasing movement towards agreement on the concept of some international body being invol...
Yes, we did. Indeed the Canadian Prime Minister, in his initial address of welcome on the tarmac of the airport in Ottawa, brought that matter up specifically and we followed it through in our discu...
My recollection is that prior to my meeting — not during the meeting — the Canadian Prime Minister indicated he would be interested in the concept of a North Atlantic free trade area; I think that was...
I do not have any recollection of Prime Minister Chrétien raising that matter specifically. However, we discussed the general question of UN subscriptions to international organisations not being up-t...
I believe I was asked that question by one of the people but I do not remember exactly. My position is that of successive Governments, namely, that we have given a commitment to maintain the 10 per c...
No, although in the course of the discussion John A. Costello's name did crop up a few times as did the name of my other predecessor who visited Canada.
No, that did not flash across my screen but Canada is a member of the Commonwealth and obviously is one of the international organisations with which it is involved.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seanad Éireann Vacancy.
Was asked: when he intends to nominate a person to fill the vacancy in Seanad Éireann.
This vacancy will be filled in due course and an announcement will be made in the normal way.
I have been accused of representing that perspective; one of the Sunday newspapers has portrayed me in that way. A final decision has not been made in regard to filling the position. It has been vac...
We will give serious consideration to it but I would not like to belittle the unusual situation in which the Government finds itself. Notwithstanding the fact that the Constitution provides that the ...
As the Deputy is aware my predecessor, on the day before he left office, appointed a person from Northern Ireland, a member of the Deputy's party now, Senator Haughey. It would be wrong to say that No...
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cabinet Confidentiality.
Was asked: when it is intended to hold a referendum on Cabinet confidentiality.
The Government will consider this matter shortly and an announcement will be made in the normal way.
I have not considered it in great depth; it is something we could consider. On the other hand it is a hazardous business to make gambles on the basis of changes in the composition of the Supreme Cour...
It is a very interesting question and I have given it some thought. I think it would prolong Cabinet meetings enormously if full minutes of what everybody said at them were kept. What would happen i...
One of the characteristics of Government in this country in recent times — certainly it is a characteristic of this Government and the previous Government — is that we are able to get through the busi...
We had our usual very good meeting this morning.
As I said already to Deputy Harney, I had not given much thought to that proposal. We had been and are proceeding on the basis of a constitutional amendment. There is, as put by both Deputy Harney a...
Order of Business.
It is proposed to take No. 5. It is also proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the following arrangements should apply in relation to No. 5. Statements shall be confined to the ...
There is only one precedent for such a debate.
On that occasion questions were allowed for 40 minutes. Questions are being allowed for 60 minutes on this occasion. I remind the House that the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications will...
The Deputy has quoted fairly accurately what was said. It was, as he said, a figure of speech. The Opposition will not only have an hour to put its case, which it has been putting quite freely elsewh...
We are providing for the debate in this form to allow the Opposition the opportunity not only to put questions but also to make statements.
That is adequate in view of the fact that the Minister will take Parliamentary Questions on Thursday. I am interested in Deputy Andrews's reference to precedents. The idea of Ministers making stateme...
I have made the proposal which will allow one hour for Opposition speeches and one hour for Opposition questions. There will be questions on Thursday again. There is other legislation and matters of...
I am sorry the Deputy must keep asking the same question. He must not be able to comprehend the answer. I said clearly it is my view that affording the Opposition one hour to make speeches about thi...
Report of Task Force on State-Sponsored Bodies: Statements.
Who was the chairman at that time?
Written Answers. - Public Procurement Procedures.
Was asked: the State bodies under the aegis of his Department that have been specifically asked to comply with the 1994 Public Procurement Booklet; and when each of the State bodies was asked by his Department t...
The State bodies under the aegis of my Department are fully aware of their obligations with regard to public procurement procedures. I understand that each of these bodies — NESC, Law Reform Commissio...
Written Answers. - Employment of Photographic Agencies.
Was asked: the specific events for which photographic agencies were engaged since January 1995 by his Department; the dates, location, photographic agency and costs involved; the personnel from his office and fr...
The information sought by the Deputy to the specific events for which photographic agencies were engaged since January 1995 by my Department is contained in the following schedule. It is normal prac...
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