Results 1,421-1,440 of 1,954 for speaker:John Gilroy

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2012)

John Gilroy: It was privatised.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2012)

John Gilroy: I have in my hand a pre-qualification questionnaire, which is part of a tendering process sent out by UCD to provide third level online educational programmes. It is a standard document as part of a tendering process. However, what amazes and alarms me is that on page 6 one of the criteria for successful applicants is that the relevant turnover must be a minimum of €1 million. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: I add my voice to the calls that all the resources of the State be made available to deal with the flooding, particularly in Cork. I listened to the Cork county manager on "Morning Ireland" this morning who attributed the flooding to 50 mm of rain falling in four or five hours, which is the equivalent of about two months' rain and it overwhelmed the anti-flood measures put in place. I call...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: I share the concerns of Senator David Norris regarding the immunity of persons mentioned in section 5, as it could involve a grave issue. However, I have read the section and noted the words "in their official capacity". As Senator Thomas Byrne noted, it makes perfect that people acting in their official capacity under the section enjoy immunity. Those acting outside their official...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: As Senator Thomas Byrne outlined, there are numerous examples where there is immunity for persons across all levels of international organisations, with the key term being acting in their "official capacity". If we were to drop that term, Senator David Norris would be exactly right in that people would enjoy immunity in doing whatever they wanted.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: When the section applies persons acting in an official capacity, it makes the workings of the ESM all the more efficient.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: I share the Leas-Chathaoirleach's suspicion that Senators are not focusing on the relevant section. I will not break the tradition of discussing extraneous issues.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: Senator Norris came close to P. Flynn territory when he complained about being unable to run a household on one or perhaps two salaries. I hope he will quickly backtrack from that remark.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: I examined the subsection and the Leas-Chathaoirleach is correct-----

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: I would like to be the only Member present to discuss the relevant section. It is difficult to see how one could make an argument for voting against the section if we all share the belief that we must access funding from some source. The only likely source of funding available to us at present is the European Stability Mechanism. If we vote against the section, we are stating we do not...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: There is no point in codding ourselves. There is a great deal of irresponsible lending and many financial transactions taking place. We cannot accuse German taxpayers of being irresponsible. Germany is reaping the benefits of a series of reforms it introduced in the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall. German taxpayers are frugal savers who will contribute 27% of the total of the...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: German taxpayers are bailing us out with their money and we demand that they continue to provide us with funding while refusing to make our own contribution. That is a fantastic idea but it is also laughable and unrealistic. While there is nothing that grieves us more than borrowing money in our current economic circumstances to contribute to the ESM fund, it must be done. The very people...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: Either Senators do not understand what they are saying or their proposals are disingenuous. As the Minister noted, three quarters of the money we are borrowing is to fund public services. The largest item of Government expenditure is the social welfare programme. Senators argue that we should not contribute €1.27 billion to access the money we need to have a guaranteed funding stream....

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: It is lovely to be able to say that from inside the hallowed walls of the Seanad Chamber. How will we make social welfare payments or pay disability allowances if we do not have access to ESM funding after 2013? We face a funding cliff in 2014 when a sovereign bond of €11 billion must be restructured. Where will we get the funding to meet this cost if we reject the section? What will...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: I have no doubt Senator Cullinane will repeat them but I cannot understand his position. We can play politics as much as we want but Sinn Féin was unable to respond on the many occasions we asked that party during the campaign on the stability treaty to show us the money. According to Sinn Féin, we will go to the IMF and elsewhere, veto this, that and the other and still be in a position...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: Insurance companies.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: It is very small.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: What about inflation?

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: They are not realistic.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

John Gilroy: Sinn Féin voted for it.