Results 20,941-20,960 of 23,109 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (8 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on being elevated to the position. I have no doubt he will make an excellent Cathaoirleach. He comes to the Chamber with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He has been a Member of the other House and this House over a long number of years. He has chaired many committees and has been a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for a long number...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter, and I thank the Minister for attending the House to deal with this important issue. The matter has been spoken about over the last number of years. If affects many people within the Department and the Civil Service. The class K PRSI contribution is paid by a large sector of society with no benefit to them. They qualify...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Insurance Rates (15 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Minister for his reply, but it still does not clarify the position. I hope the Minister, in the run-in to the social welfare Bill for the budget, will address the issue because it is one that needs to be addressed. It can only be addressed in the context of the budget. This issue involves more than simply giving benefits to one group or another. I hope the Minister will...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (15 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: It is a pleasure to second Senator Coghlan’s nomination. He has been a county councillor, a Senator and, for the past few years, a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. He is also a former banker and a member of the Institute of Banking. He was a member of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers. He was also involved in establishing links with the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: I support Senator Mulherin's request for the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources to come before the House to discuss post offices. She raised two very important issues, namely, business being taken away from post offices and the fact that postal orders, which are part and parcel of post office business, are not being accepted by insurance companies, which is...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: Could I ask the Leader to invite the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament and leader of the Scottish National Party, SNP, Nicola Sturgeon, to address this Chamber in the near future on Brexit? There is a great affinity between certain parts of Ireland and Scotland and we have a lot in common. We heard a lot recently about countries that want to leave the European Union but Scotland...

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: I can give one minute of my time to Senator Higgins if she wishes, with the permission of the House.

Seanad: Delivering Sustainable Full Employment: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2016)

Paddy Burke: I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Breen, on his elevation to Minister of State in this portfolio. I have no doubt he will do a great job on jobs because he has first-hand knowledge of what is required from his work as a Deputy and as Chair of the committee in the last Dáil dealing with the development of the western region and the Shannon area. I have no doubt that he is...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I wish to support a good Senator in front of me, Senator Butler, in regard to rates on commercial buildings. Small businesses are under enormous pressure. The Senator is correct in saying out-of-town shopping centres could affect the life and soul of many towns throughout the country. Even the small towns have been sucked into the bigger urban areas.It is important for the Minister for...

Seanad: Local Authority Members' Terms and Conditions: Motion (5 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I agree with the motion that has been proposed and seconded by the two Senators on the far side of the House. I believe it is only right and proper that councillors' pay and terms are renegotiated. This present operation is in being since 2014 and it is only settling down after the agreements that were put in place by the former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government,...

Seanad: Local Authority Members' Terms and Conditions: Motion (5 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: The Senator was well rewarded.

Seanad: Local Authority Members' Terms and Conditions: Motion (5 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: Tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I ask the Leader to clarify how the national European parliaments operate in trade deals between the EU and non-EU countries. Recently, a deal between the EU and Canada was concluded after seven years of negotiations. In some cases, people have said that the deal will have to be ratified by national parliaments. Can the Leader confirm whether that is the case and, if so, will both Chambers...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Murphy, to the House. I congratulate him on this, his first occasion addressing Seanad Éireann, and on his elevation to Minister of State. I wish him well in his portfolio and I have no doubt at all that he will make a wonderful job of the Ministry. The Government identified procurement as key in its public service reform programme, which it...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come here in the next session for a debate on funding for the International Development Association, IDA. The association is funded, in the main, by the World Bank and participating countries. The IDA carries out great work in poorer countries throughout the world. It has proved to be an exceptional tool in supporting...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I had indicated to speak.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: The Acting Chairman said eight speakers remain.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Driver Licence Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter. I wish to share a minute and a half of my time with Senator Mulherin.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Driver Licence Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the House. As a long-standing Member of the House for many years, I am sure he loves coming back to it. I wish him well in his new portfolio and hope he has a long career in that office. The issue concerns the need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to review Government policy relating to the Road Safety Authority...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Driver Licence Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Minister for his reply but it is a typical Civil Service answer. Nothing we said could be interpreted as other than wanting the process to be open, transparent and fair. Nobody is suggesting otherwise. How could the fact the post office would process and co-ordinate the application and send it on to the licensing authority be anything other than open, transparent and fair? The...