Results 22,621-22,640 of 23,109 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I join with other Members of the House in congratulating President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and I support the decision of the Cathaoirleach and Ceann Comhairle to invite President-elect Biden to come to Ireland and address the Houses of the Oireachtas.I would also like to wish the former Captain of the Guard, John Flaherty, and the former Head Usher, Colm...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I thank Senator Buttimer for allowing me in his place to ask a number of questions. I also welcome all of the guests to the meeting. Mr. Gilmore said that the airport was closed from March until July. What kind of an effort did it take to get back up and running again? Was it an enormous effort? How did the airport go about this because it seems it went from a standing still position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: Mr. Gilmore has said that he has incurred losses of nearly €4 million. At what point does the airport break even? Does the airport still need to reach 500,000 or 800,000 passengers to get to that point or does Mr. Gilmore still see losses going forward for the next number of years up to 2024 to 2025?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: On state aid, the Secretary General of the Department of Transport in Brussels said that there would be a very quick turnaround of projects that would go to them in relation to state aid. Has the Department been in contact with any of the regional airports in relation to a possible new programme under the state aid rules, that they might qualify under that might have to be clarified or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The Department has not been in touch to say it will put a new state aid programme in place, or apply for one under the new rules.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The new €6 million could need to be under state aid rules.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: That would be very positive.

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (17 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: That will not be a problem. I will be brief. I thank Senator Currie for sharing time with me and I welcome the Minister of State. I also thank Senator Flynn for tabling the motion. This is an issue that we should keep on the agenda because it warrants further discussion. I served on Mayo County Council's Traveller accommodation committee many moons ago. At the time, I proposed that two...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: Which parties did that?

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: That is an outrageous assertion.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I have been here since 1979 and I never saw that take place.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him. I have not had the opportunity before this to wish him well with his portfolio. I agree with Senator Norris that the Bill is a bit like the curate's egg: good in parts and not so good in other parts. I thank Senator McDowell for bringing it forward. It has been a good debate but, at the end of the day, I hope in the...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: Maybe they are practical problems-----

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I did not get a definitive answer when I asked at a committee meeting what the cost would be of extending the franchise under the constraints that exist with postage and everything, but in my view it would cost twice as much to elect 60 Members to Seanad Éireann as it would to elect 160 Members to Dáil Éireann. It costs somewhere north of €20 million for a Dáil...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: We did work hard.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: And we succeeded. All in all, I agree with the Minister of State's proposal to adjourn this matter until next year. I do not think I was the man who proposed going to New Zealand, as Senator McDowell said. He should withdraw that remark or he should clarify who said it. It certainly was not me who said it.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2020: Second Stage (18 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: The Minister of State has a lot of food for thought regarding how we should go forward and many issues to consider. I wish him well over the next 12 months and I look forward to him coming back to the House before Christmas next year.

Seanad: Credit Union Restructuring Board (Dissolution) Bill 2019: Second Stage (24 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and I welcome the Minster of State to the House and wish him well. There are three main parts to this Bill, whose purpose is to dissolve the Credit Union Restructuring Board, to transfer certain functions of the Credit Union Restructuring Board to the Minister for Finance, and to amend the Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I have some brief questions for him. First, I welcome the legislation. With regard to the European Union facility included in the Bill, is this specifically for the credit unions or does it apply to many other institutions? Does it apply to all institutions that are lending? Do the main banks here already have that facility and is the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Nov 2020)

Paddy Burke: I again raise the issue of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. This was debated at great length in the House a number of years ago. This month, a number of provisions of the Act were commenced in law. There was great division among Members and great debates when the Bill was going through the House. Ultimately, the Bill was passed. One matter every Member agreed on was minimum unit...