Results 221-240 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly
- Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Dec 2008)
Alan Kelly: I thank the Chair for accepting this motion on the Adjournment. I also welcome the Minister of State. The reason I raise the motion is to make the case for two vocational schools in north Tipperary, Nenagh and Borrisokane, to be moved up the list of school building projects sanctioned by the Department. They should be two of the main priorities. In my travels throughout Munster I have...
- Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Dec 2008)
Alan Kelly: While I thank the Minister of State for his response, I wish to raise a couple of matters. First, it is difficult for Nenagh Vocational School to maintain its enrolment at the appropriate level when parents can see its current condition. Would the Minister of State enrol his child in a school that he knew lacked showers and adequate physical education facilities and where health and safety...
- Seanad: Schools Building Projects (10 Dec 2008)
Alan Kelly: A serious issue exists in respect of wheelchair access and I ask the Minister of State to investigate it as a matter of priority. One cannot have national headlines in which a student who attempts to enrol in a school cannot so do because he or she has a disability. Finally, the Minister of State should ask his ministerial colleague to re-assess the band rating for the two schools under...
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)
Alan Kelly: I agree with what Senators Hannigan and Donohoe said about the impact on this country's competitiveness of the US interest rate changes that were announced last night. I will not repeat what they said. When I attended the Business and Finance awards last week, Mr. Niall FitzGerald, who won the outstanding achievement award, made the very good point that this country needs to get back to...
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)
Alan Kelly: They must be published. The HSE must explain why reports that have been finalised since this time last year â almost on this date last year â have not been published in the intervening year. A survey of migrant workers, published by the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland, found that 53% of migrants working in restaurants are being paid less than the minimum wage. Collectively we should...
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: It is interesting that the previous speaker asked us to be angry. I am sure he knows we have such a history. Before I address the substance of the Bill, I ask the Minister what is the rush in ramming it through the Oireachtas today. History teaches us that rushed legislation is bad legislation. What difference would it make if the Bill was passed tomorrow and if we had more time to debate...
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: ââor even Government Senators.
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: The consistent underestimation of the situation in the past six months poses serious questions. If the Minister needs help, he should get it for the good of the country. The Labour Party will oppose the Bill. We do not want to protect bad gamblers engaged in monopolistic gambling. We do not know how much the nationalisation will cost or how accountable the new regime will be to the Oireachtas.
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: I ask that the Minister respond to the questions posed today.
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 2: In page 6, before section 2, to insert the following new section: 2.â(1) The Minister may, and shall if required to do so pursuant to a resolution under this section passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, apply to the High Court for an order under the Companies Acts for the appointment of one or more inspectors to investigate the affairs of Anglo Irish Bank, having...
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: The Taoiseach asked all Members to behave responsibly and that is what they are doing by tabling this amendment.
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: Were Members to ask certain questions or make statements in a a certain manner, they might be giving oxygen to the Taoiseach's concerns. However, they are not doing so, even though they do not have the requisite information to make an honest assessment of the Bill. We are seeking to insert a clause that will ensure the taxpayer can be confident that everything that needs to be dug out will...
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)
Alan Kelly: After the Minister of State's bewildering statement, I will press the amendment.
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Alan Kelly: It was novel to see the leader of a country such as the United States apologise in his first month in office for a mistake he made. It is a lesson that our current Government could learn quickly, which would be great for all of us. It should certainly be apologising. I agree with the sentiments of colleagues who said it should apologise for the way it has stumbled in this crisis. Its...
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Alan Kelly: I appreciate that.
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Alan Kelly: Equity is good too.
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Alan Kelly: Yes, a Chathaoirligh, as I always do.
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Alan Kelly: There were no smart remarks. All I am looking for is fair treatment.
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Alan Kelly: With regard to the package of cuts in the public service announced yesterday, how can one justify low and middle income public servants having to pay up to â¬2,000 in tax? It is a tax and we should call it that. We might as well get used to it. Members should not be so vain as to call it a contribution to pensions; it is a form of tax. Some of the low income earners will be paying a...
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Alan Kelly: It has been done in America, so why could it not be done here? That is something on which all Members of the House would agree. It would have been a commonsense approach and would have bought the public's good will. In conclusion, I agree with much of what Senator Coffey and Senator Prendergast said about the HSE. I visited St. Patrick's recently. As I have said previously, I agreed with...