Results 241-260 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Only a year ago the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, was against incinerators but one is soon to start functioning in Duleek, County Meath, and one for up to 200,000 tonnes is planned for north Meath, in Nobber. What are the views of the Minister and the Green Party on the number of incinerators needed by this country. How many should be...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, before section 6, to insert the following new section: "5.—Where the District Court for a particular district is exercising a discretion concerning the grant of a licence permitting the consumption of intoxicating liquor on particular premises, the Court shall exercise its discretion in such a way as to avoid the closing of a significant number of premises...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I am sorry if the Minister of State is confused by the issue. The spirit of the amendment is clear. I could not accept what was said by one of the Senators on the Government side on what happens at the closing of pubs. When people leave pubs they have a choice — to go home or to go to a nightclub — and there is not this funnelling of people into one area. The Minister of State has seen...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I apologise for the absence of Senator Prendergast. I am sure the Cathaoirleach would prefer to listen to her but he must listen to me today.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Senator Buttimer. I welcome the Minister of State and this Bill which is important legislation that can go a long way towards helping people in need of housing. The legislation deals with some principal themes, including anti-social behaviour, the rental accommodation scheme and the incremental purchase scheme. It contains many provisions, including how a housing service is defined,...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I will not repeat the arguments made by my two colleagues but I ask the Leader to consider this point. The same situation arose last night and we had people in place, if needed. Some of them had even cancelled appointments. They were willing to do so because this is a very serious issue. Will we debate the Bill at 11 p.m. after the Dáil has concluded its consideration of it? I do not...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I wish to share my time with Senator Alex White.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: We find ourselves in a surreal position. In effect, we are being asked to guarantee loans to the tune of €100,000 for every man, woman and child in the country. We are now the lender of last resort for huge amounts of money and, if the reports are to be believed, even more money is flowing in from abroad. This is putting even more strain on the country's creditworthiness. Senator Ross...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: It will be a lot more than that. It will impact on our ability to pay for schemes such as the national development plan. I would like to hear the Minister's opinion on that. The Minister of State claimed that detailed analysis from the NTMA shows that the assets of Irish financial institutions exceed their liabilities by €80 billion. This is an aggregate figure, however, which does not...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: We are only looking for this measure to be brought in for the period of financial support which is, in effect, two years. The Minister spoke earlier about how moral hazard would be a priority for him in this issue. In regard to share options, we are providing a guarantee to these institutions to avoid the potential to go under. There is a clear bet here if we offer share options to...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: This is about improving regulation and ensuring safeguards are in place. A committee of three wise people will not place an inordinate demand for funding on the Department. It is sensible to include something like this in the Bill so I ask the Minister to accept this amendment.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Will the Minister enshrine it in legislation?

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: With respect to the Minister, these matters are very detailed. No one in this House is an expert on international finance. It is imperative we get experts in to advise us on a regular basis.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Members are being fobbed off in this regard. There is no obligation to place a report before the House before 2009. The support period will run out in 2010 and anyone who has been involved in the preparation of reports is aware it could be months into 2009 before such a report would be received. As this could take place after July, it is possible that Members would not receive a report...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Yesterday saw the start of the oral appeal held by An Bord Pleanála against the proposed meat and bone incinerator at Nobber, County Meath. Another incinerator is being foisted on the people of the north east when they have clearly stated their objection to the whole concept of incineration. I ask the Leader to clarify with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Since the introduction of post-leaving certificate courses 20 years ago, hundreds of thousands of students have taken advantage of the opportunities offered to go back to school and retrain. Last year, I spoke in this House about the McIver report, which was completed four years ago. The report was published as part of an attempt to strengthen the adult education sector and increase the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I agree with what my colleague, Senator Alex White, said earlier. Some Senators have queried the levels of understanding within this House about the banking crisis. I cannot understand how we will be expected to vote on a budget next week without having seen the details of the scheme. We do not have details of how much it will cost the country. We do not know anything about contingencies....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: We welcome yesterday's decision to lower interest rates worldwide. For the average borrower this makes a difference of approximately €100 per month, if one has a tracker mortgage. However, for those on a variable mortgage the situation is different. In such cases it is up to the banks and financial institutions to decide whether to pass the reduction on, as my colleague, Senator O'Toole,...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: We know.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Hear, hear.