Results 241-260 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Eugene Regan: They are still in denial.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I thank those who congratulated me on receiving the Magill Senator of the Year award.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: It is quite an honour. It is a mark of recognition of this House and its significance that the magazine has a distinct award for Senators. I refer to the Department of Finance statement to the social partners reported in The Irish Times today. It states that the economic prospects for this year and 2009 are challenging, which must be the understatement of the year. The Department also...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I want to follow up on Senator Fitzgerald's mention of the Lisbon treaty. I spoke at a number of Fine Gael public meetings this weekend. It is evident there is a lack of information and a certain apathy about this treaty and the referendum. Also, a message has gone out that it would be a disaster — that was the language used by the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, who is leading the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I join Senator Fitzgerald in raising the issue of the World Trade Organisation talks and the importance of the votes of those involved in the agriculture sector in the referendum on the Lisbon treaty. The Government must address this issue, on which we have been seeking a debate for some considerable time. I, therefore, ask the Leader to organise it. It is an important matter and one we...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I make this point because it is important. If one has not read the treaty, how can one explain it to people and expect them to vote on it? It is akin to a Minister presenting a Bill in the House without having read it. It is not simply a question of not having read the Bill, as this suggests the treaty is unreadable. People run away from this issue. I have the treaty to hand and it has...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: While I do not wish to delay the House on this subject, it has been suggested the treaty is unintelligible. People from the private sector and one Opposition party have claimed it is unreadable and is for lawyers and eurocrats. However, the aims of the treaties are set out. The "aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples". The treaty continues on in such...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: —— and the new areas in which the Union is extending its competence with the agreement of member states, such as climate change and energy security. It is set out in the treaty in plain language. In raising the point of the Taoiseach not having read the treaty I am trying to be helpful to the Government. Were the Ministers to read the treaties——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (13 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: —— they then could stand on a platform and explain it to people with conviction. Once it has been explained, I believe people will support it.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: Will the Leader clarify when the debate will be held on the World Trade Organisation negotiations? That would offer the opportunity of clarifying the situation for Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to raise another issue concerning the Lisbon treaty. It is prompted by an article in The Irish Times today in which the former Deputy, Mr. Joe Higgins, claims the treaty will open the way for privatisation of public services. This is the same line that Sinn Féin trots out in its campaign.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to make the point——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——that the actual wording in the treaty——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I have a question for the Leader on this and I am entitled to offer the basis for my question.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: There are specific provisions in the treaty on services of general economic interest and services of general interest. This is totally contradictory to the statements made by Mr. Joe Higgins, Ms Mary Lou McDonald and others from Sinn Féin. Furthermore, this is entirely different from the line taken by Libertas——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——so there are blatant contradictions on the "No" side. It is important that the relevant Minister make a statement on the issue of privatisation as it concerns public undertakings and public services. They are not, and never have been, interfered with by Europe except to the extent that they are required to comply with the competition and Internal Market rules. They are protected by...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——and by specific articles in the treaty.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask the Leader to urge the relevant Minister to make a statement and give the lie to the line being put out by Mr. Joe Higgins, Sinn Féin et al.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Second Stage (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: Cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille. Gabhaim buíochas leis an tAire as ucht na reachtaíochta seo a chur os comhair an tSeanaid agus a mhíniú. The Bill is being introduced in the context of the official recognition in the European Union of Gaeilge as an official and working language of the Union. The basic purpose is that there be an adequate number of barristers and solicitors capable of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: In this week's Irish Farmers' Journal, a poll shows that 78% of farmers are concerned about the WTO talks. This is largely due to the Government playing games with the issue. It has not clarified its position on the veto. As discussed in the House, the veto does not apply in the case of international agreements on agriculture per se. The WTO talks pertain to a mixed agreement on goods and...