Results 321-340 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: On a point of order.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: That is not what I said. What was said was that——

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: What I said was that we are discussing this Bill and that the Senator had indicated that this was not of such importance that it merited priority.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: We have had a number of attempts to have a debate on the economy in this House. When we discussed the economy the Leader and his colleagues generally referred to the past ten years and the level of growth. The reality is, as with so many other things, that Fianna Fáil has been caught out on this issue. It is now official because the report comes from the ESRI, not from Fine Gael, although...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——and inflation of——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The other side must face the facts——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: It must face the facts. That Government left inflation of 1.5% with a growth rate of 7.8% and an increase in productivity that has not been excelled since then. Damage has been done to the national debt which is rising in a return to 1980 levels, Government spending——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——growth and inflation. That has all been undone. The reality is that this is the price for incompetent Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: As Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen was warned about the effects of his expenditure plans on——-

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I believe it is important because the message has not got across that we must debate this issue and not revert to the standard denials as Senator MacSharry attempted to do. The reality is that we left an economy in top shape to the Fianna Fáil Government——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——in 1997 and it has been blown. The proof is with the ESRI.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: In conclusion, it is the primary responsibility of the Government to manage the public finances. It cannot do everything but it has a responsibility to manage that area. When we see a budget surplus of €6 billion in 2006 and a deficit of €3 billion this year, that is not good management. That is where——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, and this Government have failed. The important question is whether the Government will start by reversing its own ministerial salary increases. That would be a first and most obvious step for the Government to take.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: They were misled.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: On the Lisbon treaty, several points have been made across the floor on the Government side. There has been talk of issues decided in Brussels which constitute excessive regulation. The reality is that every measure agreed in Brussels is agreed by the Government and the relevant Minister who attends the Council. One cannot wash one's hands of decisions made in Brussels since we are part of...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——and a discretion left to member states in the way they implement EU regulations. To blame Brussels at this juncture is disingenuous. I support the call for a debate on the economy. The Taoiseach, in The Irish Times newspaper this morning, denied he is to blame for the economic downturn. We cannot blame the Taoiseach for everything. We do not believe all aspects of the recession are...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The forecast for 2009 is for a budget deficit of €7.4 billion which is not good management of the public finances.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: That is the net point and the self-evident responsibility of the Government which cannot be brushed under the carpet.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The only issue I raised in respect of this Bill was the element of retrospection and the situation of those who have sat, or are who are about to sit, the Irish examination for the qualification of barrister or solicitor. The Minister's amendment satisfies that request but will he clarify precisely how he sees it applying in practice? That might deal with the concerns of Senator Alex White....