Results 361-380 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask the Leader to comment on that specific statement. We have moved in the past year from discussions about corruption in politics to discussions on incompetence in politics. There is a serious economic cost to incompetence in Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask that this be considered as we conclude our year of discussions in this House. The proper subject matter of debate is competence in Government. One Taoiseach has been already forced out of office because of corruption. We have a situation now whereby another Taoiseach may be forced out of office because of incompetence.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask the Leader to respond.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I correct the record. The discussions we had were on corruption. The former Taoiseach was forced to resign from office.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: The discussions in this House were on corruption in politics.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: It is emanating from those discussions——

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I cannot withdraw the remark about corruption in Irish politics.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: May I speak on this subject? The Cathaoirleach did ask me to withdraw my comments and I have great respect for him and the Chair. My view is that——

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to respond precisely to the Cathaoirleach's request for a withdrawal of my remarks.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: This is unreasonable. I made a statement to emphasise the issue of competence in politics and I do not want to be distracted from that by this matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: When a request is made to withdraw a statement it is essential that an explanation of the statement be made.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: In deference to the Cathaoirleach, I withdraw the statement as I believe it was technically incorrect.

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

Eugene Regan: I agree with the previous comments. The Minister of State pretends to lend an ear to what is said in this House, but has no intention of accepting any amendments. The organisation of business in the House has come as a diktat from Government and we know this from the Leader of the House. He has no room to manoeuvre in terms of the timing. With the dissolution of the Dáil it is clear...

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

Eugene Regan: On a point of order, I believe it is customary when anybody is addressing this House that he or she would stand. I do not know if the Minister of State intends to remain seated for the entire debate.

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

Eugene Regan: I addressed the comment to the Chair.

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

Eugene Regan: I defer to the Chair.

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

Eugene Regan: I reiterate the point that to suggest many amendments have been accepted in the Dáil has no relevance to the debate in this House. Senators are putting down amendments on the substance and merits of the Bill and that is what is at issue, not any amendments which have been accepted in the Lower House. As Senator Norris has stated, we know only a couple of the amendments were even debated...

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

Eugene Regan: The current licensing system came into place on foot of legislation introduced by the Government. The Opposition cannot be blamed for the current position. To introduce crude and rushed legislation in an attempt to deal with some perceived ill such as, for example, public order offences is not the way to proceed. I strongly object to the Minister of State's suggestion that all the...

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

Eugene Regan: I support the amendment, the proposition relating to which is self-evident. A regulatory impact analysis should have been carried out before the Bill was initiated. As Senator Quinn stated, this matter can be dealt with because the Minister will be in a position, under section 1(5), to decide when particular provisions of the Bill should come into force. I received representations from...

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

Eugene Regan: This is an excellent proposal, although I know that when one waves the Constitution, it tends to dampen the enthusiasm in pursuing an amendment.