Results 3,821-3,840 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I am slightly disappointed with that. When something is referred to in previous legislation in a particular way, that should not be a reason for not doing something which is beneficial and will enhance the Bill. Adding "economic or cultural" would extend the meaning, and we would not have to rely on what is customarily understood in the use of the word "social". I am disappointed with the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: It has not been enacted previously.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I also support this amendment which speaks for itself. The prevention and reduction of homelessness should be a part of any local authority's strategy. Any housing strategy that does not include such a measured objective would certainly be deficient.

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: Did we mention a public body?

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: We did not call for the establishment of a public body.

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: As it is a Labour Party motion my contribution will conclude the debate.

Seanad: Shoppers Task Force: Motion (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I thank the contributors to the debate, namely, Senators Carty, Bradford, Keaveney, Quinn, O'Malley, O'Reilly, Boyle, Buttimer and Burke and the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness. Based on price surveys, even before the recent reduction in the VAT rate in the UK, the price of grocery items was approximately 30% lower there than here. The VAT rate change in the UK will make matters worse...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I am also amazed that the Minister would argue that the work of the Combat Poverty Agency would continue in a more focused manner following its abolition than if it were to continue.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I ask the Minister to comment further. It is beyond belief that she could argue that. The Labour Party will certainly be opposing the section.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister. We need to begin the difficult work of rebuilding the Irish economy from the bottom up, and protecting and creating jobs. This Finance Bill does none of this. It puts short-term accountancy over long-term recovery. It puts balancing the books over rebalancing our economy. The budget was brought forward to give the impression of activity on behalf of the Government...

Seanad: Education Matters: Statements (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Ryan: These are difficult economic times in which we must prioritise spending and make hard decisions, where appropriate, to get the public finances in order and kick-start the economy. However, education spending must be ring-fenced. We must hold our nerve and understand it will be our well-educated young population who will lift us out of recession when the economic cycle begins to rise again,...

Seanad: Company Closures (17 Feb 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to share one minute with Senator Dominic Hannigan.

Seanad: Company Closures (17 Feb 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The news that SR Technics is to close with the loss of approximately 1,200 permanent jobs is a shocking blow to the workers involved and their families. Many have given a lifetime's work to this company in all its guises from Aer Lingus to Team Aer Lingus to FLS to SR Technics. I know many of the workers personally and over the years they have...

Seanad: Company Closures (17 Feb 2009)

Brendan Ryan: That response suggests the Government has given up on this matter and it is now only about getting people sorted out with CVs. This is not good enough. We must battle on with this issue. There is a strategic industry which will potentially be lost to this country forever. This industry brings €50 million to €80 million of foreign money into this country annually, which is badly needed...

Seanad: Report on Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann: Statements (25 Feb 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Minister of State. The Labour Party welcomes the report on the cost and efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, which we are debating. It is a very useful document which can, if implemented, provide a framework for a customer-focused approach to improving bus transport in Dublin and throughout the country. The terms of reference specified that the review should...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Second Stage. (26 Feb 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I wish to share time with Senators McFadden and Fitzgerald. The so-called pension levy is clearly unfair. It is targeted at one group of workers in our economy only. It does not target the people who caused the problems or those who benefited most from the Celtic tiger area. It will hurt people on low to middle incomes who can ill-afford to pay, yet it does not target the wealthiest in...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Brendan Ryan: My colleague, Senator McCarthy, dealt with the headline items in the Minister's Budget Statement on Tuesday. I wish to deal specifically with an item in Section II, Part B on page B10 of the budget document, under the heading "Other Departmental Savings". In the case of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs it is stated that there will be savings across various areas...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I hope so.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (6 May 2009)

Brendan Ryan: I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As she said, this Bill is introduced just a short time after it was suggested in the High Court that the investigation by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement into the affairs of Anglo Irish Bank was being frustrated by outdated company law. The Labour Party welcomes the broad thrust of the Bill....

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Brendan Ryan: At present section 23 of the Companies Act 1990 allows a person to refuse to disclose what he or she considers to be privileged information to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Based on this, legal privileges were claimed in the Anglo Irish Bank case and the ODCE was not permitted to appoint a retired High Court judge to adjudicate on the matter of privilege claimed. The...