Results 4,321-4,340 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I agree with what Senator van Turnhout has said. We are ending the detention of children in prisons. It is also the day when the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Reilly, has signed the enactment order ending the chastisement of children. It is a good day for people in this House, in particular, for Senators Bacik and van Turnhout, who have campaigned for children's rights....

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “PART 2 QUALIFICATION OF JUDGESQualifying legal academic 2. (1) In this Part, “qualifying legal academic” means a full-time, permanent member of the academic staff of an educational establishment mentioned in subsection (2) who has the qualifications mentioned in subsection (3). (2) For...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I can confirm that the Senator is not guilty in this case.

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I second what the Minister of State has said. We will send our thoughts on these matters to the legal appointments review body. In general, I thank the Minister of State for his open-minded response to the amendments before him. We hope to respond in the same friendly way to the review body and we will send stuff from our offices to the body. Once again, the thanks of the House are due to...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: On this issue, the retirement age in Ireland must rise. As life expectancy increases, the pension burden to which the Minister of State referred will increase and that is why the troika recommended raising the retirement age. It is an acknowledgement of the way the world is going in that 70 is the new 50. People live longer, they live healthier lives and particularly in the case of...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: -----and mathematicians peak when they are 25 or thereabouts. However, as lawyers probably improve with age, there would be nothing lost by keeping them there. Moreover, Senator Crown always draws attention to how we have a very popular President and highly successful Minister for Finance, both of whom would be ineligible were any of these rules to be applied. They are highly successful...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the climate change agreement reached by 195 countries. It will require compliance and quantification, not just having regard to the legislation. Both of those elements were missing from the climate change legislation we debated in this House. I also welcome the support from all sides to the effect that the Seanad should have a role in these matters. The original Bill specified...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2015: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Harris, back from Bandon, Skibbereen and the places where he was featuring. It was valuable for the Minister of State to be with people and hear from the shopkeepers themselves. We saw him on television going in and accumulating all of that information. There are some interesting points in the Appropriation Bill. The Minister of State stated that...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I note today a publication from the Department of Education and Skills and the Higher Education Authority on addressing inequality in participation in third level education. This is commendable but one also must respond that addressing inequality in education when students are aged 18 rather than between the ages of four and 18 misses a large part of the problem of inequality in education....

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 2:In page 8, lines 8 and 9, to delete “by order provide that, without the need for any instrument of transfer or other form of assignment” and substitute the following:“not less than one year after the publication of an independent cost-benefit analysis of all options for the future of a port”. As always, I welcome the Minister for Transport,...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his response. I always value his attendance in the House. My experience of being locked up downstairs for the past few months has meant that in recent times I have not recognised any of part of the economy except banks. I hope, however, that I was trying to pay attention within those constraints. The Minister's comments on Galway Port are welcome. The company is...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister. I wish to withdraw amendment No. 2.

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for providing for the 18 months. It is more generous than the amendment asked for which was 12 months. I thank the Minister for his generosity in response.

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 8:In page 10, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:“(4) The Minister shall, after consultation with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, give a direction to a Port Company to report on the implementation of the Competition Authority Report on Competition in the Irish Ports Sector (2013) in particular in respect of the vital need for...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his reply. We are on the same side in regard to both of those recommendations - that is, the recommendations regarding competitions between terminals and competition in stevedoring. If the Minister were to put down an amendment on Report Stage, I would be delighted to support it, but we are on the same side. What leverage does the Minister need to make sure this...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 12:In page 10, line 35, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”. I can see this amendment has Senator Craughwell excited already. The line reads at present "a harbour master may attend formal meetings of directors of the transferred company". I wish to change this to "shall attend." We need the people who know the harbour on the ground,...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: The Minister used the word "retrograde", but it would be progressive to provide for those who actually do the work on the ground, as the Minister has said, to attend board meetings. As the Minister was speaking, I was reminded that I sat on a board at Trinity College before I was elected to this House. The people who gave the lectures were there as board members. It worked very well,...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I will not move amendment No. 13 because it arises from this amendment and also relates to harbour masters. Obviously, Senator Craughwell would have the harbour masters inside already. I think the Minister is veering in that direction. I will not pursue amendments Nos. 12 and 13, which are being taken jointly, any further.

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 24:In page 16, line 18, to delete “local authority chief executive” and substitute the following:“Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on the advice of bodies representing trade, commerce and tourism, and local government”. This section currently refers to the chairperson and directors, of which there are eight, of the transferred...

Seanad: Harbours Bill 2015: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Sean Barrett: I accept totally what the Minister said. I have seen that process in operation and we know that some of the candidates who have emerged have been very impressive. Perhaps the Howlin method might be considered for Report Stage, if that is possible. I endorse fully the sentiments the Minister has expressed. It is most encouraging to see the variety of backgrounds of candidates who have come...