Results 421-440 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to contact the Minister for Health and Children on the issue of stem cell research. I note that the first adult stem cell clinic in Europe has opened in Germany. To date the only significant progress in this area of research has come from adult stem cells. The debate on the need for embryonic stem cells is well past as adult stem cells have proven to have the pluripotent...

Seanad: Economic Outlook: Motion (20 Feb 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I second the amendment outlined by Senator MacSharry. In recent years we have seen higher interest rates, higher oil prices, a depreciation of the dollar and sterling, the opening of the economies of China and India, the subsequent loss of manufacturing jobs to those countries and a slowing of growth in our trading partners. Despite all this, the only thing we have seen is a decrease in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader consider a debate on energy security with particular focus on the interconnector with Britain and the rest of Europe? There are now up to three different pipelines, all coming from one source in Russia, supplying much of Europe's energy needs. Although this is a reliable supply source, we might consider presenting the case for Ireland as a place where back-up could be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share the views of Senators calling for a debate on the Middle East situation. Iran is fighting a proxy war with Israel by supplying Hamas with missiles that have the capacity to reach into the state of Israel in the knowledge that there will be retaliation. Sadly, this has escalated to the point that an Israeli minister has, as mentioned by Senator Norris, used the term "Shoah", an...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: However, the path Israel has taken is no way for it to achieve its ends.

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support the purpose of the Bill. Despite the massive increase in the numbers of people travelling in recent years, due to terrorist events, in particular the events of 11 September 2001 in the United States and the Bali and the London bombings, it has become necessary to implement a series of controls and checks which provide security to all travellers and people at the destination point....

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to congratulate Dmitry Medvedev on his election to the presidency of Russia? For Russians living in Ireland, polls were held in Limerick and Dublin at which Mr. Medvedev got more than 80% of the vote. The OECD questioned the influence of the Russian media on the election results. Whereas the Irish media would have given open, and in some...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions: Motion (6 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am pleased to support the motion. The use of cluster bombs is quite obscene in terms of the havoc they can wreak. Cluster bombs are designed to be sprayed over a wide area. The principle is simple: a large container is filled with small bomblets, the container opens, and the munitions are scattered over a broad area, creating a blanket of explosions which can cover several hectares. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader invite to the House the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to debate the current economic climate? There is no doubt there is a perception that the US economy has gone into recession. I commend the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the other Ministers for their correct assessment that we should cut our cloth to measure and focus on employment. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I agree with the previous Senators who spoke about the necessary travel undertaken at this time of year by Ministers. I am conscious that at the foundation of the State when the annual budget would have been no more than £20 million, special efforts were made by the new Government to ensure people went around the world to let the Irish diaspora know about the new State. Bonds were raised...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: It is interesting——

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: It is interesting to hear someone state he will not talk down the economy and then spend the next ten minutes, rather than eight, doing so.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: This year there will be growth of 2.3% in the economy.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: For an economy that has doubled in size twice in the past 15 years, there is a simple mathematical equation called the 72 rule to work it out. One divides the growth rate into 72 to get how many years it takes to double the size of an economy or of one's investment. The economy has doubled in size twice in the past 15 years and on top of that it will grow by 2.3% this year. Notwithstanding...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Mar 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support the calls made on yesterday's Order of Business for a debate on the pro-life issue and the important point made concerning a recent report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The psychological effect is the very argument used by those who support abortion. The report, however, has clearly shown that abortion is a strong probability as a cause of suicides and depression among...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Dick Roche, to the House to debate the current situation regarding world food security. I make this call because I am very conscious of the positive steps being taken regarding bio-fuel. However, because a large percentage of world productive capacity is now moving towards the production of...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to request the incoming Minister for Finance to attend in the House to discuss the challenges facing the economy. I am not one of those who believes we take responsibility for aspects that are outside our control. We have managed this economy with a view to it being an open market economy in a world market. Advanced factories, taxation policies, the IFSC, the Shannon free...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Apr 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support those seeking dialogue with China, in respect of which we have a very clear template based on the events in eastern Europe. On foot of supporting internal changes in the Soviet Union, the walls eventually came crumbling down and freedom spread throughout eastern Europe and into Russia itself. We should continue to use this template and engage in dialogue to address the many issues...

Seanad: Kidnapping and Detention of Ms Ingrid Betancourt: Motion (10 Apr 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support what has been said in very strong and caring terms in connection with the case of Ms Betancourt. FARC has caused much suffering and mayhem. It is ostensibly a left-wing group, but in reality is more like a criminal group. The actions taken against FARC have sometimes been hampered by the lack of co-operation between neighbouring countries in South America. They should seriously...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I commend the leader on arranging at such short notice the attendance in the House of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and ask that our meeting with her be re-arranged. In light of the developing situation in the World Trade Organisation negotiations and the possibility of a reduction in food production in Europe at a time when we need to substantially increase production in...