Results 441-460 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I understand the point made by the Minister of State who has assisted us in clarifying the purpose of the section. I remind the House that the amendment does not propose to remove any part of the legislation but to retain section 20(1)(a), (b) and (c) but to include the saver, as it were, "otherwise than in circumstances referred to in subsection (2),". The amendment proposes to draw a...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 12: In page 19, subsection (3), line 7, after "accordingly" to insert the following: "; and a passport issued before the commencement of sections 6 and 7 shall not be deemed invalid solely on the grounds that it was not issued under any express power conferred by an enactment". It appears that section 27(1) does not validate previous passports issued without statutory...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007 Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I welcome the passage of the Bill and thank the Minister of State for his professional and gentlemanly style in the debate. Senator Coghlan was too kind in his remarks because colleagues of his were also active in tabling amendments. Members on all sides of the House have contributed to the Bill's passage. Some issues remain such as the basis for the issuing of diplomatic passports. There...

Seanad: Address by President of the European Parliament (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: I am delighted on behalf of the Labour Party to welcome the President to the House. We are affiliated to the socialist group in the European Parliament, which vies with the President's group for largest group. We do not have the largest group currently but we hope to before too long. I had the pleasure of meeting the President last night and he said something to me that very much resonated...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: As Senator Fitzgerald stated, it has been a busy time since we met last. Last week in particular was very eventful. When I entered the Chamber today, I was prompted to look across, with mounting concern, to ensure the Leader was still sitting in the place with which we associate him. I am glad he is still there today.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: I noted the remarkable sense of relief that appeared on the Deputy Leader's face after the events of last week. No doubt the developments came as a great relief to him and his party, or so we are led to believe. Senator O'Toole and others have made the point that it is a pity that the Taoiseach has not had the opportunity to speak in the Chamber during the term of this Seanad. Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: I do not know why he felt he had to launch what I can only describe as an unwarranted and despicable attack on people doing a professional job in a tribunal set up by the Oireachtas——

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: ——in circumstances in which we need to purge all the anger felt, as expressed by Senator MacSharry on the previous occasion on which he raised this matter. Perhaps we still need to purge this anger because although the Taoiseach is going, the tribunals are not. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot have a parade of people asking that matters be left to the tribunal while the Taoiseach...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: Either one approach or the other should be adopted. Either the tribunals are to be maintained and supported by this House, which set them up through the motion proposed by Senator Cassidy ten years ago, or they are not. Remarks such as "low-life stuff" are not worthy of a Taoiseach, be it a departing Taoiseach or a sitting one.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: In such circumstances, I ask that we have the debate Senator MacSharry called for before Easter. I hope he has not withdrawn his call therefor. Perhaps we can have the debate in calmer circumstances given that Deputy Bertie Ahern is to some extent out of the equation, at least as Taoiseach. Let us determine how much the Members opposite really support a tribunal investigating the matters...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: It was not abuse. I object to that being described as abuse.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: I ask for that remark to be withdrawn.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: Senator Leyden should tell the Taoiseach that.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: We know what we can say about Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Alex White: Tainted.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Alex White: On behalf of the Labour Party in this House, I extend our congratulations to Deputy Brian Cowen on his elevation today to the leadership of the Fianna Fáil party. Without wishing to draw the Cathaoirleach into the fray, as he almost was yesterday, he is entitled to a certain amount of vicarious satisfaction from what happened this morning. We wish the Minister well in his new position. He...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Alex White: Clearly, I want a debate. We should have a serious debate on the economic future of the country with the new Taoiseach or the new Minister for Finance. Let us have all issues open, including this extraordinary inequality, which is one of the unfortunate legacies of the boom.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2008)

Alex White: It has not done that.