Results 481-500 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: I find it the height of political hypocrisy that Senators opposite can wring their hands, make speeches and disavow the policies pursued by Governments over the past 11 years despite having supported them at every turn. We have seen examples over the past year of Members protesting on the streets and voting otherwise in the House. This hypocrisy should be exposed. Last week a view was...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: I have not yet introduced my question.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: A poll published in The Sunday Business Post suggested that support for Fianna Fáil stood at 26%, whereas Fine Gael was at 33%. I am aware this is only a poll but it dispels the myth that the political structures of this country obey a natural order. Many people feel disenfranchised because Fianna Fáil has led successive Governments for the past 11 years. Many organisations, including...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: My question for the Leader——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——is whether he would accept, in light of last weekend's polls, that Fianna Fáil is not the natural party of Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: Take the blame.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: I support the call for a debate on agriculture. The actions taken in the budget in a host of areas cut right through agricultural policy in this country. A number of measures, such as the farm retirement scheme, are fundamental in maintaining and improving efficiency and encouraging the constant process of the modernisation of Irish agriculture. The Irish Farmers Association took a...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: This has added to the time and delay in the conclusion of the tribunal and the cost. The Fianna Fáil-led Government set the legal fees and must take responsibility for the protracted delays and cost of the tribunals. This is the end of the process and there is a picture emerging——

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——of most unsavoury activities.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: I am laying the basis for the question.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: This tribunal has served the Government very well——

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——in diverting public scrutiny of these activities in these Houses. It has worked brilliantly. A clear picture is emerging and the question to the Leader is whether we have learned any lessons. Over the past year, having established the Mahon tribunal, we have had Ministers and the man holding the highest office in the land challenging the work of the tribunal.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: Have we learned any lessons? Is it any wonder that people do not follow politicians when they pronounce a view on important national issues such as the Lisbon treaty?

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: What about the IDA?

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: I welcome the Minister of State's outline of the findings of the Morris tribunal reports. I agree with much of what has been said. Mr. Justice Frederick Morris has done extraordinary work in his inquiry into the activities of certain individuals in the Donegal division of the Garda Síochána. The thoroughness of that work and the extensive nature of the reports make for compelling...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: I am speaking about former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, and the Minister's statement last year in regard to the former Taoiseach. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, in respect of the various interim rulings and procedures of the Mahon tribunal, was among those Ministers who called into question the manner in which the chairman of that tribunal was in that...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: For the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to politicise this in such a fashion and to attack the two individuals who were to the forefront in highlighting the allegations made, and doing so privately——

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: The Minister of State will have an opportunity to respond in due course. The Minister attacked the two individuals whose taking up of the issues of these allegations resulted in very important improvements in the Garda Síochána in terms of oversight, disciplinary proceedings, procedures, organisation of the command structure and reporting procedures within the Garda Síochána, the Garda...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: Senator Walsh will have an opportunity to speak in due course.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Eugene Regan: It is entirely inappropriate for the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to put such a spin on the final report of Mr. Justice Frederick Morris——