Results 501-520 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2008)

Alex White: The Senator has not been listening.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: It is not clear that the provisions in this section will constitute an improvement to our jurisprudence. The section proposes to repeal the requirement that a District Court judge must keep a note of the evidence before him or her. We do not have a system for universal transcription in the courts, so it is questionable to say the least not to require a formal note of the evidence presented...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: I concur with Senator Regan that the fact the requirement is more honoured in the breach is not sufficient reason to remove it. The Minister might remind District Court judges of the legislative requirement rather than simply abolish it. I am simply opposing this provision and I am not proposing by way of amendment or otherwise the panoply of technology to which the Minister of State...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: The Minister mentioned a couple of authorities to which he did not previously refer. I will take the opportunity to consider the cases to which he referred and I will revisit the matter on Report Stage.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 19: In page 30, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following subsection: "(2) Where a tenant has, on or after the 12th day of December 2007, effected a renunciation as referred to in subsection (1), the tenant shall be deemed not to be entitled to a new lease for a period of 20 years, and any lease for a shorter period effected on foot of such renunciation shall be...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: The Minister of State made a number of fair points in his response. I do not propose to pursue the amendment today. I will reflect on what he has said and may return to it at a later stage.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: I thank the Minister of State for his response, particularly to amendment No. 22 which deals with what would otherwise have been an anomaly where there would have been differential treatment of coroners juries. In the circumstances of the Minister of State being prepared to accept the amendment we have put forward in that regard, that difficulty has been dealt with. This relates to removing...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 22: In page 36, before section 47, to insert the following new section: "47.—Section 31 of the Juries Act 1976 is amended by deleting "and under the age of sixty-five years".".

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Alex White: I do not have a difficulty with the amendment. However, there was a debate on Second Stage in this House on the views put forward by FLAC, as referred to by the Minister of State. That organisation took a different view as to the likely effect of the proposed change. There appears to have been a difference of viewpoint as to what the real effect would be. I raised the question — as did...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2008)

Alex White: I agree with Senator O'Toole regarding the dispute in Cork, in respect of which there is a lack of public clarity. A strike has been referred to, but it is my understanding that staff were recently asked to sign a pledge. I am not making excuses for anyone, but there must be clarity around this issue in the Houses and publicly. The loss of vital services to people in Cork and further...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2008)

Alex White: This is the first reference made by myself or my colleagues in the House and we make it in a positive sense, something with which colleagues on the other side of the House might not be familiar.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2008)

Alex White: The Taoiseach made an ill-judged remark at the weekend and appears to want to move on. Yesterday, the Leader did not sound like he wanted to move on.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2008)

Alex White: If the treaty is to be passed, as desired by most Senators, engaging in a sad, sorry skirmish as to who is doing more in the midlands or elsewhere will not get anyone anywhere.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2008)

Alex White: I ask for a debate in respect of today's publication of the 2008 report of Amnesty International. The other side of the House has become quieter. The report is fair and balanced and deserves a debate. It acknowledges many of this country's positive achievements, not least of which was the formation and operation of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, but it points out considerable...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Alex White: I welcome the Bill's publication. As the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources stated last week, it is detailed and comprehensive legislation that proposes to amend and repeal broadcasting legislation dating back more than 50 years. It is a significant and unprecedented achievement and I congratulate the Minister and his officials on putting together in one Bill all of...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Alex White: It is my pleasure to second this motion and welcome again the Minister for Health and Children to the House. I am interested to hear her response and those of our colleagues opposite in respect of the proposals we are bringing forward. I am bi-locating somewhat this evening as I am also attending the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children. My absence during the debate...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Alex White: I have reflected on the question of religious advertising. It may help the debate for me to point out that, as the Minister may be aware, an EU court authority is considering the proposition that it is lawful to exclude religious advertising from public broadcasting. I do not have any of the relevant papers with me. This matter has been the subject of some discussion and controversy at EU...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2008)

Alex White: That is called spin but it is usually only Governments that engage in it.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (4 Jun 2008)

Alex White: On a point of order, will the Acting Leader undertake to consult with the leaders prior to the Order of Business tomorrow?

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Alex White: Will the Leader ask the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to address quickly the serious and genuine issues raised by SIPTU, the largest trade union in the country? Mr. Jack O'Connor has clarified the position of the union in a letter in The Irish Times today. I draw the attention of the House to this most important letter and ask the Leader to raise its contents with the Taoiseach as...