Results 501-520 of 24,382 for speaker:Seán Barrett

Alternative Energy Projects. (10 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Does the Minister not see the potential of both offshore wind and wind energy in this area? Has he not got the wherewithal to ensure we are the world's leading experts in this area? This is something that is natural to this country. We, on the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, have prepared legislation in this regard because we do not even have modern...

Employment Law Compliance Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: The main reason I wish to speak on this legislation is to state my total disagreement in regard to the establishment of another quango. We have a sufficient number of quangos. To the best of my knowledge there are more than 1,000 of them. Every effort is being made, in particular by my party, to put in train procedures to reduce dramatically the number of quangos in existence. There is no...

Employment Law Compliance Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: It then refers to the non-application of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and the Data Protection Act 1988 to certain records held or created by the director. It is taking some 26 sections of the Bill to set up this authority. The Minister of State may be in a position where he is forced into this sort of stuff because of previous agreements but I strongly recommend that he go back to the...

Employment Law Compliance Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Then, there are all the rights, including a right of access to one's property to gather reports and so on. This authority will have more rights than CAB. My colleagues beside me are having a good laugh. While I am not sure what it is about, I am sure it is not about the Bill.

Employment Law Compliance Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: I hope all Deputies will see sense. If enough of us express our honest opinion, the Government will withdraw this Bill. The Bill creates 23 new criminal offences. The authority will be given the power to impose on-the-spot fines on employers without giving them the chance to rectify any problem. Employers could face fines of up to €250,000 for failing to keep adequate records, fines of...

Recapitalisation of Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland: Motion (12 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: I am sharing time with Deputy Shatter. The first part of our amendment to the motion condemns the regulatory failures that facilitated a deception of shareholders and the public. I refer to the report of the proceedings of the finance committee, of which I am a member, of 15 July 2008. Mr. Hurley, the Governor of the Central Bank, made the following statement to the committee: Significant...

Recapitalisation of Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland: Motion (12 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Exactly.

Public Transport. (12 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: An efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann was initiated in June 2008, arising out of concerns that the State bus companies were not using their fleets to best of their abilities. This was a narrow review. We should be examining public transport as distinct from buses. In Dublin we are fortunate to have Luas, DART and bus services but none operates in tandem with the other. Until...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Legislation: Road Traffic Legislation (17 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Question 103: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will allocate responsibility to a Minister of State for reviewing and updating the various Road Traffic Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3488/09]

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (17 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Question 266: To ask the Minister for Transport if there are proposals to dispose of airports in public ownership with a view to raising revenue on behalf of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5589/09]

Leaders' Questions (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: The Taoiseach should read the relevant line.

Banking Sector Regulation. (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Question 43: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is acceptable that the investigation of adequate regulation should be conducted entirely by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority itself and the consultants which it has chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6207/09]

Written Answers — Aviation Regulation: Aviation Regulation (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Question 170: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals for reform of travel trade regulation, with particular reference to the submission of an association (details supplied) to the Commission on Aviation Regulation and the CAR recommendations to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6446/09]

Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: New legislation is required.

Health Service Staff. (19 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Question 10: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of managers in the Health Service Executive who have been paid bonuses since the start of October 2008; if the payment of Professor Drumm's bonus is still being considered in view of the economic climate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6613/09]

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: Question 250: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will expedite the processing of the application in respect of a company (details supplied) for a licence to operate bus passenger services between Dalkey and Dublin Airport, serving intermediate points via Glasthule, Dún Laoghaire, Monkstown and Blackrock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7038/09]

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: I, too, support the amendment. Does the Minister have any idea of the cost, in terms of numbers, of accepting this proposal? Will he explain what adjustments would be required to the other bands to compensate for the loss of revenue? The Minister is asking people who qualify for family income supplement to make a contribution of 3%. Are these people to return this supplement by way of...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: I am flabbergasted by this. Can we imagine a scene where the clerk of the court sees his wage deducted, while the judge on the bench does not make any contribution? The section refers to making a new deduction from the remuneration of public servants who are members of a public service pension scheme. Judges are either in a public service pension scheme, or they are not. If they are in a...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: So it is PAYE.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Seán Barrett: I support this amendment. I have always felt it is a matter that should be inserted into and debated in conjunction with the Estimates for each Department. It is an actual cost. It could lead to greater efficiency if Departments realise the cost of the pension liability. There are many areas where savings could be made if Departments knew that they were responsible and the costs attaching...