Results 581-600 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: Page 143 of the Aecon report states that it could cost between ¤90 million and ¤290 million to take 800 passengers a day from the Dublin to Galway buses that operate without subsidy. We need to look at those investments. A further ¤75 million would be required to take 300 passengers from J.J. Kavanagh & Sons, which runs the bus service without subsidy at the moment. We need to...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I support the Minister of State.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I agree with Senator O'Sullivan's sentiments. I thank the Minister of State for his interest in the House and his openness to our ideas. It is a pleasure when he comes to the House. I wish him well in all his reforms in the Department.

Seanad: Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. I begin by echoing everything said by Senator Quinn, particularly his commendation of the learned judge for asking us to pay attention to the issue, especially in this House because some people do not believe it has a future. The learned judge clearly does not believe that as he has asked for our views. He has indicated that certain sections of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: There are reports today of a shortage of nurses in operating theatres. This country has a serious shortage compared to the United Kingdom. In contrast, the Irish complement of numbers is one of the highest in the OECD. We had 36,000 nurses employed in 2011. We had 34,000 in 2005 and 25,000 in 1992. Can the Leader ask the Minister for Health if the nursing labour force is correctly...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 4: In page 13, before section 6, to insert the following new section: "6.---No aspect of the Debt Relief Notice, Debt Settlement Arrangements or Personal Insolvency Arrangements may be used to remove from or otherwise impair the employment status of the debtor or their spouse who is compliant with the arrangements under this legislation.". On the first day in the House...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I appreciate the Minister's openness and I thank him for considering the amendments I tabled. Amendment No. 4 is in my name only and I will not press it as the Minister indicated he will seek the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel and act on it. I have used the phrase "or otherwise impair the employment status of" which is more difficult to determine than why Mr. or Mrs. Bloggs was not...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: Yes. I thank the Minister for his response.

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee)(Amendment) Scheme 2012: Motion (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: The good news from the Minister of State lies in table 2, in that the ¤375 billion has been reduced to ¤78 billion. It was a disaster for Ireland. Many of those responsible have managed to escape. Today, we are finally catching up with the accountants. Did they sanction money going into a bank at 11.50 p.m. and exiting at 12.10 a.m. for years? We have asked questions. When will the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: Taking up from the previous speaker, we are about to invent a twin for SUSI this afternoon, called ReBo. I hope the two of them get on well and perhaps they could make one another more efficient than they are now. I welcome the Government's announcement yesterday of the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority. Passenger numbers at Shannon Airport have dropped by 61%...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 50: In page 47, subsection (3)(d), line 48, after ?secured? to insert ?and contingent?. Amendment No. 50 proposes that secured debts plus the litigated debts in a comprehensive settlement and the debt settlement would be settled by the PIP, personal insolvency practitioner, rather than going to court. I feel this supports the Minister's intention in this section and...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his response. I will not press the amendments.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 74: In page 70, subsection (1), line 23, after ?section.? to insert the following: ?Any variation of a Debt Settlement Arrangement made pursuant to this section arising from an increase in the debtor?s means shall not require the arranging debtor to increase any payment made to creditors in an amount constituting more than 65 per cent of the increase in the debtor?s...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his response. If banks listened in to this debate, they might take note that they should not charge 76% rates. I will withdraw the amendment, but perhaps we will come back to the issue on Report Stage.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I recall this was discussed with amendment No. 4 last Friday. The Minister was to consider banning people from trades and professions. He referred to an example of a barrister who remains a rather good barrister but he happened to make the wrong investments. We were awaiting a change on Report Stage and on that understanding I will withdraw the amendment. I understand this is something...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 135: In page 120, to delete lines 34 to 38 and substitute the following: ?terminate with immediate effect after the bankrupt has been discharged from bankruptcy.?.This is a legal point but I am not a person of legal training. However, I offer the amendment in case it is of value to the Minister. I refer it to him for his consideration.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister and will relay his comments to Senator Crown on his return from the United States, where he is possibly imbibing some of that entrepreneurial spirit to which Senator Mooney referred.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Colleges of Education (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State and thank Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill for sharing time with me. I wish to relate some extra information. Last night I attended a meeting of senior academics and fellows in Trinity College Dublin at which there was great dismay that TCD could lose its connection with teacher training. Surely the highest ranking university could have no more important task than...

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. As stated by him in the final sentence of his contribution, the task of restoring the public finances is not an easy one. I would like to make some points in response to the speeches of the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. We have not yet received the full details on the ten point tax reform plan for enterprise. As such it might be...

Seanad: Budget 2013: Statements (5 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: There is a 9.2% increase for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The budget provides for a 1% increase on interests on deposits and savings, which is unearned income. Much of that income was hard earned. Perhaps the Minister would consider looking at this again in the context of the exemption scheme in relation to post office savings. There may be some people on low income who...