Results 641-660 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: European Parliament Irish Constituency Members) Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: This is essentially a technical Bill. In supporting it we are supporting a welcome change in payment method from the Oireachtas to Europe to allow parliamentarians in Europe to look after their own affairs from a financial perspective, which is only right and proper. Other changes appear to be warranted, including the single payment for all MEPs. This change is laudable in terms of the...

Seanad: European Parliament Irish Constituency Members) Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Now. Agreed to take remaining Stages today.

Seanad: European Parliament Irish Constituency Members) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (16 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Tomorrow, at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I join with colleagues who condemned the racist attacks on the Lisburn Road in Belfast. We have long thought we had seen an end to racism in the North. However, it has again raised its ugly head. I believe, as mentioned by previous speakers, that this attack was organised. This organisation took the form of the current economic downturn to blame immigrants for the lack of jobs and...

Seanad: Information and Communications Technologies: Motion (17 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am glad the debate has digressed from the content of the motion. In the past several years, new businesses and industries have been created due to the Internet, information technology and mobile telephony. Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, Google and e-mail are examples of how new technologies have changed our lives. However, we are only scratching the surface of the possibilities of these new...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: While I am cognisant of fact that Archbishop Martin has spoken on church-run schools, I am very conscious of the fact that in the current climate it is not the best time to have a balanced and reasoned debate and this might even be a time to remind ourselves how in other countries people are flocking to faith-run institutions. In the fullness of time and in the clear light of day, the...

Seanad: Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support the Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009 and thank the Minister of State for his continued support to this House. The Government has been berated for failing to predict our current difficulties. However, I recall the debates held in this House on what was called at the time the soft landing for the economy. We knew the property market would slow down and we...

Seanad: Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Now. Agreed to take remaining Stages today. Bill reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.

Seanad: Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Motion for Earlier Signature (18 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I move: That pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in her request to the President to sign the Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009, on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to her.

Seanad: Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Motion for Earlier Signature (18 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 23 June 2009.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: There is no doubt that in the good times people forget the bad, and vice versa. I am conscious that in the past a development plan and a national plan, even in difficult times, would have placed us very well for the future. I repeat calls made here earlier for a national development plan that would include a comprehensive expenditure programme, albeit which will need to be raised abroad,...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the roars of disapproval because they prove they do not want to tell the public what they would do if they ever got into office.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I therefore welcome the roars from the Opposition, who do not want to tell the public how they would bridge the €20 billion budget deficit.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Many Members will welcome the fact that people will no longer go to prison for the non-payment of small amounts to financial institutions, as pointed out earlier by Senator Quinn. In its own way, this will lead to financial institutions looking for further security, making it more difficult to get loans. This may not be a bad development in cases where people might have difficulties....

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: We spoke in the House of a soft landing with 70,000 jobs to go in the construction industry but that the economy was well-placed for it. What happened, however, in the international sphere undermined the Irish economy. It was prudent management of the economy that prevented the IMF from coming in to manage it for us. The records will show the Government saved the economy.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am sure many Opposition Members will add significantly to what I have to say.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: For the past four weeks, I have been calling for the Opposition to outline how it would-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Of course they want time up because they do not want to hear the question. When will the Opposition show how it would deal with the €20 billion deficit?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share the views of some previous speakers, in particular on supermarkets with a large and growing share of the market not stocking Irish and local products. I am thinking of the two German discounters who give very good value. As an ordinary consumer, I must leave the shop and go elsewhere to buy milk locally. I would like to buy milk from Thurles but it is not available there. Only one...