Results 641-660 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: It was more a confession.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: It will be in his own time.

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

Eugene Regan: Neither is the Minister for Finance.

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

Eugene Regan: We are learning more each day about the banks and their nefarious activities, such as directors' loans and how transfers are classified in accounts. We are also learning more about how the financial system is regulated and the failures in the system. In particular, we are learning about the failures of Government and the Cabinet, of which the Minister here present, Deputy O'Dea, is a...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: I tabled this matter because of the health and safety risk posed by the poor state of the existing building at Newpark comprehensive school and the fact that the Department of Education and Science confirmed as long ago as 2000 that the most economically efficient way to improve the dilapidated condition of the school was to reconstruct the main building. The school has 800 pupils and its...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: I welcome the news that the building work at Newpark has been approved to proceed to the planning stage. I know it will be welcomed by all those involved in the school, which is exceptional in terms of its policy on intake, its adult education centre and its general role in the community. I thank the Minister of State for the welcome news. I am pleased that my representations might have...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: On 20 January we debated the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009. When we look back at the information the Minister provided during that debate in the Seanad, we can see how dangerous it is to rush legislation and provide no adequate time or opportunity for this or the Lower House to vet legislation. Three times in his responses, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: There is a headline in The Irish Times today, "Irish recovery plan provokes harsh criticism from Brussels", the plan to restore its public finances and come within the 3% limit for Government deficits, which the Government submitted to Brussels. We have the highest public deficit in Europe at present. The Commission says the plan is unclear, underdeveloped and that the "sizeable cumulative...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: We have been presented with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009 to deal with the pensions levy. It appears the Government is intent on legislating by emergency whenever the opportunity arises. We have done this in regard to the State guarantee scheme and the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank and now we are about to rush this legislation through the Houses....

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: ——the Taoiseach stated it was equivalent to asking the Garda to identify the suspects in a particular case. The act in which these people were involved is not similar to an ordinary criminal investigation. The issue of what has happened is known and the persons involved are known. It is not a question of looking for suspects because ten parties have already been identified in...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: It is a question of disclosing the identity of the aforementioned ten parties. This and previous Fianna Fáil-led Governments have hidden behind tribunals of inquiry.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: It is about time the Government treated the Opposition and the public as adults by coming clean with information when it is requested to do so. The Oireachtas could thereby become more relevant and better perform its functions on behalf of the community. We could also move on from the banking crisis to address the real issues that are confronting the economy.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: I ask my colleague to avoid interrupting me.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: In regard to some of the measures to which I have just referred, I ask about the quality and independence of the advice given to the Government. It has been reported in the newspapers that PricewaterhouseCoopers advises and acts as auditor for Bank of Ireland while at the same time advising the Government. Arthur Cox solicitors advises Bank of Ireland as well as the Minister for Finance,...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: This is not quite a situation of a law firm acting for both parties to the same transaction. It is like a law firm acting for the buyer, the seller and the funding organisation——

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: ——in one of the most important transactions in the history of the State. I ask the Leader to refer the matter to the Minister for Finance and that he would request that the Minister, when he is taking legal advice——

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: I am in the middle of my question.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: When the Minister takes advice from auditors, accountants, consultants or legal firms, I ask that he seeks independent legal advice and ensures they are not acting for other parties who have an interest in the same transaction. We might thereby make better decisions and better legislation in these Houses. I would be much obliged to the Leader if he could address that question.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: Respect the Chair.

Seanad: Middle East Conflict: Motion (26 Feb 2009)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive report. The cross-party motion demonstrates that when the problem is far from this country we can reach consensus while we have difficulty doing so with many of our own problems. Despite the other problems we have in this country, we have an interest in adding our voice to the member states of the EU and the EU itself in trying to foster a...