Results 661-680 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister to the House. While the document concentrates on economies on the side of elected representatives, I am mindful of the McLoughlin report and the efficiencies that are needed in the permanent government of the local authorities which it was judged would make possible savings of ¤511 million. On the last page of the Minister's report he cites ¤400 million. Is that...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State and our guests in the Gallery. I thank the Minister of State for the manner in which he always receives representations made in the Seanad. He sets the record, certainly in my time, in that he has commenced in this House two Bills in very rapid succession. In the regulation of the sector, quantity licensing must be avoided at all costs. The Minister of...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State sincerely for that. There are 6,000 people with some form of criminal conviction. Suppose the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said he did not want certain people in agriculture or the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said he did not want certain people in industry. Are we going to turn people into convicts? Are we going to give them...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I agree with Senator Keane. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, to address the House on these issues in his erudite way with which we are all familiar. However, some economic concerns have been expressed by the National Competitiveness Council and the Irish Academy of Engineering, and Senator Clune stated that this is an expensive form of energy. Currently, it is...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Gay Mitchell, MEP (24 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome Mr. Mitchell, MEP. People have referred to his late brother, who made a practical contribution to greater contacts between Europeans. I remember when it used to cost £650 to fly from Dublin to Brussels. He played a major part in opening up that market with his friend in the Commission, Peter Sutherland, against Civil Service advice. That was a real tester of bringing Europeans...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: The witnesses are welcome. While I was detained at other meetings, I meant them no discourtesy and I recognise the hour is late. The main point on which I seek their views concerns the €75 billion to which Deputy Mathews referred for the bank rescue. Do they have an idea about how much of that we will recoup within ten years, or ever?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: Does "if not the whole lot" mean it could be that we get back all €30 billion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank Mr. Corrigan for saying that. There is so much pessimism abroad that when any kind of optimistic number emerges from the second element, there are sometimes cheers of a sort because we sold a bit of a bank. However, the question should be what proportion did we get of the cost to us of taking on that bank and how much more will it need. These are the questions on which the public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank Mr. Corrigan. Does this apply to the Ombudsman as well? As Mr. Corrigan is aware, there has also been some recent legislation in respect of the Ombudsman. Is the NTMA subject to the scrutiny of the Ombudsman?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank Mr. Corrigan.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I join in the expressions of sympathy to Senator Henry, the de Buitléar, Heffernan and Donohoe families and the Garda Síochána who look after us so well not only in this House but throughout the country. As we have been hearing, Detective Garda Donohoe was a man in the best traditions of service to the Garda Síochána, his community and the GAA. Yesterday Raymond McCartney, the Deputy...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP (29 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome Deputy McGuinness - it is difficult to get used to calling MEPs Deputies, but it is the first time I have heard that used. She has a terrific record in the media and on television, and it is wonderful to see her here. Are the subsidies capitalised in higher land prices and does that form a major obstacle to the young farmers who are trying to get into agriculture?

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Deputy Leader's announcement that we are to debate fluoridation this afternoon. When Mr. Gay Mitchell, MEP, was here last week he referred to the Seanad as a valuable Chamber where debates can take place in a non-adversarial manner. There are most interesting arguments on both sides of the fluoridation debate and I welcome the scheduling of that discussion for this afternoon....

Seanad: Water Fluoridation: Motion (30 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am grateful that Senators Norris and Quinn have tabled this motion because, as has been said on both sides of the House, all policy should be reviewed. However, this policy has been reviewed. It used to be a test case example of public policy that we did the research before introducing fluoridation of water. We found that where fluoride was...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: The Governor of the Central Bank recently appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and although it was not widely reported he told us that the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority has begun work to become the regulator of the health insurance sector, which is to comply - rather belatedly - with a decision of the European Court. It is...

Seanad: The Gathering Ireland 2013: Statements (31 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister to the House and it is always a pleasure when he comes to see us. I will not make any remarks about the descendants of shoemakers trying to cobble together some economic policies or anything like that. I note one of his critics in a subsequent television role became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. We should ask him to resume his support for The Gathering...

Seanad: The Gathering Ireland 2013: Statements (31 Jan 2013)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I echo the general sentiments towards Senator McAleese expressed by the Cathaoirleach and the Leader. He was a remarkable man and the day he brought the Orange Order here as our guests was a remarkable one. Yesterday, there were leaks in the newspapers about the new format teacher training might take. It was obsessed with structures and bureaucracies and said very little about...

Seanad: Order of Business: Motion (5 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I agree with everything that has been said by everyone heretofore. I understood this was the position before because when I was here first the usher told me at a committee meeting that the Senate had gone into session. I was more or less told to come up to the Chamber and I was delighted to do so. The House should have precedence over committees because it deals with vital national issues....

Seanad: Private Rented Sector: Statements (6 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State and endorse the statements of Senators Wilson, Keane and Hayden. I wish I had read the first pages of the Minister of State's speech approximately ten years ago because they capture very well what occurs when housing is used as a bubble and a means of acquiring tax-free capital gains and reducing income tax liabilities rather than a place in which to live....