Results 681-700 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Eugene Regan: Let me refer to an article in The Irish Times today concerning the comments by the German Social Democratic Party spokesperson on European affairs, Mr. Axel Schäfer. He stated Germany is prepared to assist countries within the eurozone that are in economic difficulty but that "It can't be the case that, in a referendum, people say 'we don't need Europe, Europe is hindering us' and then,...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: On a point of order, I believe that case is ongoing and I am not sure Senator O'Toole is correct to comment on it in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I do not understand why we always get into a huff when any international body or agency calls a spade a spade——

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: The reality is the Standard & Poor's re-rating of the credit worthiness of this country is already reflected in the market. It is simply res ipsa locuitur, the facts speak for themselves. The slip of the tongue or otherwise where their representative suggested that this country needed a change of Government, change of face, change of Ministers, again simply reflects internationally the lack...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I am pleased to say my phone is turned off.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I mentioned last week that as long ago as 2001, when the European Commission gave the first signal that Ireland's economy——

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I will be brief. The first time the European Commission issued a warning to the Government was back in 2001 with regard to the budget of that year when Charlie McCreevy was Minister for Finance. Again we got into a huff. The Commission told us then that the spending of the Government, despite the surplus in our public finances, was unsustainable and again we rejected that because we knew...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I just want to make this point because it is very important.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: This is a specific question for the Leader. Fine Gael made proposals of how to save €2 billion when we were asked. The Minister asked for pre-budget submissions or views from the Opposition and Deputy Richard Bruton and Fine Gael have done so today. This is a unique, specific, Fine Gael perspective on the public finances. I ask the Leader to confirm that the Opposition has engaged and...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Leader has missed the point.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Government has not learned a lesson.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: It is a mirage now.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I agree with Senators O'Toole and Ross regarding the proposals from IBEC to cut social welfare payments. While there is an element of deflation in the economy, its causes are very specific, mainly related to interest rate reductions and oil price decline. This proposal is very divisive and quite nasty. Many people are in a very difficult position in this economic crisis. We are talking...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: Some time ago, a debate was held in this House on the Irish Constitution on the occasion of its 75th anniversary. It is worth noting the contributions people have made to that Constitution in the development of personal rights, which has given us a charter that is second to none in the world. I make this point because judges such as the former Supreme Court judge, Séamus Henchy, at...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I hope this is not an indication of the Government's failure to take the hard and tough decisions that are required.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: However, we await the outcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I support the amendment proposed by Senator Fitzgerald to the Order of Business because the Minister for Finance has some explaining to do. It is very clear from this budget that he is no economist.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: I ask the Leader not to interrupt. It was an accounting exercise and there is no economic thinking underpinning this budget. There is a total emphasis on taxation and no emphasis on value for money, expenditure cuts, cuts in waste or savings made. That is where the Minister has copped out. Senator Mary White essentially invited us to congratulate the Government on the cutbacks. We have...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Eugene Regan: ——there will be average growth rates of 2% in 2009. That is the performance and it is still declining. Using the benchmark of those years one can look at every economic indicator, such as export performance, total tax take as a percentage of gross national product and national debt. The Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, promised before the previous election to eliminate the national debt. With...