Results 741-760 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Promissory Note Arrangement: Statements (14 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As stated by him, the reduction in the State's borrowing requirements over ten years amounts to ¤20 billion. It is good news and is a relaunch for us in terms of the removal of that monkey from our backs. We have the monkey off our backs now and we have the chance, on 17 March in the White House, to move on the EU-US free trade area proposed...

Seanad: Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I agree with the sentiments of Senators David Norris and Paul Coghlan. We said much when the Minister for Defence was in the House for the debate on Second Stage. He piloted the Bill through the Parliament wonderfully. The Bill means more reconciliation and friendship on this island. That is always good and I hope we will be willing to take whatever remaining measures are needed. People...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: Yesterday The Irish Times carried the story of the Financial Regulator moving to regulate the health insurance industry. This echoed sentiments here and was in line with the co-operation of the Leader in ensuring this issue was tackled, which gives hope for the future. We have also tackled the insurance sector, the banks and stockbroking. In today's Irish Independent, Mr. Stephen Kinsella...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: As the Leader was successful in bringing the health insurance issue to the regulator's attention, will he join in ensuring the "Big Four" accountants are investigated for their role in the disasters which we have been trying to cope with in the intervening period?

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House and assure him how much we appreciate the discussions we have here.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: The objective from this side is to have a Bill embodying any wisdom we can give to the Minister, but the choice is for the Minister of State to make, because we recognise who he is. Section 7(4) states "The Authority, in making regulations under this section, may set different requirements and conditions", and then lists several, which we are not commenting on because they are accepted,...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: According to the Goodbody report, there are 394 small public service vehicles in Tipperary, 503 in Clare and 1,231 in Galway, which borders Tipperary. There are 262 in Laois and 289 in Carlow. I do not see the need for area licensing and I oppose its reintroduction as I do not see it as necessary. The Minister of State is interested in rural transport and he suggested the use of the school...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I have a problem. None of these issues is mentioned in the screening regulatory impact assessment of the Bill. This completely inadequate document was published approximately six weeks after the Bill was published. It does not attempt to analyse in any way why the Minister wishes to be at odds with four High Court decisions, documents published by the previous regulator in this sector and...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I will be brief. Leasing was criminalised in the 1950s when the policy we are trying to reintroduce was being pursued.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: If the Acting Chairman says it has already discussed, I will accept his ruling.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 11: In page 12, subsection (1)(b), lines 15 and 16, to delete all words from and including "in" where it firstly occurs in line 15 down to and including "licence" in line 16 and substitute the following:"in the area of a passenger journey and in-vehicle navigation and guidance systems to guide route selection".The Minister has dealt with this matter. When we discussed...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: It was a very superior Sat Nav that brought Senator O'Neill here and we should all be indebted to it. I will not press the amendment. However, we should allow, as the Minister of State does, that technology develops and that learning it out of a book may seem a bit bizarre in five years time.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 12: In page 12, subsection (6), line 49, after ?Authority? to insert the following: ?in consultation with the National Disability Authority?.We may have a lot in common on this amendment also. Line 20 details various requirements to be determined "by the Authority in consultation with the National Disability Authority". All I require when the guidelines are being...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 13: In page 13, lines 44 and 45, to delete subsection (10).This is a fairly fundamental amendment that proposes to delete lines 44 and 45, which read as follows: "The licensing authority may, when granting a licence, attach such terms and conditions to the licence as it sees fit." As I said previously, that is what happened with SI 250 of 2010, in which the conditions...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 15: In page 14, subsection (2)(b), line 27, to delete "the Authority or".We discussed this amendment previously. I am keen to retain the functions relating to the Garda Síochána. That is why the amendment proposes to delete the phrase "the Authority or" on the basis that if there is a view within the Department - there appears to be - that this is a problem of...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 16: In page 14, subsection (2)(c), line 30, after "convictions" to insert "other than spent convictions".I have tabled this amendment in order that I might ask the Minister of State whether the Bill is compatible with what the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, is doing in respect of spent convictions. If it is, the amendment is redundant and there...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister. As we attempt to let bygones be bygones in respect of convictions, as the Minister for Justice and Equality was doing, it will be difficult for many of those people to get employment, so self-employment is very important for them. The Minister of State has shown himself to be fully aware of that. I will not be pressing my amendment. There must be some occupations in...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: No, I will not press it.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: I oppose the amendment. This is a fundamental change to the Bill as circulated on 3 December 2012. However, the proposed new section was circulated as late as Monday of last week. The proposed change is not covered in the regulatory impact assessment which was circulated on 17 January. I am advised this violates people's contracts of employment. It violates privacy. I am told the...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Sean Barrett: If I were a biscuit maker during the day, could I drive a taxi in the evening? Would I have to tell my employer? What business is it of my employer what I do after 5 p.m.? I appreciate that my employer would not want me to make biscuits for a rival biscuit maker but it would be none of his business if I were active and entrepreneurial enough to earn some money in an industry in which...