Results 761-780 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I again ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on genetic modification. It appears that the green debate is in many ways being taken over by people who sometimes go against their own aims. The reality is that, through genetic modification, the use of nitrates for plants could be greatly reduced. Many who support the green agenda are against genetic modification. However, there would be...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: When will people act responsibly in this Chamber and refrain from using inflammatory comments and words such as "attack?"

Seanad: Budget 2010: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State. I am conscious that it is difficult to make cuts at any time. It is very difficult to accept them, but I am sure the people will find themselves resilient and understand that what was undertaken yesterday was necessary. That is the criterion to move forward. However, we had a choice. We could have borrowed again and seen the rates go up in the bond...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I also welcome our new colleague, Senator Ó Brolcháin. It is timely, in the context of the appointment of a Green Party Senator, for the House to debate genetic modification. Perhaps such a debate could take place early in January. I do not doubt that there are certain circumstances in which genetic modification would enhance the green agenda significantly. Plants would need fewer...

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I would like to share time with Senator O'Malley.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: The truth of the matter is that the Government was faced with a crisis. The banking situation in Ireland was such that it was well recognised that there was a need to slow down growth in the property sector. We were talking about a soft landing.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: The world economy made sure it was anything but a soft landing. We were well prepared for that.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: We expected that there would be a significant fall-off in property.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: We expected that a large number of people who were involved in construction would probably return to eastern Europe. As the economy had been going well, we expected to be able to divert funding to capital projects like roads, ports, the second terminal at Dublin Airport and the metro. That was the plan. We all know that Lehman Brothers collapsed, followed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, AIG,...

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: We stabilised the banking situation in this country. The second job we had to do was to stabilise our finances. There are a number of ways of stabilising finances. We have gone as far as we can go on taxation. We could not tax these people as if they were cows to be milked, or draft animals to be forced to work harder. In fact, they were working as hard as they could. Business was doing...

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: One cannot reduce current budget spending by selling the family silver to pay for current budget spending.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: One must reduce one's current budget spending. That is what we are doing now. Along with that, we are talking about a Government that is involved in enterprise and is ensuring the economy will go at an even keel. It has been suggested we are uncaring. The reality is that this Government does not lack compassion - it lacks money. We looked at all the different sectors, including those who...

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Last year, there was a 7% decrease in the cost of doing business in Ireland. That reflected the international situation. Notwithstanding all of that, having nearly seen a collapse in the world economies in April 2008, as I mentioned, we have reached a point at which people can say they have seen the bottom. We know where we are going. We feel the Government is doing what is necessary,...

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to outline the changes proposed to the running of the House in the new year in the light of the new responsibilities of the Seanad under the Lisbon treaty which has been accepted in all its parts and enjoys the full protection of our law and the Constitution. With that in mind, will the Leader also indicate that it is impossible for a unicameral parliament to undertake the...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (17 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: It was Mr. Micawber in Hard Times who said, "Annual income, twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen and six, result happiness; annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds and sixpence, result misery" and the position has not changed since Victorian times. We must live within our income. There is no doubt about it, but the result of overpaying ourselves during a period of...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I take the opportunity, a Chathaoirligh, to wish you and your office a happy Christmas, as well as the secretariat, the staff of Leinster House and my colleagues. This is a time of hope and it regenerates us at a difficult time of the year when winter sets in and we think of things higher and greater than the cold and the dark nights. All this reminds us that there is a symbolism to...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (18 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: If it is in order, the Opposition has proposed that the Order of Business be amended to allow the House to complete section 2 before the sos. I am willing to accommodate the proposal.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: It is clear that quite specific wording was used in this section to include everything rather than what is suggested. This includes salary and additional payments. Remuneration is the widest possible word to include all payments. This is absolutely correct. Gratuitously offensive remarks by the Opposition do not help. I refer to the words used by Members opposite, who referred to huge...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: We have heard figures bandied about. I refer particularly to the figure used by the Shell to Sea campaign, which is Sinn Féin, that €540 billion of gas exists in the Corrib field. The figure for the number of fish taken from Irish stock waters was cited as 50 billion, 60 million or 70 billion. One can take any figure one likes, add ten and multiply by 100. To suggest we can get €1.3...