Results 761-780 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: FÁS: Statements (2 Dec 2008)

Alex White: Thank you, Acting Chairman. In the course of those cases I never came across anybody senior in the organisation or in corporate affairs. I am not familiar or have any knowledge in respect of any of those corporate matters that have been exercising us, and certainly Senator Shane Ross, in recent weeks.

Seanad: FÁS: Statements (2 Dec 2008)

Alex White: Yes. I will refer to the expenses controversy later. I am in considerable agreement with Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú on the general role of FÁS. Aside from that, I do not agree with him that the decision on the banks has proved to be successful but that is for another day's debate. The jury is very much out on this question and it has not been resolved as is evident with the grinding to a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: I agree with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: Will the Leader tell the House the Government's position on the pay freeze contained in the recently agreed wage agreement? The trade union leaders appeared to glean from what the Taoiseach said in the Dáil yesterday that the matter should be re-opened. When the Taoiseach returned from Berlin last night he articulated that he did not propose to re-open the matter. Senator Boyle,...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: He has said that prospective inflation has collapsed as have the Government finances and the lending capacity of the banks. The deal looks well removed from reality just three months after it was agreed. If the Government is taking the advice of this man and this committee, I ask the Leader to alert the Minister to the fact that we want clarity on this issue and an assurance that the views...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: Why not?

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: The Minister of State does not propose to accept amendment No. 7 but I understood him to say that he would consider it further and have regard to some of the recent judgments of the Supreme Court, particularly the D case to which Senator Hannigan referred. It is important that the Minister of State considers this between now and Report Stage. Perhaps he has indicated that he will do so. It...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: On more than one occasion the Minister said that the practice of the Revenue was not to include human rights——

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: ——which I accept is true historically, but the Revenue is not the Oireachtas. The Revenue Commissioners do not make the laws, we make the laws. The fact that the Revenue has done this is a matter of interest but it cannot be decisive.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: The Senator is missing the point completely.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: The Minister of State has still not given a reason this activity is not included. If the legislation was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and signed by the President, and Senators Buttimer, Norris, Bacik or myself tabled a similar amendment in six months, would he support that and, if not, why not? Nothing he said suggests he would not do so. He has not given us a reason of...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: I have doubts about this basis for legislation. If we accept the Minister of State's proposition that an existing practice is being secured and codified but we want to make a reasonable proposal to add to it, as legislators, we are entitled to know why the Government will not accept it. If there is an explanation why it cannot be or is not proper for it to be included, all these matters can...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: Perhaps with an explanation, not necessarily something different.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Committee Stage (4 Dec 2008)

Alex White: No. The Minister of State has given a certain commitment on that.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Alex White: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, to the House. In doing so, I recognise it is a pity the Minister for Finance has other commitments, which we all understand. I presume he had a commitment at 11.30 a.m., which may be the real reason we started this debate at 10.30 a.m. rather than 11.30 a.m. Perhaps if we had been told this earlier in the week by the Leader, everybody would...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Alex White: An element of honesty might be forthcoming from the Leader in future in regard to the arrangements in this House as well as a little more courtesy to the Opposition leaders and all leaders in the House. In this important debate, it is a pity the Minister for Finance, while I do not criticise him personally, has not had the opportunity to hear the contributions of all of the party leaders in...

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Alex White: What of PPARS and the voting machines?

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Alex White: The Fianna Fáil election manifesto of 1977 was the problem. The Minister of State is rewriting history.

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

Alex White: Senator Boyle wants the pay freeze extended. Is he not a supporter of the Government?