Results 941-960 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: We need to reform banking, to increase the capital of the banks, to move to equity and to separate utility banking from casinos. This is happening in the United States of America and the United Kingdom and I request the Leader to ask the Tánaiste to supply, through our diplomats in those countries, information on what is going on in terms of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: We must supervise the banking sector properly. I urge the Leader to apply pressure in this regard. We want the Bill, the Minister of State wants the Bill, so let us enact legislation quickly.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: I want to mention the article in The Sunday Business Post which claimed the Department of Health opted for a dearer insurance levy. It states that the Department of Health increased the amount decided by the Health Insurance Authority as an appropriate compensation for the treatment of old people by 53% over what the referee had recommended, resulting in an increase from €190 to...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP (30 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: Go raibh maith agat.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP (30 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: Cuirim fáilte mór roimh Seán, sár iar-uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael. Bhí brú mór ann don phróiseas síochána nuair a thoghadh Seán mar uachtarán ar Chumann Lúthchleas Gael. Bhí sé an-fhoighneach agus cneasta in aghaidh gach a bhí ina choinne an t-am sin. Níl aon dabht againn anois ach go raibh...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister. With regard to the table on page 22, the increase in taxation over the period was from €36.6 billion to €44.9 billion, which is €8.3 billion. The reduction in current expenditure is hardly anything - I believe it is about 4%. I know the media presents Deputy Noonan as a cutting Minister for Finance but in fact he is a tax increasing Minister for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: With regard to the €300 million that is causing trouble for the Minister, Deputy Howlin, it is 0.6% of €51.5 billion of net current expenditure. Could the Minister for Finance issue an edict to all managers of public expenditure to cut 0.6% rather than have to fall out with all his trade union friends, the social partners, gardaí, teachers and so on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Stability Programme Update: Discussion with Minister for Finance (30 Apr 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister. The clock has run out on us.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the statement by President Higgins in the Financial Times today that there should be a rethink of the way European Union leaders are handling the economic crisis. He says there is a need for pluralism of approaches and, in particular, a separation of banking and sovereign debt. That is the purpose of our Bill, No. 34 on the Order Paper. I met the Minister of State, Deputy Brian...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Marian Harkin, MEP (2 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: It is very nice to echo Senator Kelly's statement. All accolades are delivered in Ms Harkin's direction. She has so much energy she could light up a good part of the national grid; we would not need any wind turbines then. I thank Ms Harkin for that. We have a problem with European legislation, and legislation in general. As Senator MacSharry said, we have a system which is very...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I echo what Senators Moran and Hayden said. Are there pressures on girls in school not to display academic ability? Is it unfashionable or otherwise? If so, that would be a serious loss of ability and talent. Last week, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, published a report on easing the transition from second level to third level, which might form the basis on which we...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (8 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Coimisinéir. I thank her for her words of wisdom and for drawing attention to the fact the University Senators should be especially interested and grateful for the work she has done under the seventh framework. Some are in the Gallery, including Professor Cliona O'Farrelly from the Trinity College biochemistry department. She is interested in immunology...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance (8 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister. Regarding the financial transactions tax, the former head of the NTMA, Michael Somers, is worried about the fact three or four banks in the IFSC have handed back their licences. Is that connected to the tax? We say we are against it, yet we are presiding over the committee which is thinking of introducing it. What feedback does the Minister have from the banks who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance (8 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: What about the transaction tax?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance (8 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance (8 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I refer to the Minister's comment about the deeper integration of the economic and monetary union. Given what happened the last time, is this a group of people one would trust with running the economy for the next while? I read in The Irish Times yesterday that some German people are doubting whether it is a worthwhile proposition. It certainly has resulted in 25 million people being...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Both Senators MacSharry and Bacik have raised important points on the early child care issue and how to finance that important stage in the development of a family. The Mangan report supported universalism even when there was a case of somebody earning €250,000 per year cited as one of the examples. It did not recommend taxing the payment either. It stated that the two-tier system...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for his thoughts on the amendments. I was concerned at a possible breach of the European Convention on Human Rights and privacy but I am delighted to hear the Minister of State is thinking along those lines. I hope it augurs well for the rest of the afternoon. I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 28: In page 19, to delete lines 40 to 45.My concern is that the section may be unconstitutional. We have created a property right and the Constitution forbids us to place restraints on the transfer of that property. My view is that the licence should have no value. It was worth a lot more, at over €100,000, at one stage when the licences were scarce. They...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Article 43.1.2° of the Constitution states: The State accordingly guarantees to pass no law attempting to abolish the right of private ownership or the general right to transfer, bequeath, and inherit property.I accept that the Minister of State has been given advice but I, too, have received advice. I wish to alert the House to the danger.