Results 1,001-1,020 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: The turnout in Dún Laoghaire was 74%.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: From Sallynoggin to Killiney and from Monkstown Farm to Shankill-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: There was a strong "Yes" vote in all those areas, which is to be welcomed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I appreciate that normal hostilities had been suspended while Members were pursuing the referendum campaign. However, an issue that came up at the doors while one was canvassing was that of the expenses and expenditure of none other than the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy O'Donoghue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: Another issue was that of the additional €1 million in compensation for Mr. Rody Molloy. These issues-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: -----are tearing at the heart of politics. It is important to record that Members do not stand over such expenditure and that someone must be held to account. I do not know whether Members on the Government side of the House are happy with this abuse of office because that is what it is. While there will be further debate on the issue this week, I consider this expenditure to be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Senator should try another one.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: They would be afraid to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Senator can explain it at the next general election.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I wish to refer briefly to the issue of expenses which has been raised by many Senators. The Ceann Comhairle has resigned because of an inappropriate level of expenditure at taxpayers' expense. I do not wish to go over that ground but in his defence, particularly regarding his ministerial portfolio, he stated in a press release that the provision of the services he enjoyed were arranged in...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: As I listened to some Senators on the Opposition benches, and indeed on the Independent benches, defending the indefensible on expenses and allowances, it is as if we see it-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: We are talking here as if the barbarians are at the gate on this issue. The reality is that we have problems in these Houses with allowances and expenses. We must also acknowledge that the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, in February of this year, put forward a proposal on the reform of allowances. Senators on the Fianna Fáil benches have explained what happens at parliamentary party...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: It is sub judice.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: Senator Feargal Quinn referred to the national debt and how the Government bonds, which will be issued to finance NAMA, will be categorised. It is potentially an issue of false accounting and it brings the national debt back to the bad old days of Charlie Haughey in the early 1980s when the debt was more than 120% of gross national product. That is a sad reflection on this Government given...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: ——in particular to ensure the legislation is passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas and wins the support of the Green Party and the Independents. On the basis of the figure of €5.5 billion, the different assumptions made in terms of interest rates, recovery of property values and the development of the economy, the risks inherent in these calculations are self-evident at this point...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: It is with regret I speak about the proposal of my party leader to abolish the Seanad. However, it has come to this, not least because of the actions of the present Leader of the Seanad, Senator Donie Cassidy. The reality is that for two years, since I have been in the Seanad, the Leader has been very quick to remonstrate with all newcomers to the House-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: -----who are innocent about the ways in which business is conducted. In the way the Leader conducts it, the agenda is constructed to deal with limited business. It is the case in the way debates are conducted, the way Ministers fail to come into the House to answer Adjournment debates and the way Ministers are dismissive of amendments or legislative initiatives in this House. It is totally...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: -----for so many years.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I take that point and accept it if it is the version of the Independent Senators. However, the fact that a constitutional referendum which provided for an extension of the franchise for the election of the university panels has not been implemented again shows-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: In addition, although Senator Ivana Bacik has criticised the leader of Fine Gael for coming out with this proposal, her own leader, Senator Alex White, stated on "The Late Late Show" he considered the Seanad served no useful purpose. Perhaps Senator Bacik is not fully in tune with her own leader in the Seanad.