Results 1,021-1,040 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I support the amendment, which is appropriate. It is consistent with what we have been arguing, namely, that in the case of a debtor who faces serious consequences, up to and including imprisonment, the creditor who is seeking payment, as it were, and is pursuing the debtor ought to be put through the hoops and ought to ensure that every possible opportunity is given to the debtor. The...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: The arguments of Senators Regan and Mullen are well made, particularly in this regard. Senator Regan touched on it as he finished. I am very taken with what Senator Mullen said and I agree with him wholeheartedly when he criticised the Minister for essentially adopting the position of, "Trust me". The Minister tells us he has taken all the advice, spoken with the Garda and been assured the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: Apparently it all happens there rather than in Parliament.

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I support amendment No. 1. I am interested in the Minister's response, especially in respect of the points made regarding the implications of the Laffoy judgment. I agree with Senator Bacik that it seems to be a mandatory requirement to satisfy the proportionality test invoked in that case and upon which the judgment was partly based. I had hoped to have an opportunity to look again at the...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I also warmly welcome the Minister's amendment. It is a positive addition to the Bill. It is important that we on this side of the House acknowledge when the Government is prepared to deal with issues and objections and draft amendments we bring forward, and we should welcome it. Senator Norris mentioned the late night aspect of this Bill. I am sure the Minister is extremely busy and is...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I started by acknowledging that. The Minister must not have been listening to that part. I accept the Minister and his officials are equally applying themselves and taking careful note of what is said. It very much vindicates the position taken on this side of the House about the manner in which the legislation was proposed to be marshalled through the House. We had a completely...

Seanad: Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, line 39, after "order" to insert the following: ", being the amount specified in that behalf in the order under subsection (7)(c) or (d)". There would appear to be a lack of absolute clarity as to the amount of money a debtor would be required to pay in order to be released from prison, if that is on the agenda for the debtor. I draw the Minister's...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I have an admission to make. I am at something of a disadvantage every week at this time when Private Members' business is taken because I am a member of a committee that only seems to sit at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. I do not wish to share the burden of my problems with colleagues but it is relevant in the sense that not once but possibly three times Senator Boyle referred to the question of...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I wish to respond to what Senator O'Malley said in this debate. She made a useful and forthright contribution in terms of content and of the procedure of this House and the manner in which we do our business, in particular during Private Members' time. The Labour Party motion is a motion of substance and I thank Members for their contributions in that regard. However, it is hard to...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: On a point of order, colleagues on the other side of the House can be certain that if the amendment is withdrawn, the motion will thereafter be withdrawn.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Alex White: The motion is withdrawn.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I support what Senator O'Toole said about the Irish Human Rights Commission. He is right to point to the experience of the equality organisations, especially the Equality Authority and the punishment that was meted out to it for its activity, many of the positions it took up and its support for many cases which were taken against public bodies. The criticism against the Government that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Alex White: He is on the dark side.

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Alex White: It is true that the reports from the IMF and the OECD are neither a ringing endorsement of the Government's stewardship nor handy crib sheets for the Opposition to attack the Government. Senator Boyle may be right about that but the problem is that when the reports were published, particularly the IMF report, they were accompanied by the sort of press releases the Government issues at such...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2009)

Alex White: Leaving aside the question of the merits of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill, I want to ask the Leader two questions. First, what would be the effect of any changes this Chamber might propose and have adopted in that Bill? Am I not right in saying they would have no effect whatsoever because the Dáil is in recess? There is not the slightest intention on the part of the Government to...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2009)

Alex White: How am I wrong in the assumption that I and others make that irrespective of what happens in this Chamber today, this matter will not be returning to the Dáil? The Dáil being in recess clearly points to that fact. Second, it is a strange experience being on one's feet here day in, day out asking the Leader questions because he hardly ever answers them but I will ask them again anyway...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (14 Jul 2009)

Alex White: Before I deal with the substance of the issue before us, I wish to deal briefly with two matters. On the confusion, to which the Minister referred, there may well be confusion in some quarters in terms of the debate about the Garda evidence and as to the issue that this is covered in the Act, but I do not believe there is any confusion in that respect in this House. As we do not have a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (14 Jul 2009)

Alex White: What about us?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (14 Jul 2009)

Alex White: I accept that.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (14 Jul 2009)

Alex White: The Minister has not provided that evidence to us.