Results 1,021-1,040 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: All these issues-----

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: All these issues, observations and stances have fed into the current debate regarding the role of the Seanad. I believe the Seanad can play a useful role but in the way the business has been conducted and the way the Government has acted in respect of it we have come to a situation where serious consideration must be given to the proposal by the leader of Fine Gael.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I refer to a number of Acts that were passed in this House in July. They were rushed through by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. One was the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which dealt with firearms, the European arrest warrant and the Schengen information system. Another was the Defamation Act, containing the infamous blasphemy provisions. As Bills...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: Senator Norris suggests that people in this House should resign if our party leader is suggesting a referendum should be held on the abolition of the Senate.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I believe Senator Norris did. The Senate has a constitutional role and we have a constitutional responsibility and obligation to fulfil until the Constitution has been changed in a referendum. The suggestion is quite silly.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: If I misspoke, I apologise.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I refer the House to the CSO crime figures for the last quarter, which show the crimes of burglary, murder and robbery all increased. In particular, burglaries and aggravated burglaries increased by between 26% and 50%. This happens at a time when the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has rejected Fine Gael's home defence Bill. The figures show the abject...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: The Government should accept its responsibilities.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: That was a long sentence.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I welcome the fact that John Bruton - if I may mention the name of the former Taoiseach - is now one of the candidates for the position of President of the European Council.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: That is the new position created by the Lisbon treaty. I note his role in transforming the economy during the Fine Gael-Labour Government, from 1994 to 1997, when growth rates increased on average by 8.7%. It was the real Celtic tiger period. In addition, he was President of the European Council in 1996 and was also involved in the convention on the future of Europe.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I request the Leader and the Government not to play party politics with this matter, as Senator Leyden is doing now.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: We must pick the best people for these positions, and John Bruton is a star candidate.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I hope that in due course the Government will see fit to support his nomination.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: Yesterday in the other House, the Minister for Finance stated that the protracted debate on the NAMA legislation could delay the transfer of loans to the agency. The timing of the debate, both in the Dáil and the Seanad, on the NAMA Bill is in the hands of the Government, particularly the Minister for Finance. In that statement, he is denigrating public debate in the Oireachtas and, by...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Eugene Regan: I will preface my remarks by drawing attention to what the Minister for Fiance said yesterday in the Lower House and what the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, is saying today about delay. I find it extraordinary that they are talking as if it is the fault of the Houses of the Oireachtas that there is a delay in introducing the NAMA legislation. The Minister for Finance chose to publish a...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: I will refer to a market commentary in the Financial Times today on the fall in the value of Irish bank shares which has continued today. It refers specifically to delays in the passage of the NAMA legislation and the President signing the Bill. It also refers to the Supreme Court possibly having to pronounce on the Bill. From where did it get these issues? They were raised by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: If there are discussions about the delay, this point must be borne in mind. When the legislation comes before the House, we will deal with it expeditiously. With regard to the issue of NAMA and bank shares, is the Minister telling us everything or is he holding back? The passing of the legislation is an issue, but there is also the issue of EU approval. I ask the Leader for clarification...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: It was the Minister who drove down the share price.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

Eugene Regan: I blame the Minister.