Results 1,181-1,200 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Senator Hanafin keeps making that call and I do not know whether to laugh or cry when I hear it. I am sure the Government will at some stage come forward with its proposals because, of course, it is running the country. Let us see what it has to propose and we will then have to make a response. Let the Senator be assured that we will do so. In respect of the NAMA legislation, to which we...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: In so far as it was suggested by Senator O'Toole that support for the NAMA project was consistent with social democracy-----

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: If the Senator was listening to me, I said: "In so far as it was suggested".

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Following up on the position taken by Senator Fitzgerald and the Fine Gael Party, it was described as Christian democracy, but they then said one should turn to social democracy. Social democracy is a vision of society to which I very much adhere but the NAMA project is not part of it.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: The Senator makes it very clear.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: The last point might be the most telling. It suggests the provision is there to send a reassuring signal to the European Commission. Senator O'Toole is correct. It reads as something that should go without saying. How could it be otherwise? Senator O'Toole is not saying it should be removed so the Minister could approve a restructuring plan that did not comply with the law, and the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: The very last thing of which I would accuse Senator O'Toole would be copping out of this discussion because he has been closely involved in it throughout. The consequence of what he is saying, however, risks a cop-out from the issue we are trying to address. I do not believe the argument he has made wins through in the end for the following reasons. This discussion is raging all over the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Do we all have to make our confessions this morning?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: It should be done on the Order of Business as well.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Zero, I would say.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: My party has called for such legislation on a number of occasions. I am in complete agreement with Senator O'Toole. Perhaps it is good that this matter was raised, precisely for the purpose of having it knocked on the head so sharply in this context. There is an interesting cultural exchange across the floor between the Opposition and Senator Leyden. He is making it very clear that he...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: That is correct.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: No, it does not.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: As a matter of policy, everything we do is in the public interest.

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I made the point last night that I welcomed this-----

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I indicated last night when the Labour Party whistleblower amendment was moved that I was prepared to withdraw it on the basis that the Government's amendment was progressive. I welcome it. The Minister has acknowledged that the amendment is a response to concerns raised by my party and others in the Lower House in respect of this issue. Therefore, I welcome the amendment he has tabled in...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: On a point of order, has amendment No. 67 been disposed of?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Was the amendment agreed?

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I appreciate that.