Results 1,221-1,240 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (11 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 16: In page 56, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: "(2) It shall be an obligation of a participating institution to increase lending to SMEs and first time buyers to such an extent as is specified in agreements made by the participating institutions with the Minister whether before or after the passing of the Act and in the absence of such agreement, to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Alex White: As we had a fair level of debate on the banks last week, I will not dwell on the point. The central objective of the NAMA project is to get credit flowing in the economy. I cannot understand the contradiction at the heart of the argument in favour of NAMA made by some colleagues in the House. They freely state they do not believe credit will flow again, yet they still support the NAMA...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Was it about bankers?

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I am happy to support the calls that have been made for a debate on the economy in advance of the Budget Statement. Yesterday the Leader indicated his intention to schedule a debate for 1 December but perhaps we should also hold discussions next week. My colleague, Senator Hanafin, was unhappy with my comment that I did not know whether to laugh or cry at his suggestion to trade ideas about...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I did the opposite.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Yes.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I join others in welcoming this provision. It is unfortunate that people get caught at different stages when legislation is introduced but a wider public interest is involved, which Senator Coffey outlined eloquently. I support the amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 15: In page 9, lines 40 to 48 and in page 10, lines 1 to 4, to delete paragraph (a). I note the Minister made the not unreasonable point on Second Stage that section 6 proposes to deal with the question of the scope of the submissions and observations on a development plan. He sought for the scope to be more strategic in nature at this early stage of the preparation of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Will those issue papers be published? The Planning and Development Act 2000 refers to the notice given to the Minister, to other authorities, to adjoining planning authorities, to the board and other people and stipulates that it shall be published in one or more newspapers circulated in the area. Should these issue papers be given wider circulation than simply making them available or...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I understand what the Ministers of State is saying but I think it is excessive. I will not press this amendment and will examine it in the context of Report Stage.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 18: In page 12, line 11, after "paragraph (a)" to insert the following: "(other than a resolution accepting an amendment which has been approved by the Manager)". This amendment is concerned with a possible defect in the Bill's treatment of amendments to the development plan, which it proposes will require a two thirds majority. Sometimes amendments are proposed by the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: In those circumstances, I withdraw the amendment. I appreciate what the Minister of State and Senator Glynn have said.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I agree with my colleagues. I am concerned about the possibility of a minority rump in a council determining the outcomes of these very important issues. The rationale for having a two thirds majority as opposed to a simple majority is worth further debate in the House because it is one of the more important proposals in the Bill. I am not stating that I could be persuaded by the Minister...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2009)

Alex White: Senator Glynn might on second thoughts reconsider his proposed course of action. We will have more time to deal with the amendment when we resume our deliberations.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Alex White: It is not being pressed on the basis of a discussion I have had with the Leader that there will be statements on the flooding between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the Labour Party leading off, spokespersons having ten minutes and all other Members having eight minutes-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Alex White: We have agreed, but I always wanted to say: all other Members will have eight minutes, that they may share time with the agreement of the House-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Alex White: -----and that the Minister will be called upon to reply 15 minutes before the end of the debate. The amendment is not being pressed.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Alex White: The Minister of State's comments are very useful and I will therefore be withdrawing my two amendments to allow him to come back to the House on this matter. It may be, however, that this is not purely a technical issue, as the Minister of State stated. In fact, there is an issue of principle as regards the voting requirement at that particular stage of a development plan. Given the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Alex White: I understand that.