Results 1,341-1,360 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: Yes, it is like a yo-yo. I hope the Government's strategy works. I welcome the comprehensive review of expenditure and am of the view that this must be maintained. I also welcome the cap on health insurance contributions. When the Minister of State brought the Finance Act before the House, we raised with him the fact that the Milliman report shows that people in Ireland spend up to 11.6...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: While it may seem harsh, there is a case to be made that people should not start their working lives on the dole. It would be a welcome development if the money saved from reducing the relevant rate could be spent on education or training. That would be better than just paying people to turn up on a Tuesday or whenever to sign on. I accept that it might sound harsh but perhaps the worst...

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: Both.

Seanad: Budget 2014: Statements (15 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: Five of the Gaeltacht constituencies - Donegal, Meath, Waterford, Galway West and Cork - voted to retain this House in the recent referendum, while the remaining two - Mayo and Kerry - did not. Our debate on democracy and participation began when the democratic elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta were cancelled against the advice of many people in this House. The Leader indicated...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for originally introducing the Bill in this House. We engaged in a number of very good debates on the relevant issues on previous occasions. I welcome to the Gallery the next generation of transport economists. Perhaps the Minister of State and I might have a word with them after this debate.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State. I will not be opposing the amendments in this group. However, where they are not issued in sufficient quantities, licences acquire a value. As the Minister of State is aware, licences are worth $1 million in New York and $400,000 in Boston. I understand that the former President and Prime Minister of France, Mr. Jacques Chirac, tried and failed to deregulate...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State's comments. On the previous occasion on which the House debated this matter, we were concerned with ensuring that the rights of part-time workers would be protected. In respect of both the Goodbody and the Gorecki reports, part-timer drivers fulfil a very important role in an industry that is heavily peaked at weekends. We were more pro-part-timers than the...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: The purpose of my amendment, Seanad Report Stage amendment No. 4, is to ensure that the authority ensures that passengers do not face a shortage of licensed public service vehicles thus reducing the potential market for unlicensed operators. It goes back to the earlier point that regulatory capture does take place. We put up bans on new entrants because the incumbents are always more...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: Is SI 250/200 now dead? The Minister of State said the authority does not impose any quantitative limits. Is the statutory instrument now finished? If the authority will take all qualified applicants, I am very pleased but this is the statutory instrument that stops it from doing so now.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: If the Minster of State insists that they must have wheelchair accessible vehicles, that involves a capital cost that is 71% more than that for the incumbents and running costs that are about 23% more than those for incumbents so it is a barrier to entry, which I am trying to prevent. I regret that we have not made progress on the removal of barriers to entry. Paul Gorecki correctly pointed...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State's remarks on those services. My amendment No. 25 would relax restrictions on the Minister regarding the period of time and the area within which the vehicle may be operated in providing the service. I would leave it to local community groups. I made my two suggestions to the Minister of State. I wish the scheme well. If flexibility is necessary, I will...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: There are serious concerns among economists about this section. There should have been separate legislation for buses. The fact that they appear on page 60 of the Taxi Regulation Bill demeans what we are doing. This is a major issue as far as economists are concerned. The end of page 69 and page 70 refer to the exclusive rights of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, respectively. This...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: As stated by Compecon: "This raises the question of why the NTA has allowed a situation to develop where competitively tendered contracts cannot be introduced upon expiry of the existing direct award contracts." In this regard the NTA quotes a lack of staff and so on. I believe this provision is regressive. I support the Minister of State's proposals in regard to the rural transport...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: No.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, line 10, after “2008” to insert the following:“to confer exclusive rights on Dublin Bus, and Bus Éireann and to allow the National Transport Authority to enter into direct award contracts without competitive tendering for the provision of public transport services with Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail ”.I propose...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: No. We have had long discussions on the Bill and the importance of buses. The House has been most considerate. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach as well. We will not push the amendments. They have been discussed and the Minister of State has taken the points on board. I intend to withdraw all the amendments. We have made our points about the industry and the need for a competitive bus...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: That is correct.

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I agree with the comments of Senators Harte, Clune and Reilly and wish the Minister of State well. He is always a welcome visitor to this Chamber and in itself, the circulation of the service level agreement was a nice innovation. We are always looking for enterprise and the 3,000 jobs per month that have been generated over the past 12 months are most welcome and this represents a good...

Seanad: Statistics (Heritage Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. I compliment Senator Ó Murchú on introducing the Bill. Every hurling match I ever saw between Tipperary and Wexford always ended with people shaking hands as the best of friends. The matches were hard enough fought but I hope this will be an occasion when the unity of the two great counties will be manifest. We are faced with the 130-year rule...