Results 1,441-1,460 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: It was the €1 billion that was not spent. Prudent management achieved these savings.

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Do not twist it. The Minister achieved €1 billion in savings. The Senator is wasting his time.

Seanad: Budget 2012: Statements (6 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I thought for a while I was on a yellow card. Yesterday I sought to bring the attention of the House to the beds allocation in Cork University Hospital. I asked the Leader to invite the Minister for Health to come to the House to debate that issue. When the centres of excellence were set up, the centre in CUH had a defined allocation of beds for patients from County Kerry. I do not...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: In the interest of brevity I will use some of Senator Cullinane's language, such as the terms "reasonable" and "appropriate." I put it to him that it is neither reasonable nor appropriate that his party leader drew over £1 million from a parliament in which he never sat in pay and expenses. He had staff which drew £1 million in pay and expenses for Deputy Adams.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Is it appropriate that he accepted £1 million for not going to work?

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I agree with much of what my colleague, Senator Jim Walsh, said in regard to pay structures. There are chief executive officers of semi-State companies, many of whom are merely running a cog in the wheel of the semi-State sector, in receipt of €500,000 or more per year. The Taoiseach - the person responsible for the running of the country - is paid only half or even one third of what some...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Has there ever been an analysis done of the effort and hours put in by politicians?

Seanad: Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Fianna Fáil handed over the sovereignty of the country to strangers.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I call Senator Marie Moloney.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: We have the time available.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: No, Senator Bradford is offering.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I thank the Minister for her comprehensive address on this legislation. Two years ago, on a point of principle, I dropped my health insurance because of how it has been abused by health insurers and others. I did not do it lightly as I am married with four children but it was based on two experiences I had with health insurance providers. My wife required a minor procedure and was in and...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I have been monitoring the debate up to now and there is one point I wish to raise with the Minister. I refer to the reduction — from 60% to 15% — in the rebate for employers in respect of redundancy payments. There should be an exemption in this regard for sole traders and self-employed persons whose staff complements do not exceed 20. I appreciate what the goal was when this...

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I agree with what Senator Darragh O'Brien said regarding our colleague, Senator Barrett, bringing forward the Bill. We are lucky to have an academic economist of the stature of Senator Barrett in our midst. The Seanad is a better place for his presence. He is not one of these doomsday economic commentators.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Neither is he one of the fair day economists Before he became a Member of the Seanad, when I read his articles I always thought he was a balanced individual in his thoughts and commentary. I welcome a Bill of this nature coming before the House. It is unfortunate that we did not have such a measure prior to 2007.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: The then Taoiseach would not have been allowed to buy the 2007 election to get his three in a row. He would not have had to send the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Charlie McCreevy, to Europe to get him out of the way. Deputy McCreevy did his utmost to maintain fiscal stability.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: The Bill sets parameters which must be met and kept, by this and future Governments. That is why this is very important legislation. Senator Barrett must be commended on that. I liked the comments of Senator Feargal Quinn. I come from a business background and I am of the same view as Senator Quinn. We have to pay our way. I agree with his sentiments regarding paying our debts. I am not...

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: It was disrespectful, unwarranted and should be withdrawn.