Results 1,521-1,540 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: We need a half-day or a full-day debate on mental health services. In February 2011 there was a national recruitment campaign for mental health CNM2-grade positions. Interviews were carried out for a week with approximately 400 to 500 people placed on 11 panels for the delivery of mental health services. My information is that nobody from outside the Dublin area has been recruited from...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: We need an open debate on the delivery of mental health services throughout the country. In my area the delivery of mental health services is falling apart.

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: I will start by quoting from a speech that the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, gave himself, as follows: We can get the number of public servants out of the system to get a small public sector. We are doing that with the co-operation of the unions, but the second aspect is whether or not we get the buy-in on reforms on things like rostering and a change in work practices. What I am...

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: I am sceptical about the Croke Park agreement. Senator Byrne asked for alternatives and said that people of my opinion were creating a crisis mode. I have a serious problem with the scenario of jobs for life. I have seen people in the public sector who are not up to the job. They may suffer from burn-out or just not be capable of carrying out a job out of work, yet it is impossible to get...

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Some ground has been made up. The Minister of State asked for an alternative idea and I referred to a 5% pay cut on salaries over €65,000. Through better procurement, the Minister of State has had made savings but there is more fat and room for more savings. I suggest that officials from the Department of Finance could go into the credit unions as special managers and carry out the work...

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: In an interview in the Irish Independent in December, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform was "critical of a culture of inertia and lack of ambition among some higher grade public sector workers that was hampering the determination of younger lower grade civil servants to change the public sector ethos." In the same article, he also identified a degree of inertia at middle...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: I compliment Senators Mooney and Barrett on their positive attitude and approach to this agreement. I never realised there were so many economists and economic academics in the country. The majority seem to survive on one-upmanship in the context of who will be first out with the bad news. If they continue to dish out enough bad news, eventually they will get something right.

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: That is my point. I do not know who is paying for all the economic academics. I was asked earlier to put this agreement in a nutshell. I replied that the country would be in a bad way without it. Under the proposed changes, it is positive that the management of the IMF will be directly elected. Second, Ireland will benefit by way of an interest rate reduction. Some have given figures of...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Terms and conditions apply.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Giving away our sovereignty was the retrograde step.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Under the new personal insolvency Bill, insolvency trustees are to be appointed. I have checked with all third level colleges and have not come across any course one could take which would qualify one as an insolvency trustee. I ask that the Leader seek clarification from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, on what qualifications will be required in this regard and if...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: I can only imagine how positive will be Senator Cullinane's reaction to what he termed a "progressive" property tax.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Yes. Approximately two weeks ago, I raised the issue of the payment system relating to the household charge. I have been contacted by many people seeking to discover where and how they can pay this charge. Advertisements relating to the charge have not appeared on local radio stations or in local newspapers. People have written cheques but they do not know where to send them. Will the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, has brought forward proposals on sick pay arrangements. While the Government does not create jobs, it is there to create the environment for job creation. It is employers who create jobs. I believe the Minister's policy on sick pay is flying in the face of employers not only trying to maintain jobs, but also creating new jobs. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: It would be wonderful if we could keep Senator Leyden silent even for 30 seconds.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: We always had it.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: What about water harvesting?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Who commissioned the McCarthy report?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: Who commissioned the McCarthy report which directed there should be privatisation?