Results 1,601-1,620 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Passenger Name Records: Motion (23 May 2012)

Tom Shehan: The Minister to continue, without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: Like my colleagues, I would like to welcome the doctors from Bahrain and Ms Sheila Dixon, the head of the INMO, to the House. Members have spoken about illegal moneylenders but I want to speak about the legal ones, namely, to the two main pillar banks, Bank of Ireland and AIB, which are struggling to meet lending targets of €3.5 billion in new loans to small and medium-sized businesses....

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: Small business costs have rocketed in the past year. After having raised the issue of banks lending to small businesses yesterday, I was inundated with calls from small business interests who are all saying the same thing, namely, that the cost of business for the small and medium-sized enterprise has gone through the roof. It is no surprise that a survey by ISME states turnover was down...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: The Senator should speak through the Chair.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: The most frequently used word in the debate on the Bill is intimidation. The doublespeak of my colleague from County Waterford was referred to earlier. He seeks further resources for the Garda Síochána. Adequate resources are provided to the Garda Síochána if we did not have gangs and organised crime. Senator Hayden referred to the puppeteers behind these organised gangs. Who is...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: It is not hearsay.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: I stand over it and I will put my name to it.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: I will put my name to it and stand over it.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: This is the kind of doublespeak that is going on.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: I refer to one comment in the Minister's speech, the fact that there is "unfortunately, plenty of evidence of the willingness of these gangs to engage in murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, drug smuggling, counterfeiting and other serious offences".

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: I believe-----

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: -----these serious offences apply to the CVs of several organisations still operating in this country.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: No, I do not wish to withdraw my comment. Senator Cullinane asked me to name the person in question but I believe it would be inappropriate for me to name the person.

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister of State and extend best wishes to him in his efforts. As he outlined, the delicate position in the eurozone and a lack of growth are creating an obstacle for Ireland as an exporting nation. While Irish exports are doing well, the eurozone crisis needs to be addressed in order that we can explore the potential to open up new markets. The Minister provided figures on...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: I appreciate, however, that we must stay in the game. After all, where would we be without EFSF funding and the European Union? The Government's preferred option is to re-enter the bond markets in the second half of 2013. While no one is willing to say this, the alternative to re-entering the bond markets is to seek a second bailout. If funding is available to Ireland at an interest rate...

Seanad: European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: I acknowledge the comments of my colleague. I have always been one for a direct hit to do the job. For example, if there was a blocked pipe in my home, I would not get the garden hose but rather a power hose. I have found piecemeal solutions irritating but I now recognise why they came about. It was impossible to deal with this issue in one fell swoop. It could not be done in such...

Seanad: School Transport (3 Jul 2012)

Tom Shehan: This is a sensitive case and I have called on the Minister to cover the costs of the €350 bill for school transport in this extreme circumstance. It concerns a 12-year old girl in my constituency who is about to start secondary school. Over a number of years she was sexually abused and a court case is ongoing. As a result of the case the girl's mother decided to change her school to...

Seanad: School Transport (3 Jul 2012)

Tom Shehan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I will engage with him on behalf of the young girl and her family. As I said, it is an exceptional circumstance and we must do everything that we can to help. I accept that the transport scheme must be administered equitably on a national scale. This is an exceptional case and I ask for the Government's sensitivity in dealing with the matter....

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2012)

Tom Shehan: I wish all our US colleagues and cousins a happy 4 July. I also wish to raise an issue mentioned by others with regard to sick leave in Departments. Last year, 185,000 sick days were taken at a cost of €27 million. The biggest culprit was the Department of Social Protection with 71,000 days. If we are to get the country back on track we must consider the excess in certain areas, such...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2012)

Tom Shehan: I want to raise an issue concerning representations I received in my office from a lady regarding her social welfare payments. She qualifies for and is receiving lone parent's allowance and she has two children but is only receiving payment for one of those children. She applied for the second child's payment on 7 October 2010 but her deciding officer did not examine the case for over a...