Results 1,741-1,760 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: SI 325 of 2012 - European Union (Quality and Safety of Human Organs Intended for Transplantation) Regulations 2012: Motion (20 Aug 2013)

Tom Shehan: I was contacted during the week by a consultant from a major trauma hospital. What he hopes will come from this debate is that someone will name the hospitals that are not doing their job. He said that in the case of every trauma he deals with where there is a possibility of organ donation, he, personally, speaks to the family involved. The suggestion has been bandied about here that we...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Tom Shehan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister to the House. The Bill will establish a detailed and comprehensive legislative framework protecting whistleblowers in all sectors of the economy. This Bill represents a positive step in our programme for political reform. We have tackled corruption head-on in our term in office. The legislation will provide a robust statutory framework within which workers can now...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Tom Shehan: Senator David Norris observed that the budget announced today will involve an adjustment of €2.5 billion, constituting both taxation measures and expenditure savings. As unpalatable as those measures will be, I am glad the Minister has not succumbed to the austerity junkies - many of them members of my own party - who are unhappy with measures amounting to €2.5 billion and...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Howlin, to the Chamber to discuss this short but significant Bill. The primary purpose of the Bill is to amend and extend Part 3 of the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938. In short, the Bill provides for a 10% reduction in the rates of the allowance, with a saving of €840,000, and for changes to improve the effectiveness and transparency of...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: -----from the people.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: On section 2 the Minister stated: The section includes two new provisions. The first new provision provides that qualifying expenses arising out of parliamentary activities will only be regarded as qualifying expenditure where such expenditure is not otherwise reimbursed or provided for.I put it to the Minister that I am not a part-time Senator. I do not spend just three days a week working...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: We do have a constituency and I live in my constituency. I am contacted by people from throughout the country, but I live in my constituency. However, when people come seeking help, where is a Senator supposed to meet with those people? The day of politicians meeting people in pubs and carparks is gone. Let us be honest about this. No Member of this House is a Senator on a part-time...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: I support the points made by the Leader. I also endorse the provisions in the Bill regarding the furnishing of receipts and so on. Something that springs to mind as we discuss this issue is the phenomenon of certain multimillionaires in this country pointing out that they do not need children's allowance, while still going to the trouble of claiming it.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: They are saying they do not need it, but they are not giving it back. That is why I agree with a vouched system of receipts. If money is being claimed, there must be a paper trail to support it.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: The Minister should put his legal hat on.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: When will the Coroners Bill 2007 be brought before the House? It has been on the list for some time and needs to be dealt with shortly because the current process is outdated and archaic. It needs to be freshened up.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Tom Shehan: I have two issues to raise with the Deputy Leader. When can we expect the Coroners Bill in the House? I understood that the two pillar banks were instructed to, and indicated that they would, lend €3 billion each to the business community. Could we have the Minister for Finance in the House to debate that and determine what the two pillar banks loaned to small businesses last year...

Seanad: Standards in Public Office Commission Membership: Motions (22 Jan 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome and support the proposed appointments of Mr. Justice Daniel O'Keeffe and Mr. Jim O'Keeffe to the Standards in Public Office Commission. While I do not know Mr. Justice O'Keeffe, I can certainly vouch for my former colleague, Mr. Jim O'Keeffe, who also has a legal background. The Minister seeks to strike a balance on the commission by appointing a former Member of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Standards in Public Office Commission Membership: Motions (22 Jan 2014)

Tom Shehan: I move: That, pursuant to subsection (2)(b)(v)(inserted by section 2 of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 (No. 31 of 2001)), of section 21 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 (No. 22 of 1995), Seanad Éireann approves the proposed appointment by the Government of Mr. Jim O’Keeffe (being a former member of Dáil Éireann and not being a member of the European...

Seanad: Standards in Public Office Commission Membership: Motions (22 Jan 2014)

Tom Shehan: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2014: Motion (29 Jan 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and welcome the regulations to extend the provisions of the freedom of information legislation to Irish Water. The freedom of information legislation will bring transparency, accountability and, hopefully, responsibility to the actions of Irish Water, which is such an important entity. Making Irish Water subject to that legislation will ensure a greater...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2014)

Tom Shehan: I wish to raise two issues relating to the justice portfolio. When will the coroners Bill come before the House? Could we ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to discuss the possibility of making it compulsory for pedestrians and cyclists - three cyclists have been killed already this year - to wear reflective jackets in areas where there are no footpaths or...

Seanad: Public Sector Reform: Statements (11 Feb 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. Public services are essential to the functioning of our economy and society. A strong and effective public service is recognised as a source of competitive advantage for any country. The Irish public service has already made a major contribution to the national recovery and as the country enters a new phase after the conclusion of the troika programme...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2014)

Tom Shehan: I raise the issue of rural post offices and refer to the motion to be taken in the other House today and tomorrow. First and foremost, this is political opportunism, although perhaps we might find a better word to describe it. Essentially, it is an attack on rural Ireland, but I direct the blame at one source, namely, the board of directors of An Post. If it were the board of directors of...