Results 1,781-1,800 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: -----at the loss of their greatest vote getter, Brian Crowley. As Trapattoni used to say, "the cat is in the sack" but I wonder is it that the cat has been let out of the sack by the grouping that the former Fianna Fáil MEP, Brian Crowley, has joined?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: One cannot but observe-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: I do. I ask the Deputy Leader to request the Minister for Social Protection to come into the House in order that we can have a debate on homelessness. I know of the case of a young man who granted might have a few blemishes on his CV but he is a citizen of the State. He is homeless and while accommodation is provided in a hostel-type building, he will not go there because he has found it...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: No, I believe this is a big debate. I request that the Minister for Social Protection come into the House to debate this matter. A debate on homelessness must commence sooner rather than later. It is a serious debate that needs to take place.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: If a staff member goes to a more senior staff member and the senior member reports this to management or the employer, is the junior staff member covered by this provision? One can assume that would happen in the workplace. A junior staff member might not have the confidence or wherewithal to go to the boss or the management. There should be no ambiguity about whether he or she would be...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: Like my colleagues, I congratulate the Minister. He is a Minister who listens, the proof of which is the Bill's unanimous acceptance today. I will tell the truth: I am glad to see this Bill pass, as it was only a number of weeks ago that a public servant contacted me to complain. I told her that she was protected when approaching management, but her response was "No way". I made the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on this Bill. I do not believe it goes far enough, however. From my experience over recent years, I believe there are a number of points that have been overlooked. This could be dealt with if the Minister gave local authorities autonomy in bringing in by-laws on housing, because no legislation will cover housing needs, discipline, etc.,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: Whoever will be Minister for Health come tomorrow, can he or she be brought to the House as a matter of urgency to debate the extension of the free cervical cancer screening programme to college students on their entrance to third level? As it stands, free screening is only available to the over-25s. There seems to be a quasi and lackadaisical approach to this matter. I dealt with a young...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: That only involves Dublin Bus.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: As soon as is practicable, will the Leader invite the new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the House to explore options for utilising our rail network to its maximum capacity? As it stands, that network is dormant for some eight hours of the day. It would be useful, for example, to debate the economic viability of using the network to move freight at night. As I said, this...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fisheries Protection (18 Sep 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister of State and compliment him on the fact that he has taken to his portfolio like the proverbial a duck to water. Speaking to colleagues and others, it is widely recognised that he is the most helpful and the most approachable and I thank him for that. The issue I raise is of national importance and relates to the whole fishing industry. It affects Dingle, Killybegs,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fisheries Protection (18 Sep 2014)

Tom Shehan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. The easy way to secure a level playing pitch, a term the Minister of State used on several occasions, would be to tackle those who are impinging on the fishing industry, namely, the fishermen from the Faroe Islands and Iceland who are fishing just outside our waters and to whom quotas do not apply. As I stated, they have taken 1...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: I have a question on outsourcing, if I may be so bold. Two or three years ago the issue of outsourcing was first raised, with the four Dublin local authorities and Waterford being done to date. If we kept at this rate, we would not get to the end of valuation of properties in the State until 2029. The progress that has been made has been miserable. At the time it was proposed that funding...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: They will be stakeholders obviously.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: I agree with Senator Byrne on this matter. What is being provided is that the valuation manager may correct any error, technical or otherwise. At the end of the day, who would have overall responsibility in this regard? Would it be the valuation manager or the commissioner? We have seen in recent times where an error was made in respect of which the commissioner had to accept...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: Ultimately, who would be responsible for the error? Would it be the commissioner or the valuation manager?

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: I have one query on the amendment.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: Beidh mé gairid. Hypothetically, if a property of 3,000 sq. ft. is subdivided into two commercial units of 1,000 sq. ft. leaving one third unused, would the two properties pay the full rate on the full valuation of the 3,000 sq. ft. unit?

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: Not really. The valuation manager has the ability to issue a certificate. As I said, the 3,000 sq. ft. unit would be divided into two units which would account for only 2,000 sq. ft. of the former property. Would the total rates on the two properties of 1,000 sq. ft. each be the same as that charged on the 3,000 sq. ft. property?

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: In regard to the ability to pay and the calculation of rates, a supermarket comprising 4,000 sq. ft. with 20 staff, a turnover of €2 million, gross profit of 10% and net profit of 4%, can be levied with a rate of €8,000 per annum. On the other hand, a professional operating out of two rooms with a turnover of €1.5 million per annum might pay €300. I have long...