Results 1,941-1,960 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: The price of petrol per litre throughout the country varies from €1.07 to €1.09 to €1.17. If Statoil withdraws, there will be less competition in terms of the companies operating in this industry. It is vital that the Minister intervenes to ascertain exactly what is happening. I call on the Cathaoirleach and the Leader of the House to arrange a debate to discuss the energy industry,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: Will the Leader say what is the position on the Registration of Wills Bill 2005? I am anxious that all Stages be taken and the Bill passed by this House as quickly as possible. I have been in touch with the Department of Health and Children to request that it should move this forward. In the circumstances, it is necessary and appropriate for me to raise this matter on the Order of Business....

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: Westport has some of those schemes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: Belatedly, three months after the event.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, and commend his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Kitt, for his excellent contribution to the debate. Social partnership is one of the great legacies of former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. In 1986, while Fianna Fáil was in opposition, the party's Front Bench was approached by members of the trade union movement who proposed the...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: My colleague, Senator O'Rourke, and I were members of the highly-innovative Front Bench in question.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: I am providing an historical background to show how the talks came about. During the period in question, which was also part of the Celtic tiger era, the Fianna Fáil Front Bench decided, in opposition, to create the financial services centre and implemented this idea when it was returned to office. My advice to the Opposition is to examine its approach.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: All the parties promised free road tax during the 1977 election campaign when I ran for a seat in the Dáil. It was Garret FitzGerald who later promised to introduce a stay-at-home allowance for housewives.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: I am sorry I am being dragged into this debate.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: Many Senators discussed the reasons for the emergence of the Celtic tiger. Our unique model of social partnership is one of the most important reasons for our recent economic progress and the newer member states of the European Union would be well advised to emulate it. As my colleague, Senator O'Rourke, has stated on many occasions, education is the foundation on which the Celtic tiger was...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: The areas to be discussed at the partnership talks include increases in take home pay, changes to the taxation regime and the extension of tax shelters, many of which have been beneficial. The report on tax incentives published yesterday, for example, pointed out that the cost of the Shannon corridor was approximately €1 billion in tax foregone. Without the scheme, the money would not have...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: I am pleased that after so many years I became a member of a progressive union.

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: The unions have played an important part in pushing forward these talks and will play an important role in the process. One could say people in the talks have as much or more influence than the people in both Houses of the Oireachtas, but so be it if it continues to bring about the economic success it has already done with practically full employment. When I was in the Department of Post,...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: I tried to explain how difficult it was to attract inward investment. Now inflation at about 3.5% and interest rates at the current level have pushed the economy forward. The only difficulty on the horizon is energy. The Government must carefully examine the continuation of the need for oil. Yesterday I heard a report that the level of oil reserves has peaked and will decline from now on. By...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: I request that the Leader of the House arrange a debate on the proposed sale of the Great Southern Hotels. These hotels are a major State asset and we should not sell the family silver at this point. Discussions should be held on the possibility of entering into a public-private partnership.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: To what does the amendment relate?

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: Senator Ryan is not interested in the Great Southern Hotels group, which is of more interest to Senators on this side of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: I did not seek an amendment to the Order of Business. I request that a debate be arranged for next week as there is no panic on the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: This issue is an opportunity for a debate on entering into a public-private partnership, an arrangement which could work. The Great Southern Hotels chain is a credit to its management and staff and is at the leading edge of the tourism industry. Why should it be successful under public ownership as opposed to selling it off to the Tony O'Reillys of this world as was done in the case of Eircom?

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Terry Leyden: Given that Aer Lingus is now a great success, there is no reason the Great Southern Hotels chain should not become a major success. Senator Coghlan may be of assistance in that regard.