Results 1,941-1,960 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister and will not press the amendment. We wish both SUSI and SOLAS every success because they are important schemes for students.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 21:21. In page 10, line 2, after “Education” to insert “and Royal College of Surgeons”.I will not be. The criteria for the university to be so designated outside Ireland but not so designated in Ireland - but located in Ireland - require that it have an international reputation and have 40% of the students from outside the European Union. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I draw attention to the headline from an article in the Irish Examinerby Caroline O'Doherty about yesterday's report by Davy Stockbrokers on the housing market which stated, "Property buyers borrow too much yet again". The article stated:Home-buyers are once again overstretching themselves with outsized mortgages in the fresh frenzy to get on the property ladder. In echoes of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: Let us not allow it tomorrow afternoon when the Minister comes here. We cannot have the closed approach and secrecy in banking supported by Europe and carried out by the people who have already had one turn at wrecking the country.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: On a positive note, I welcome the attendance of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, at the installation of H.E. Mr. Kevin O'Malley as the US ambassador to Ireland, and the resumption of an interest by former US Senator Gary Hart in the peace process. I remind Members that Northern politicians will be here on 7 November when the North-South Inter-Parliamentary...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (1 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (1 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: The late former Senator Edward Haughey was born in Kilcurry, County Louth, close to the Armagh border. I attempted last Saturday to imbibe his spirits there. From Faughart I took a right turn and as I went down that road, the man from Newry was delivering Royal Mail, probably as close to Dundalk as his route would take him. I took another turn and the speed limit signs were in the metric...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, to the House and thank him for his opening contribution. I agree with Thomas Pakenham that we live with trees and that they are our neighbours. I would propose greater protection of them than is provided for in particular parts of this Bill. For example, section 19 provides for the felling of trees and section 20 provides for the powers of the...

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

Sean Barrett: The Minister of State mentioned the 1904 Act. The vast majority of clubs throughout the country were not there in 1904. At that time, a club probably referred to an exclusive gentleman's establishment, which would be quite different from the community-based institutions encountered in the Minister of State's area in Wicklow or Senator Byrne's area in Meath. Perhaps this could be borne in...

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

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 9:In page 4, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following: “4. Section 15 of the Principal Act is amended to read as follows:(3) (a) As a matter of principle any relevant property, being a building or part of a building, land or a waterway or a harbour directly occupied by the State (including any land or building occupied by any Department or office of State,...

Seanad: Fluoridation of Water: Motion (1 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Nash. I agree with most of what Senator Gilroy said. One of the functions of the university constituencies is to bring the research of those universities to the House. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch’s statement corresponds with the research. In the Patrick’s Well example, where fluoride was naturally present, the decayed,...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I want to raise the issue of the decline in the international rankings of Irish universities as published today. Trinity College Dublin dropped out of the top 100 while University College Dublin out of the top 200. There has been a dramatic decline during this recession in the State funding of universities with an increase in fees and the use of some private incomes. The staff to student...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I second the Senator's amendment. It is a serious matter, as Senator Norris has said, to destroy a public record because one is trying to undermine the Minister in the context of the Freedom of Information Act. It is a form of suppression and merits a penalty that will act as a deterrent for that offence.

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I compliment the Minister, whose dedication to this cause is well known and knows no bounds. Anything that I stated on Committee Stage was meant to strengthen his hand and support him. I wish to express a concern about section 7 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014, which is headed, "Refusal of access to certain information". To draw the Minister's attention to it, the...

Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (2 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I would include those in the group's terms of reference. The Europeans seem to operate central banking in ways that appear strange to the Minister, Senators and me. Their secrecy has cost countries like Ireland, Greece, Portugal and so on dearly. The Minister's philosophy of open access and freedom of information is shared, but could he investigate section 7 of the education Bill and ensure...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the announcement this afternoon by the Central Bank that it will be insisting upon a 20% deposit on residential house purchases and the maximum loan being limited to 3.5 times income. We proposed that in No. 33 on the Order Paper in the spring of 2012. It has been on the Order Paper for over two and a half years. I am delighted that it has finally reached the echelons of the...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I again welcome the Minister to the House. The Minister and I were at a seminar yesterday at which we briefly discussed safety issues, fatigue and so on. It is interesting that vehicles are now being developed which will recognise fatigue, and it is hoped that will be the next step forward in improving the safety record on roads of which we are all in favour. What are we to do about the...

Seanad: Arts and Culture Sector: Motion (8 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister. I was not present for her previous visits, but I served with her on other committees and I congratulate her on her appointment, which I am sure will be highly successful. The terms of the motion acknowledges the contribution of the arts - literature, music, paintings, Nobel prizes, including by Members of this House such as former Senator Yeats, and so on. Ireland...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

Sean Barrett: I note that the Irish banks have been in Frankfurt in the last few days to discuss the forthcoming stress tests with the ECB. As noted by John Walsh in the Irish Examinertoday, the last round of stress tests were far too soft. We need to replace zombie banks with working banks and to get a greater level of economic expertise in there. I express the hope that the stress tests in Irish banks...