Results 2,281-2,300 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister back to the House. He outlined the picture very well for us. In 2010 the number of overseas visitors had fallen by 16% in two years, but it is growing once again. The Minister has made several useful proposals to maintain this growth, including having lower VAT and PRSI rates, the visa waiver programme and improved air access. I understand 85% of the seats on the...

Seanad: Report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the Proposal for a Banking Inquiry: Motion (26 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Leader and Senators Bacik and Darragh O’Brien. The Leader has very thoroughly described the process by which this very comprehensive document came before the House, and I commend everybody and the secretariat. It is a challenge for the committee and we must go ahead and commence the work, to a very challenging timetable. I was very pleased that Professor Karl Whelan is...

Seanad: Public Service Management (Transparency of Boards) Bill 2014: Leave to Withdraw (26 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I second the motion.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (Amendment) Bill 2014: Motion to Discharge Order for Second Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I second the motion.

Seanad: Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2012: Motion to Discharge Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I second the motion.

Seanad: Building Control (Carbon Monoxide Detection) Bill 2014: Motion to Discharge Committee Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I second the motion.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: On a point of information, the remark to which Senator John Gilroy took exception and which he attributed to me was not made by me.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. At all times in the House and at committee meetings, he has distinguished himself in the service of Waterford. The lost water rate in Waterford is 31%. It is 55%, or 50%, in Tipperary, 44% in Cork, 36% in Clare, 48% in Limerick city and 48% in Kerry. There are no economies of scale. The idea of one big organisation is not supported by the data. Senator...

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: The McLoughlin report showed a 30% surplus of county managers, a 15% surplus of directors of services, a 10% surplus of corporate services staff and a 15% surplus of city managers. We took all of them and put them in Irish Water. The McLoughlin group reported in 2010, while the wastewater report was in 2008. A family of four on €100,000 earns six times the income of a person on...

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: It was the HSE.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Water Sector Reforms: Statements (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: The Employment Appeals Tribunal today awarded €80,000 each to three staff at one of the embassies in Dublin for the dreadful way they had been treated. They were working 15 hours a day, seven days a week for €170 a month. That follows a case last year in which the Labour Court awarded €46,000 to another embassy worker. The Migrant Rights Centre commented on that case....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Transport Authority: Chairman Designate (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank Mr. Fitzgerald.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Transport Authority: Chairman Designate (25 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome Mr. Fitzgerald. I share the sentiments expressed by previous speakers about Mr. Gerry Murphy. I ask the Chairman to pass on to him the good wishes of members. On 3 January The Irish Timesreported that €225 million had been spent on shelved Dublin transport projects. As an economist, I have a concern that these projects have a life of their own. Mr. Fitzgerald referred to...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I echo what Senator O'Keeffe and others have said. The Minister of State showed mastery of his brief and his officials were most courteous in dealing with Members. He showed flexibility in changing times in business and he appreciated the role of sport in Irish society. As he said, he made a gesture, in so far as he could in this Bill, towards the problem of child care, which we must...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I second the amendment. It gives the Minister discretion and a flexibility that is attractive, as Senator Quinn so eloquently stated.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 8: In page 18, to delete lines 23 and 24 and substitute the following:“(d) any interested party or company.”.”.The proposer is now with us, if he would like to move that.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: The amendment seeks to substitute the words: "any interested party or company" for the words: "a person, in respect of any property in relation to which he or she is an interest holder". Our concern is that "interest" has a number of definitions and Senator Quinn's one is broader. Asking whether a person has an interest in a property usually means whether he own a piece of it or if he is an...