Results 2,301-2,320 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

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

Sean Barrett: I second the amendment. I thank the Minister of State and his officials who offered to meet us during the week to discuss our concerns. While it was not possible, we appreciated the invitation. Like Senator Byrne and others, I also appreciate the openness in discussions with regard to this Bill and the courtesy shown by the Department’s officials in this regard. There are many...

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

Sean Barrett: I second the amendment.

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

Sean Barrett: I second the amendment. We are in a dynamic period of economic change, some of which we never anticipated with the recession after 2008. Petrol stations can be bypassed. The last day, Senators Paul Coghlan and O'Neill mentioned places like Urlingford and Johnstown. Senator Quinn has made television programmes about city and town centres that have gone into decline. There might be a fear...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I echo Senator Bacik on last night’s adoption Bill. Senators Power, van Turnhout and Healy Eames did this House a great service and were ably supported on the Government side by Senators Burke, Maloney, Brennan and others. I did detect, however, a distinct lack of enthusiasm by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I hope Members on the Government side will ensure this Bill...

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014: Second Stage (19 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: There is very little one can say after the tremendous speeches Members have heard from everybody here. I endorse everything said by Senator Colm Burke and it is great that he is welcoming this Bill on behalf of the Government side. This non-partisan approach to policy has so much to commend it. I wish to praise Senators Power, van Turnhout and Healy Eames for acting on behalf of the 50,000...

Seanad: Access to Finance for SMEs: Statements (19 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State and wish him every success in this endeavour which is most important because we have had to reorientate the Irish economy away from the banks because they no longer served us. We have had to curtail the growth of public sector employment and we still have a problem identified by the troika today that too many of the sheltered sector services, in particular...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Postcode System: (Resumed) Discussion (19 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: It is, of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Postcode System: (Resumed) Discussion (19 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the witnesses. There should be a cost-benefit analysis of this project. While social benefits are being claimed on the other side of the House, it is verbal and so on. It should meet the project appraisal guidelines set by the Department of Finance, the views of which I would welcome because I am afraid this will be one for the Comptroller and Auditor General. What is being done...

Seanad: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I can share some time with Senator Power if she wishes.

Seanad: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister. I note that the original-----

Seanad: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Yes, I have offered to share time with Senator Power if necessary.

Seanad: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Very good. I thank the Chair. Page 1 of the Minister's speech mentioned the recommendation that €140 million be provided by Aer Lingus and €58 million be provided by the Dublin Airport Authority. The total contribution has been increased to €260 million. As others have said, this means that €500 million is outstanding. I am sure everyone in this House shares...

Seanad: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: At one stage, there nearly seemed to be competition about which of the trustees had the biggest amount of red ink on their books. Legislation is required to deal with such conduct on the part of trustees so that we do not get into this situation again. Too many financial organisations think they can call around to the office of the Minister, Deputy Noonan, to collect large amounts of money....

Seanad: Horizon 2020: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well. Some of the warning signs that Senator Craughwell has referred to came out of group think herd instincts in property which was a disaster. I see so little analysis of the research and innovation sector that I worry it could be the next herd instinct group think. I am afraid that we will all gallop in one direction that is without substance....

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: The Leader will note that Mr. Draghi of the European Central Bank, ECB, said today that he does not wish to appear before the banking inquiry here but he might participate informally. He went on to say that they had to pull the plug on what was happening in Ireland because the equivalent of 85% of our GDP was being given to enhance the liquidity of the Irish banking system. That is why he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: AIB (13 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome our visitors. Questions Nos. 19 and 22 have not been answered. I ask the witnesses to answer them in correspondence. Question No. 22 asked what percentage of AIB customers pay at the highest rate of interest. The response directs us to Question No. 19, which is a different question and the response does not answer Question No. 22. I ask AIB to send a reply to the committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: AIB (13 Nov 2014)

Sean Barrett: While it was to be expected that the building and auctioneering industries would not like the proposed rules, the banking sector must support rules that ensure we will not have bank busts. I am pleased, therefore, with Mr. Duffy's response. In the reports compiled on behalf of the Committee of Public Accounts and Comptroller and Auditor General, Professor Honohan was especially concerned...