Results 2,681-2,700 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:“(3) Notwithstanding this section a person who wishes to carry on a regulated business can apply to the Central Bank of Ireland for authorisation to carry on such a business under the Central Bank and Financial Services Act 2003.”.”.I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He will be...

Seanad: Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2014)

Sean Barrett: I note what the Minister of State has said. Presumably, it is possible for those who wish to set up a friendly society to apply to the Central Bank. I do not know why the Registrar of Friendly Societies does not want to perform the role any more. She does not want anybody to submit an application to her to set up a new friendly society. I know there has not been much demand. We will have...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (5 Jun 2014)

Sean Barrett: I understand the talks to save Bausch & Lomb in Waterford are at a crucial stage. I welcome the interventions made by two of our stalwarts in the House, Senators Maurice Cummins and David Cullinane, and wish them every success. I also welcome the news to be announced later of the appointment of Mr. Kevin O'Malley as ambassador of the United States to Ireland. This is something for...

Seanad: Racism in Ireland: Motion (4 Jun 2014)

Sean Barrett: Everybody is welcome and I am delighted Senator Bacik referred to the citizenship ceremonies which were introduced by the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter. I still recall people waiting at the back of the District Court until all of those who had committed burglaries, etc., had been dealt with before they could be sworn in as Irish citizens. The new regime in this...

Seanad: Racism in Ireland: Motion (4 Jun 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank Senators Fiach Mac Conghail and Katherine Zappone for tabling this important motion. It was tabled within 24 hours of the First Minister of Northern Ireland having to apologise to the Muslim community. I believe he apologised genuinely and profusely to the Imam, Dr. Raied Al-Wazzan, in Belfast last evening. He regretted the incident which had been caused by the speech of Pastor...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Green Paper on Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (4 Jun 2014)

Sean Barrett: Is there a date for the publication of the fracking report?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Green Paper on Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (4 Jun 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister to the meeting. On my way here this morning I saw that he was in the company of Wolfe Tone on the corner of St. Stephen's Green. I do not know which leadership or whatever he was following but I wish him the best of luck in that regard. I welcome the Green Paper. The Minister is open to discussion, as always. Will someone tell me the number of different ways there...

Seanad: Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Second Stage (29 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I commend the Minister on his energy and the reforms he has pursued. He is the Minister who is most regularly in contact with Senators regarding announcements and news on policy developments. I welcome that contact and wish him success in his efforts. I agree with Senator Cummins about his native city. We need his kind of local patriotism and it is sad when certain cities do not prosper....

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: As the counting in the European elections ended at 4 a.m. this morning, I congratulate our successful candidates for the European Parliament, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin for winning four seats each. Jim Nicholson is now the longest serving MEP from the island of Ireland and Brian Crowley, the second longest serving. On the island of Ireland, I note we have achieved perfect gender balance...

Seanad: Youth Guarantee and Rent Supplement: Statements (28 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Costello. I wish to follow on from Senator Moloney and speak about housing first. Part of the problem with NAMA is that its job is to keep up the price of property because it is an asset on the balance sheets of financial institutions. It would have been far better for the country if the price of property had been allowed to fall. That would have...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister and wish her well in her new appointment. I echo the sentiments of Senators O'Donovan and Conway in welcoming the Bill and the Minister. It is unfortunate that it has taken a long time for this to happen. We received the report on this from the Law Reform Commission in October 2005. As a new Minister with a new broom, the Morris, Smithwick and Guerin reports...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I concur with Senator Darragh O'Brien. There are rebranding merchants at work who cost a fortune and I am not sure they provide value for money. I am concerned about the following reference on lines 20 and 21 of page 23: " 'State Airport’ means an airport in the State, managed and controlled by a company;". There must be a word or words missing between the words "a" and "company" as...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for clarifying the matter. I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien that rebranding merchants can cost significant sums of money. I do not know what they accomplish. They are concerned with images and logos, whereas the efficiency indicators to which the Minister referred relate to realities, which are much more important than images. I hope the change will not result in...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I agree with Senator O’Sullivan. Section 30 provides for the dissolution of Cork Airport Authority plc on a day to be appointed, by order, by the Minister. It also provides power for the Minister to re-establish Cork Airport Authority in the future. Cork would be in the top 20 airports in the UK and has been affected much less by the recession than Shannon. I support the...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I should have said but am happy to do so now that when the Minister appoints directors, they go before the joint committee. That has been of immense use to all sides. It is one of the innovations introduced in recent times that has worked. I think there has been a very strong welcome for the people whom the Minister has sent before the joint committee and there has been useful dialogue...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 8: In page 19, line 31, after "direction." to insert "The direction shall be notified to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications.".This section deals with the giving of directions and issuing of guidelines by the Minister to Shannon Group. As we already discussed, the difficulty that arose in the past had to do with the directive that was given in...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his response and consideration. I wish Shannon Airport every success under this regime. It is essential that it thrives and comes back to where we all want it to be. I would value the role of the commission. Like the Minister I look forward to what the commission will say on Thursday. I will not press amendments Nos. 3 and 4. I thank the Minister for his...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: It is covered by what we were saying.

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 3: In page 9, line 19, after "Minister" where it firstly occurs to insert "and the Commission for Aviation Regulation in respect of airport charges".I welcome the Minister in an important week for the issue of airports. I understand that the Commission for Aviation Regulation will publish on Thursday the report on cost overruns in terminal 2 in Dublin Airport and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2014)

Sean Barrett: I echo the sentiments of the previous Senators on those who contested the election and extend every good wish to the successful and unsuccessful candidates, who perform a major function in our democracy. I welcome the Leader's statement that the debate on the State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014 will be adjourned and not completed. A new book was published just today on low-cost airlines...