Results 2,981-3,000 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: There is no point in having the debate without the Department of Finance.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I do not think Senator Brian Hayes was being in the least bit parochial when he mentioned yesterday's traffic problems. Fortunately, I did not have to use a car yesterday. The issue is not what happened in Dublin; rather, it is the perception senior public administrators have about their responsibilities to the public. They do not have to think through the consequences of their decisions....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: That is absolute nonsense. It is more a reflection on the Senator's ethics than it is on the issue.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: While inflation is one of the major concerns we should always have on how the national economy is going, it is difficult to see how one could talk about it alone. I have a dilemma. The Government amendment is one of the worst I have ever seen. It "notes that Irish inflation in EU terms is now not far off 2%". Does the Government not know the inflation rate? Did it not manage to find out...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: One could say that 3% is not far off 2%, or that 1% or 4% are not far off 2%.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: However the combined wisdom of the entire Government could not——

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: In 1997 the Government inherited the best economy in Europe and has made a mess of it for the past ten years.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I am grateful that Senator Mansergh has finally conceded that the Government did not make the economy but kept it. I have made this point for the past five years. The Government inherited the Celtic tiger.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I am well able for them. I appreciate the Cathaoirleach's support.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I apologise. During Deputy Quinn's time as Minister for Finance inflation was lower and growth was higher than during the tenure of the former Deputy and Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy. I am concerned about the wording of the motion. While I do not dispute the importance of inflation, one of Ireland's problems is the tendency to confuse inflation with competitiveness. The Minister...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We had an extraordinary five years——

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Fianna Fáil is very good when it has someone to keep an eye on it, as it had in 1992, 1994 and the current period. I would hate to see the party on its own. It goes in the direction it is driven.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We had a good economy in 1997, with a budget surplus, high growth and low inflation.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: It was clear the country had under-invested in transport infrastructure during the crises of the 1980s, yet it will be 2010 before decent roads are provided between Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. That will be 13 years after this Government came to power.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: We will not have a decent road between Cork and Limerick before 2010.There is no mention of it in the Government's plans.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: The American Chamber of Commerce Ireland is not a body one would expect me to quote. It stated that the Government is under-investing in transport infrastructure. A report today states that we pay more to buy land on which to build roads than any other country in Europe. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, always smiles when I raise this matter. He knows...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: In the country with the lowest population density in Europe, it costs more to acquire land than in the country with the highest population density in Europe. The point is adequately made that we have failed to use prosperity to build the transport infrastructure we need. The most disturbing quote I have seen in years is in the report of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland. It states...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Motion (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: I will conclude when I can complete a sentence. US investment is critical to this country. It is an illusion that our rate of corporation tax, 12.5%, will keep companies in this country if people get stuck in traffic jams as soon as they leave the airports. The Government's infrastructure plan does not include what the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland considers critical, namely, good...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Senator Walsh misunderstands me. My point is that the deprivation of liberty is the penalty. We take liberty for granted to such an extent that it is impossible to appreciate the effect of losing it. Crime cannot be separated from deprivation. The other type of prisoner I knew related to the time I spent with the Simon Community. Having spoken to paramilitary prisoners in Portlaoise and...

Seanad: Prisons Bill 2006: Second Stage (22 Nov 2006)

Brendan Ryan: Senator Leyden should know that is a well known fact. I do not think the trade union movement had anything to gain from what was going on. I am not sure of the purpose behind the enabling parts of this Bill relating to private security firms carrying out prisoner transportation. Perhaps it is a stick to wave at prison officers to ensure they keep their side of the bargain. I am not sure...