Results 3,021-3,040 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I think that would suffice but I seek absolute clarity that the Bill as it stands will allow SR Technics to benefit from it. Is that what the Minister is saying? If so, I can withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: That sounds very promising but I am concerned about the word "insolvency". The SR Technics company is not technically insolvent in the current state of play. I believe the Minister has gone a long way with this provision but I seek absolute clarity before I can withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank the Minister. I have tabled a later amendment which deals specifically with the insolvency issue and seeks to change the wording in the Bill. I will not press this amendment but I will ask the Minister later in the debate to re-examine the issue of insolvency.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 16: In page 30, subsection (17)(d), line 17, after "1984" to insert the following: "or where the liabilities of the employer exceed its assets". This amendment returns to the issue of insolvency and the definition of insolvency. We want that widened to include the position where the liabilities of the employer exceed its assets. That is currently the case with SR...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: It is an area we must examine because for a company such as SR Technics this is a last resort. I am aware of people who were weeks away from retirement, having completed almost 40 years of service, and who will not get the full pension entitlement they were expecting six months ago. The issue of purchase of annuities on an open market is something of which we must be aware. Currently,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I appreciate to an extent what the Minister is saying but there may be some way to accommodate my amendment without opening it up to a wider base. I have tabled two amendments and either one of them would have allowed SR Technics to be part of the scheme. If she will give a commitment to introduce a change on Report Stage that would specifically allow for this company to be part of it, I...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I am sure the Minister could find a wording.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: At this stage never the twain shall meet. I appreciate the Minister's time but-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Committee Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I seek a debate on the funding of the Garda Síochána. I do not make this call as a result of the newspaper report this morning about €1,000 being spent to change three light bulbs - stories like that will come and go - I am far more concerned about the proposed expenditure in this year's Estimates. Expenditure on maintenance of Garda vehicles is projected to be reduced by 40% while...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I join Senator O'Toole in calling for a debate on energy supply, including nuclear energy. As the Senator noted, it is anticipated that 95% of Ireland's energy will come from abroad. A debate on this issue would be timely given that last week the British Government announced its plans for a new generation of nuclear power plants. We cannot avoid the elephant in the room in this regard....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Last week I asked for a debate on the effectiveness of the Irish aid programme. Last night, I and some other Senators attended a meeting at which the Namibian ambassador to the European Union was present. One of his first objectives in his speech was to compliment this country on its reputation for helping developing nations. After the recent vicious and mean-spirited cutbacks to the Irish...

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: That is not true; it was a merger.

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I thank the Green Party for raising this issue. I am a little disappointed that a motion on transparency should be couched in such nebulous language. I am glad Senator Boyle outlined some detail because the motion contains very little firm detail, unlike Fine Gael's proposed amendment which sets out some very concrete proposals on how to...

Seanad: Affordable Housing: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State. It is widely accepted that the real economy began what was initially a slow decline in 2002 or 2003 some six years ago. It is common to hear the lament that instead of investing in the real economy we simply built and sold more houses to each other since then. While this is undeniable, it is somewhat bizarre that the Government of a small nation such as...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: They were told to fix their mortgages.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: They were told to fix them.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: On behalf of my party, I pay tribute to the late Garda Robert McCallion, who sadly passed away yesterday after succumbing to injuries sustained in the line of duty. We would all agree that he was a brave garda and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues in this difficult time. Yesterday's budget was one of the most serious tabled by a Minister for Finance. We all agree that...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: It is vital that the establishment and operation of the organisation be well understood and conceived. In appointing people to it, there can be no room for manoeuvre or cronyism. We must be clear on it being a transparent agency because it will serve just one master, namely, the people, and not any political party. As we must get it right, I want a debate on the agency's operation. The...

Seanad: Adoption Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Apr 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 60: In page 88, subsection (5)(a), line 33, to delete "2003" and substitute "2007".