Results 3,041-3,060 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

Sean Barrett: I second what Senator O'Brien has said about health insurance. We have known for a very long time that VHI has hidden behind its alleged-----

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2013)

Sean Barrett: Yes. We have known for a long time that the VHI has hidden behind its older profile of patients in order to impose levies on its competitors. This is another bailout today. I have raised several times in the House the Milliman report, which states: While it is undoubtedly true that VHI has an older and (arguably) sicker population than its competitors, we believe limited focus has been...

Seanad: Science Week: Statements (12 Nov 2013)

Sean Barrett: My point was that people who did not have a qualification in a subject should not be teaching it. Teachers with only a leaving certificate qualification in a science subject are really only one step ahead of the pupils they are teaching. I am arguing for a more coherent connection between education departments and teacher training colleges, on the one hand, and science departments, on the...

Seanad: Science Week: Statements (12 Nov 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, who is present for the debate on this intriguing topic. The word “science” comes from the Latin, scientia, which means knowledge. Nobody could speak in the House against knowledge but sometimes the gap between the hyperbole in terms of what we set out to do and the reality does let us down. On an Adjournment motion, Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2013)

Sean Barrett: I agree with Senators MacSharry and Burke on the need for a debate in the Seanad with the Minister for Finance on financial regulation in Ireland. It is not just that one credit union has cost us €54 million. An insurance company from the UK has had to be bailed out and two foreign banks, Danske and Rabo, have substantially reduced their operations in Ireland. This has all happened...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2013)

Sean Barrett: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: In regard to the flagging that we are to announce a new alcohol policy today, in this case I ask that we look before we leap. Overall drink consumption in Ireland is falling and is not high by international standards. In international rankings The Economist places Australia first and Ireland 23rd; places such as Canada and the United Kingdom rank higher than Ireland. A head of steam has...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister and compliment him on his negotiations in achieving the figure of a minimum of 60% of the national or regional average per hectare. That is part of the social objective of keeping people in rural Ireland and the various industries that stem from it. Some €11 billion will come to this country. Is it time to plan outside this figure of €11 billion? We...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Taoiseach and thank him for his graciousness. We all came to the Seanad after 2008 to try to help this country to get back from the dreadful situation it faced. The Leader has implemented many reforms, inviting Nobel prize winners, the Orange Order, all the Irish MEPs, people from the United Nations and a European Commissioner. There has been reform and I hope the Taoiseach...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: If I may, I would like to share a minute. That expertise is valuable. It should be brought here and we should take account of it. We should take account of minorities and we should increase accountability. We might look to the cultural and educational panel, which I believe accounts for eight Senators, to see whether a new constituency can be fitted in there that would represent the third...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the free trade agreement announced on Friday last between the European Union and Canada. Ireland exports €2 billion in goods and services to that market. It is our 14th biggest export market. In April, we will have direct air services restored between Canada and Ireland by both Aer Lingus and Air Canada. There is much we could learn from contacts with Canada on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: It is welcome that the Taoiseach is coming to the House tomorrow. I hope it will be the start of a very useful dialogue on the future of the House. As the dust settles, some issues about the referendum require to be addressed. How did the opinion polls get it so completely wrong? I saw result predictions at figures of 44% to 27%, 62% to 38%, 64% to 36%, 59% to 41% and that only 29% of...

Seanad: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (17 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: As always, I extend a warm welcome to the Minister who attends the House more regularly than any other senior Minister, for which I thank him. I do not have any problems with privatisation. One does not have much choice in the matter when one reaches a debt to GDP ratio of 120%. This step had to be taken. Sometimes privatisation works out for the better, not only in terms of helping the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome Mr. Mark Rodger to the Visitors Gallery. Mr. Rodger is a partner in Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, one of Canada's largest law firms. As we all know, there are strong connections between Ireland and Canada, going back as far as the founding father Thomas D'Arcy McGee. The Leader will know that Newfoundland is merely a suburb of Waterford. Our guest is most welcome. In the recent...

Seanad: Statistics (Heritage Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. I compliment Senator Ó Murchú on introducing the Bill. Every hurling match I ever saw between Tipperary and Wexford always ended with people shaking hands as the best of friends. The matches were hard enough fought but I hope this will be an occasion when the unity of the two great counties will be manifest. We are faced with the 130-year rule...

Seanad: County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I agree with the comments of Senators Harte, Clune and Reilly and wish the Minister of State well. He is always a welcome visitor to this Chamber and in itself, the circulation of the service level agreement was a nice innovation. We are always looking for enterprise and the 3,000 jobs per month that have been generated over the past 12 months are most welcome and this represents a good...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: No. We have had long discussions on the Bill and the importance of buses. The House has been most considerate. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach as well. We will not push the amendments. They have been discussed and the Minister of State has taken the points on board. I intend to withdraw all the amendments. We have made our points about the industry and the need for a competitive bus...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: That is correct.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: No.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Oct 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, line 10, after “2008” to insert the following:“to confer exclusive rights on Dublin Bus, and Bus Éireann and to allow the National Transport Authority to enter into direct award contracts without competitive tendering for the provision of public transport services with Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail ”.I propose...