Results 3,101-3,120 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I agree with Senator Coffey about balanced regional development. He seems to be calling for a system of representation like the Senate system in the United States whereby there are two Senators from every state, regardless of the size of the state. That might be worth considering. I am not from Dublin but I am from within the Pale. There are anomalies at county council level of which the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: There are probably 28 or 29 councillors.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: In Cavan, 25 councillors represent 60,000 people, while six councillors represent 65,000 people in a part of Dublin, which is four times the ratio of councillor to population. That is probably not the way we should be operating as a democracy, so the Minister and the Minister of State should look at that again. I have been calling for reform of the Senate on numerous occasions, but one of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: We should look at this again when it comes to reforming the Senate. That is not part of this Bill, so I will not dwell on it, but we need to see movement on the issue of Senate reform. It is something that has been lacking, and I know the Green Party has been keen to see something done on this. I would like to see some legislation on the issue before the beginning of the summer recess.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Senator Coffey for his comments. I agree with him, but I would like to point out that I am not actually an urban representative.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: It is fair to recognise that Dublin is under-represented, even though I do not represent Dublin. My constituency of Meath East is quite rural. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting many people at their doorsteps. Last Thursday, I was standing in a milking parlour while the farmer milked his cows, and a fine herd of cattle he has. That might only be 25 miles from where we are sitting,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I just wanted to clarify the situation for Senator Coffey. I agree in essence with what he is saying. Rural councillors, TDs and Senators have a huge post-box——

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: One could learn much from visiting rural dwellers in one's constituency, but one needs to spend proportionately more time there because the issues are so diverse. The issues could be about water, sewerage, education, health and so on. I do not want to take away from Senator Coffey's well made point, which is that we need to make sure every citizen has adequate representation.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I pick up on a point raised by Senators Callely and Leyden on SR Technics. There is a chance we can save jobs in that company and I welcome the fact that the Tánaiste will meet the unions tomorrow. I am also very concerned about the impact it will have not just on people who will lose their jobs but on apprenticeships. Some 15 apprentices who have been training for a number of years are...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: These are trade unionists who have been held there for the past ten years. For the first 17 months they were in solitary confinement and visits by their families are being restricted. The Minister is interested in this case. I spoke to his office this morning requesting that while he is in Cuba he visit the families to show solidarity. I ask the Leader to use his offices to impress on the...

Seanad: Company Closures (17 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Senator Ryan for allowing me to speak briefly on this issue. This is a matter that affects people and families not alone in Dublin but throughout the north east, including Louth, Meath and Kildare. Some 1,200 jobs have been lost which, as anyone can imagine, is devastating for the families concerned. This company is leaving our shores, a company that has received world recognition...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I join other Senators in expressing my concern about the continued lack of transparency in Anglo Irish Bank. We heard at the weekend that it offered loans to ten individuals to enable them to buy shares and, in effect, prop up the bank at non-recourse terms. In cyberspace, people are asking whether Members of these Houses have outstanding loans with the bank. The problem is that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I ask that the Leader impress upon the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how important it is that she makes the statement — there has been no statement to date from the Minister in regard to the closure of SR Technics — that these must be retained in the next 30 days while the negotiations continue with the parent company.

Seanad: Recapitalisation of Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland: Statements (12 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Senator Boyle mentioned new people, new cultures and new ways of acting. This is exactly what we want but are not getting from this Bill and announcement. In my brief contribution I will discuss how I think we should have been dealing with the banks. Regarding the current board, other Senators mentioned that the reality is that those who got us into this mess will stay in this mess....

Seanad: Recapitalisation of Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland: Statements (12 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I would like him to clarify that. We are disappointed that there was not a complete clean out of the boards so that we would, in effect, start again. That would have been important to show the people that we do mean business when we talk about changing the current culture of the banks. Confidence would have been helped also if the Minister had gone further on the moratorium on house...

Seanad: Recapitalisation of Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland: Statements (12 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: From the Minister of State's speech. He stated: The two recapitalised banks will not commence court proceedings for repossession of a principal private residence until after 12 months of arrears appearing, where the customer continues to co-operate reasonably and honestly with the bank. It is not at all clear what "reasonably" means or how one defines "honestly". Who will define these...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I have lost 2,000 votes.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: The details announced last night about the recapitalisation of the banks go some way to resolving the issue, especially with regard to first-time buyers and small business. However, it is not just enough to ensure banks have capital available to help small business. We need to ensure people have confidence to take out loans and I do not think the measures go far enough in this regard. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: That is not the case. It is his competence that is being questioned, not his honesty. The Senator should be clear on that.

Seanad: Child Poverty: Motion (11 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies McGuinness, Seán Power, Devins and Noel Ahern who attended this debate. At one stage I thought all the junior Ministers would attend. As welcome as they all are, we had hoped the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Barry Andrews, would be able to attend. It is a pity he was not here, but we are glad to see the...