Results 3,401-3,420 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (12 Jun 2013)

Sean Barrett: I wish to share time with Senator Mooney, who will speak first.

Seanad: Youth Unemployment: Motion (12 Jun 2013)

Sean Barrett: I join with those who have thanked our Sinn Féin colleagues for putting down this motion, as it is very important that we discuss these matters. Our problem is that we have an "insider-outsider" labour market and it is all designed to protect those with jobs. The people outside have borne the burden, with 143,000 people under 25 emigrating in the last four years. We would be in...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Cathaoirleach's decision to accept Senator Clune's motion on the Adjournment regarding the leaving certificate problems encountered yesterday and discussed thoroughly in the House. This is the second morning in a row that the State Examination Commission, SEC, has declined to appear on "Morning Ireland". The damage done to young people by the mistakes in the mathematics paper...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

Sean Barrett: I urge the Leader to draw those matters to the attention of the Ministers, Deputy Quinn and Deputy Bruton and the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, because promoting ourselves as a high-technology economy and making those kind of mistakes - to the demoralisation of young people - is damaging to the country. We are all agreed on that. There is expertise in that the Minister himself is an...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

Sean Barrett: I note that the library in the summit venue is named the Senator Gordon Wilson Library. I am sure the G8 will be as inspired by Gordon Wilson as we were when he was a Member of this House. I wish the summit every success. Having Gordon Wilson so honoured by the G8 in the choice of venue and the naming of the library after him is a tribute to a great man whom we sorely miss in our deliberations.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

Sean Barrett: The Senator's side started it.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2013)

Sean Barrett: Members on all sides of the House have been concerned with improving the standard of mathematics in this country. Based on the statements made this morning on "Morning Ireland" by Ms Catherine Lewis of Rathdown School and the Irish Mathematics Teachers Association, yesterday was not a great day for anyone. The House is united on this issue and has assisted the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Second Stage (30 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Senator Norris will be voting against the Bill. I would like to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White. In the Report of Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities published in April 2011, the national development plan forecast that real GDP would be 42% higher in 2013 than is now expected. We have a political culture to spend the 42% we do not have. Nobody wants to be in...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Yes.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 27: In page 14, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following subsection: “(3) The pay reductions in this Act shall apply to all bodies in receipt of state subventions, subsidies and transfers including those in the Schedule to the Act of 2009.”.I welcome the Minister to the House. It is frequently stated in the House that where the chief executives of...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister and will not push the amendments. As he said, there are items in there that are debates for another day. I believe measures to regulate charities are being considered at present. I wish the Minister every success with the €250,000 cap.

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 28: In page 14, subsection (1), between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:"(e) an actuarial assessment of the impact of this reduction in pension related deductions will be published annually.".This is a brief amendment. The Minister earlier a reduction of €125 in the pension levy. The concern I have is based on the report of the review group on State...

Seanad: Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I will not press the amendment. I again thank the Minister for his elucidation and determination to build a properly funded pensions scheme.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I note today that the EU Commission has urged the Government to confront a re-emergence of the lax lending standards in the banking system. The Commission has warned that it has found fresh signs of these lax standards in the recent past. I have asked the Leader to bring to the attention of the Government and the EU Commission that the Seanad has taken a strong stand on this. This is why...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: It is not. Like the Minister, I welcome our young guests who will probably not see this item on the television tonight because the Minister and all Members of the House are in agreement on it. It is only if we start to shout at each other that it would feature on the programme. I assure the young people present that the House universally agrees with the Minister on measures to control...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 4: In page 4, before section 3, to insert the following new section: "3.--The Minister may designate a rate of non-smoker discount to be applied to health insurance premiums.".We have discussed these matters thoroughly. We have tried to have information campaigns to tell people the dangers. I hope the proceedings of the Seanad today are noted because of the amount of...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: It is not being pressed and neither is the section being opposed. On the question of privacy, the Minister and I are ad idem. It seems to me that the cigarette is as lethal as the mobile phone and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, has been persuaded with regard to the latter. I refer to trying to light a cigarette while driving and attempting to flick out the...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister and welcome his statement on plain packaging. We gave him credit for announcing it here in the House and I am delighted he announced it in even stronger terms today. I will not press subsection (e) of the amendment. I also welcome the Minister's comments on what he called the "denormalisation" of smoking by reducing the number of retail outlets. What I had in my own...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, before section 2, to insert the following new section: “2.--The consumption of tobacco products shall be forbidden throughout any place of employment, education, healthcare, sporting venues, areas in the vicinity of such places and in motor vehicles.”.Again, this is very much in line with what the Minister has said. It is worthwhile for the...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco)(Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (29 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: We will not be moving amendment No. 1.