Results 3,441-3,460 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Wind Energy Guidelines: Statements (15 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I echo Senator Keane's sentiments in favour of Senators Kelly and Whelan for their interest in this area. As always, I welcome to the House the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. I share the environmental concerns that have moved the Senators to introduce the Bill and they undoubtedly will deal with them. However, it raises concerns that windmills are noisy and they disturb...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister for Health's welcome for the McCarthy report on health insurance which was published yesterday. The current health insurance system is not sustainable, as both gentlemen said. It is losing members, contrary to the Government's objective to have a universal health insurance system in operation in a few years. The current system is protectionist and is not cost...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: That is correct. Some 96% of the people cited in the Goodbody report said they found deregulation had benefited them. On incomes, it was found that incomes were lower than the average industrial wage but higher than the minimum wage. On safety, there was no dimension because that is regulated by the insurance industry and the per kilometre charge for driving a taxi is the same as for any...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I will not move the amendments. I just wish to put it on the record that if this Bill is passed, it is a sad day for Irish economic policy.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State. On amendment No. 66, my intention was to praise the Minister of State. I was at the meetings of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications attended by the new chairman of Shannon Airport and the new chairman of the Port of Cork. It is a suggestion this appears to work and if the Minister of State thinks it is a good idea, it might also apply in this...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Could I respond on amendment No. 34? Rental of vehicles is a financial transaction normally regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and the financial services authority. Why are we regulating the rental of vehicles? What is the rationale for that? I refer to the Minister's amendment No. 34 which refers to the regulation of the rental or leasing of vehicles. Those are normal commercial...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Can I reply? The television programme has obsessed the Minister of State. The reports of the Goodbody committee-----

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: -----and of Paul Gorecki tell the real facts. I would not base economic policy on one television programme.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: It is not being pressed.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I was hopeful that would be of assistance because it states that "A person shall not drive or use a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place for the carriage of persons for reward unless the person holds a licence to drive a small public service vehicle ...". There are two kinds, as the Minister of State said, but as it is worded it states that one cannot drive a bus unless one has a...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Go raibh maith agat. I will not press those amendments.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: The barrier that the Minister has created costs a new entrant 91% more for the vehicle and 27% more to run it. If his officials do not understand its impact by now then it is a poor look out for new entrants to any sector that the Government seeks to regulate. The provision has acted as a massive barrier because no general category taxi licence has been issued since 2010. One cannot enter...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 31: In page 23, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:"(j) to encourage investment by new market entrants in vehicles and services and to issue new licences to ensure that investment is not diverted into the purchase of licences from incumbents.".Advertently or inadvertently, the danger in what we are doing is that we will create a scarcity value for the licences...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 28: In page 19, to delete lines 40 to 45.My concern is that the section may be unconstitutional. We have created a property right and the Constitution forbids us to place restraints on the transfer of that property. My view is that the licence should have no value. It was worth a lot more, at over €100,000, at one stage when the licences were scarce. They...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Article 43.1.2° of the Constitution states: The State accordingly guarantees to pass no law attempting to abolish the right of private ownership or the general right to transfer, bequeath, and inherit property.I accept that the Minister of State has been given advice but I, too, have received advice. I wish to alert the House to the danger.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I should have added that the fear among the lawyers with whom I discussed this measure is that there will now be ingenious transactions. The licence will not have a value but it will come in a box which will be worth something. It is not beyond the ability of the legal profession to design such mechanisms. However, we have had the discussion and I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for his thoughts on the amendments. I was concerned at a possible breach of the European Convention on Human Rights and privacy but I am delighted to hear the Minister of State is thinking along those lines. I hope it augurs well for the rest of the afternoon. I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: Both Senators MacSharry and Bacik have raised important points on the early child care issue and how to finance that important stage in the development of a family. The Mangan report supported universalism even when there was a case of somebody earning €250,000 per year cited as one of the examples. It did not recommend taxing the payment either. It stated that the two-tier system...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance (8 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I refer to the Minister's comment about the deeper integration of the economic and monetary union. Given what happened the last time, is this a group of people one would trust with running the economy for the next while? I read in The Irish Times yesterday that some German people are doubting whether it is a worthwhile proposition. It certainly has resulted in 25 million people being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Forthcoming ECOFIN Council: Discussion with Minister for Finance (8 May 2013)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister. Regarding the financial transactions tax, the former head of the NTMA, Michael Somers, is worried about the fact three or four banks in the IFSC have handed back their licences. Is that connected to the tax? We say we are against it, yet we are presiding over the committee which is thinking of introducing it. What feedback does the Minister have from the banks who...