Results 3,821-3,840 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 74: In page 70, subsection (1), line 23, after ?section.? to insert the following: ?Any variation of a Debt Settlement Arrangement made pursuant to this section arising from an increase in the debtor?s means shall not require the arranging debtor to increase any payment made to creditors in an amount constituting more than 65 per cent of the increase in the debtor?s...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his response. If banks listened in to this debate, they might take note that they should not charge 76% rates. I will withdraw the amendment, but perhaps we will come back to the issue on Report Stage.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister for his response. I will not press the amendments.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 50: In page 47, subsection (3)(d), line 48, after ?secured? to insert ?and contingent?. Amendment No. 50 proposes that secured debts plus the litigated debts in a comprehensive settlement and the debt settlement would be settled by the PIP, personal insolvency practitioner, rather than going to court. I feel this supports the Minister's intention in this section and...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2012)

Sean Barrett: Taking up from the previous speaker, we are about to invent a twin for SUSI this afternoon, called ReBo. I hope the two of them get on well and perhaps they could make one another more efficient than they are now. I welcome the Government's announcement yesterday of the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority. Passenger numbers at Shannon Airport have dropped by 61%...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee)(Amendment) Scheme 2012: Motion (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: The good news from the Minister of State lies in table 2, in that the ¤375 billion has been reduced to ¤78 billion. It was a disaster for Ireland. Many of those responsible have managed to escape. Today, we are finally catching up with the accountants. Did they sanction money going into a bank at 11.50 p.m. and exiting at 12.10 a.m. for years? We have asked questions. When will the...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: Yes. I thank the Minister for his response.

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I appreciate the Minister's openness and I thank him for considering the amendments I tabled. Amendment No. 4 is in my name only and I will not press it as the Minister indicated he will seek the advice of the Parliamentary Counsel and act on it. I have used the phrase "or otherwise impair the employment status of" which is more difficult to determine than why Mr. or Mrs. Bloggs was not...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Committee Stage (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 4: In page 13, before section 6, to insert the following new section: "6.---No aspect of the Debt Relief Notice, Debt Settlement Arrangements or Personal Insolvency Arrangements may be used to remove from or otherwise impair the employment status of the debtor or their spouse who is compliant with the arrangements under this legislation.". On the first day in the House...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (29 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: There are reports today of a shortage of nurses in operating theatres. This country has a serious shortage compared to the United Kingdom. In contrast, the Irish complement of numbers is one of the highest in the OECD. We had 36,000 nurses employed in 2011. We had 34,000 in 2005 and 25,000 in 1992. Can the Leader ask the Minister for Health if the nursing labour force is correctly...

Seanad: Employment Permits (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. I begin by echoing everything said by Senator Quinn, particularly his commendation of the learned judge for asking us to pay attention to the issue, especially in this House because some people do not believe it has a future. The learned judge clearly does not believe that as he has asked for our views. He has indicated that certain sections of the...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: Page 143 of the Aecon report states that it could cost between ¤90 million and ¤290 million to take 800 passengers a day from the Dublin to Galway buses that operate without subsidy. We need to look at those investments. A further ¤75 million would be required to take 300 passengers from J.J. Kavanagh & Sons, which runs the bus service without subsidy at the moment. We need to...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I support the Minister of State.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I agree with Senator O'Sullivan's sentiments. I thank the Minister of State for his interest in the House and his openness to our ideas. It is a pleasure when he comes to the House. I wish him well in all his reforms in the Department.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, line 39, after ?fit? to insert the following: ?with the consent of the Minister, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority?.These again relate to the safeguards we discussed. We want the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority. The provision currently provides...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: Page 31 of the Aecom report states that the rail safety programme between 1999 and 2013 cost ¤1.7 billion. Indecon looked at that and found that it had saved 123 animals. They must be the most expensive animals ever. We must see where these programmes yield a return. In comparison, the safety budget of the Road Safety Authority is ¤18.6 million and the budget for the Health and Safety...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: My amendment seeks to add ?and where an independent investment appraisal of the capital expenditure has been published? after "the provision of moneys for meeting any expenses incurred in connection with any permanent work the cost of which is properly chargeable to capital;".

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I am trying to deal with the capital side. We have dealt with the current side and our concerns about competition. This is a problem the Governor of the Central Bank wrote about in his ESRI days. Far too many capital expenditure appraisals in Ireland are part of the PR industry and are prepared by the promoters of projects. The promoters of the project know very well where the Exchequer...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, to delete line 22.My amendment proposes to delete "the acquisition of any other transport undertaking;". This is giving money to a company, which is short of money, to buy out its competitors. It is an utterly inappropriate use of public money. I do not want this money to be used to buy out competitors.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Sean Barrett: We also have commitments to the IMF, and mention was made of the rail review and not to further distort competition. It is concerned about this area but I will not press the amendment because I am having a dialogue with the Minister, and not in a confrontational way. It is documented in the strategic rail review that the independent bus companies have provided a service without subsidy or...