Results 381-400 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business (13 May 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: That at this difficult time young people could find themselves facing additional and increased charges when they can least afford is a matter the House could consider and debate with good merit.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Given that recessions are by definition temporary downturns, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the economy, focusing on the apparent positive signs in world economies. I am cognisant that the European Central Bank is expected to reduce the lending rate to 1%, markets in the United States are strongly forward, the credit default market for Irish bonds has returned significantly,...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I raise the issue of adoptions from Russia and Vietnam. In particular, I am cognisant that the difficulty that has arisen could be ameliorated through serious bilateral negotiations, notwithstanding the fact that all organisations, including the Health Service Executive, have limitations. Whereas normal criteria are applied prior to adoption, I understand post-placement requests have become...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I again call for a debate on the economy at the earliest opportunity. I am cognisant of the fact that calls have been made this morning for positive discrimination to be exercised in respect of contracts within the State. This would run against EU rules and could not be allowed. However, there may be a system whereby we could examine the weighting given to companies of which local...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I call on the Leader again to have a debate on the economy at the earliest opportunity and when the Minister returns. No doubt Ireland has experienced the most significant fall in growth in the OECD area, as outlined by the ESRI report. However, Ireland is not the worst performer and that is what has been presented to us today. In fact, the worst performing countries have been those which...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: While naturally I would share in the calls for a debate on the economy and to have such a debate at the earliest opportunity, to call for such a debate today in the full and certain knowledge that the Tánaiste is abroad doing her duty is inappropriate. The Leader might arrange such a debate at the next timely opportunity. This is an issue about which Members have some expertise because...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Attempts by people in the Shell to Sea campaign to destroy machinery are somewhat similar. Moreover, I suggest that having a gas interconnector in tandem with the supplies off the west coast is not only useful but could be essential for our national development.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on communications. I am very conscious of the import Eircom has for the Irish economy. It is suggested that what can only be described as a vulture fund would take over Eircom, a strategic national asset, strip it of its assets, reduce the number of employees and prevent the necessary development that is ongoing and essential to our economy to benefit...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am very pleased to support the supplementary budget, although I take no pleasure in the fact that there were cuts and tax increases. They were entirely necessary. In light of the realities, this Government has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure fairness and equity and the public has accepted that, first, the Government has gone to great lengths to ensure we can prepare for the future...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support my colleague, Senator Walsh. He is clearly not against a debate, in fact he would welcome a debate and specifically on the fact that the HSE seems to be sponsoring why euthanasia should be legalised. Euthanasia is a criminal act in this State and remains so. It is the voluntary taking of a human life. In my view there are much more important issues than whether the economy is up...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: The Cathaoirleach called me to speak and I do not welcome interruption. I am quite clear that the right to life transcends everything else, that our right in this day of Holy Thursday to restate, "Thou shalt not kill" and that alone is sufficient for us to carry on and to say that the HSE should have no hand, act or part in this debate.

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. There is no doubt he has given considerable time to this House on many occasions in recent months and it is to his credit. This motion is about appointments to State agencies and public bodies. There is no doubt that State agencies have served us very well. From the very outset, the Cumann na nGaedhal Government set up the Shannon scheme in...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader inquire to the Department of Finance about the possibility of a minimum pricing order being introduced in connection with alcohol and petrol, particularly in light of the disparity between tax rates in the North and the Republic of Ireland? There could be very useful co-operation across the Border but the principal reason we cannot proceed with the necessary implementation is...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: A similar scheme in Sweden ensured that the Government eventually saw a very healthy profit.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the opportunity we will have to debate the forthcoming budget. I am particularly conscious of the reality that the Cabinet has spent hours, days and weeks in an attempt to ensure fairness. At a time when the world markets appear to be making a resurgence, when the price of oil and money are low and when vast sums are being spent ensuring that economies are recapitalised, it would...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: When a person speaks about sacrifice and that sacrifice relates to his or her own position or that of the pillar or group which he or she represents, that is laudable, but for IBEC, which is considered one of the wealthiest groups in the country, to call for sacrifices from the pillar that has the least is totally unacceptable. In the current round of cuts and increases in taxation, the...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: When positive proposals are put forward, they should be welcomed. However, it is difficult to expect that they would be taken on board in full when many aspects are already being implemented. I am very conscious of the fact that part of the proposal is probably unacceptable in light of what my colleague said in connection with off balance sheet lending. Off balance sheet lending has been...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on the economy, with specific reference to competitiveness. This week Standard & Poor's commented on the Government and on Irish finances, awarding a downgrade of our AAA status. I am conscious also that the same agency gave AAA ratings to the very item that almost brought about the collapse of the world economies, namely, sub-prime lending. In light of that...

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am very conscious of what Dickens said in the 1800s in the preamble to one of his books: annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen aught six, result happiness; annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds aught six, result misery. I am very conscious too that we have a job to ensure the national finances and to put the Government back on track to avail of...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader contact the Office of the Press Ombudsman? The regulation of the press is not exactly what we require. We have seen the dangers of insufficient and improper regulation in the banking industry. I am especially cognisant of the fact that some of the British newspapers had a particular agenda in respect of the Lisbon treaty and were very unapologetic about this. If they are...