Results 4,281-4,300 of 4,414 for speaker:Sean Barrett

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: If the current practice is allowed to continue, whereby a person can sell a business with haulage licences thrown in for good measure, I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, subsection (1), lines 8 and 9, to delete paragraph (d). I welcome the Minister for what I hope will be a constructive dialogue and all my comments on the amendments will be in that spirit. I thank the Minister for his contribution yesterday. This amendment would delete the line "an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997". My...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I look forward to our continuing dialogue. The amendment was put forward with that intention. Any measure the Minister would have in mind to make the provisions less draconian would be welcome. It could be one of the best things to happen to a person - that he or she decided to get back into society, back to work and to become a contributor and not be held back by this consideration. I...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State. His energy and enthusiasm are always admirable. In fact, people need to look out in Leinster House when he is approaching as he moves at such speed. My concern with regard to this Bill is whether there is anything else in it that is new. Tourism is a business where revenues are down 31% from their peak, the number of tourists is down 24% and the number of...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I wish to raise two issues. The comprehensive public expenditure review will only be published within two working days of the announcement of the budget. I echo what Senator Mary Ann O'Brien said that this is what should inform our discussion rather than letting it be turned into a hectoring session. The review will provide valuable information. I understand the opposition to its...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Second Stage (29 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Varadkar. I always enjoy my discussions with him. I am pleased there is to be a further Bill next year. That is essential. We must stop having stop-gap measures. The previous Bill was exactly two years ago when the then Minister, Mr. Noel Dempsey, announced with public relations and accompanying documentation that he was revolutionising the regulation of...

Seanad: Address by Dr. Mary Robinson (24 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I echo the Cathaoirleach's words of welcome and those of Senators Maurice Cummins, Darragh O'Brien, Ivana Bacik and Jillian van Turnhout. Mary Robinson was elected to this House on 2 August 1969 and President 21 years later. Next Saturday week, 3 December, marks the 21st anniversary of her inauguration as President. I wish the party every success and I am sure it will be most enjoyable....

Seanad: Address by Dr. Mary Robinson (24 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: Mary Robinson's first family planning Bill was launched on 3 March 1971 but was defeated on 7 July. However, that did not deter her in her advocacy of human rights. She sought to allow couples of different religions to be eligible to adopt children. With Trevor West and John Horgan, she introduced family planning Bills in 1973 and 1974. She represented the plaintiffs in an amazing array...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: No. However, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, introduced legislation concerning the Taxing Master which contained a proposal to reduce the relevant retirement age from 70 to 65. The Minister accepted the view of the House and retained 70 as the age. This still seems draconian although I accept what the Minister of State stated. Subject to the section, an employee of...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 18: In page 36, lines 29 to 32, to delete subsection (1) and substitute the following: "35.—(1) The Board may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and subject to the conditions, if any, which are imposed by the Ministers, or in accordance with the directions, if any, given by the Ministers, borrow money for...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I withdraw the amendment, on that basis. The only other thought that occurred to me was that this is rather like the conditions that are stipulated by Brussels today for other countries. People who borrow in the future will face much greater surveillance. I would put strict controls on the capital side and be draconian, not allowing borrowing on the current expenditure side. However, I...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: Senator Cullinane has played a useful role in drawing attention to this problem, which was also discussed on Second Stage. At the end of 2010, some €786 million in clinical claims were outstanding. Anything we can do to improve safety in this area is absolutely crucial. We have had great success in reducing the number of road accident fatalities from over 600 some years ago to between...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 23: In page 68, subsection (2), to delete lines 27 to 29 and substitute the following: "(a) after it has consulted with the Minister for Education and Skills and the relevant academic deans and the governing authorities of the third-level education establishments enumerated in the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 and the Universities Act 1997, and in accordance with the...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: It is a pity. I accept the Minister of State's point and her bona fides. There is a danger that people can form uninformed views or prejudices about what is right or wrong with an educational course. It would be a good idea to go into an institution and consult those who provide education there about their ideas. One could get valuable international contacts as a result. I presume those...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives (Amendment) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I thank the Minister of State. I am trying to ensure that what happens is more than mere casual discussion between Ministers. I will not press the point. We got through 40 sections with great speed in the last few minutes. Those who actually do the work in the classroom are being bypassed in the education sector to an increasing extent. They may have interesting views to express to the...

Seanad: Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I move amendment No. 15: In page 34, subsection (1)(a), line 35, to delete "65 years," and substitute "68 years,". I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This was discussed previously with the Minister and he said he was not ageist. I do not know whether it has been amended anywhere else. The reason for choosing 68 years is that this is the outer limit for retirement in the...

Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: As always, I welcome the Minister to the House and I welcome what he is doing to try to restore the economic sovereignty of the country. I take as one of my themes a comment on page 9 of the infrastructural capital investment document that the Minister produced last week. It states: "There is a need to improve the quality and coverage of programme evaluations and it is all the more critical...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: Arising from yesterday's student protest, I would welcome a debate on education. I am concerned by the growth of overheads and bureaucracy in universities, which has already been noted by an bord snip nua as well as by the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is important in these times to spend resources in the classroom and on lecturing, which is the so-called front line. Three areas in...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the contributions of other Senators. I have some concerns about the motion. I was particularly interested in what Senator Gilroy stated. This is an area where lobby groups have an inordinate influence and nothing that I say has anything to do with lobby groups. I believe lobby groups should be compulsorily registered with the Cathaoirleach...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Sean Barrett: Mindful of the Taoiseach's meeting with Chancellor Merkel today, I seek a full debate on the euro and its role in our current economic difficulties. It is necessary to have this discussion because the drift in Europe is towards the transfer of yet more powers from the nation states to the centre. Many of the problems of the euro were caused by people at the centre, by not having any exit...