Results 461-480 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: Very good. Will the Deputy Leader indicate when we can expect that Bill to come before the House?

Seanad: Report of Advisory Group on Small Business: Statements (Resumed) (19 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: I agree wholeheartedly with what my colleague, Senator O'Donovan, stated with regard to the banks. From my experience I have no respect for banks and have not had for a long time. In 2000 I bought a business and I wanted an overdraft facility of £15,000 but the banks would not give it to me. Three days prior to opening the business, 30 miles away from where I was born and bred, I did not...

Seanad: Report of Advisory Group on Small Business: Statements (Resumed) (19 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: -----in terms of the sick leave for which companies are expected to pay.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: It is unfortunate that our colleague, Senator Cullinane, has left the Chamber.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: I am merely supporting Senator Cullinane in his-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: -----call for the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to come to the House for an earnest debate on the HSE service plan for 2012. As we know, there are lies, damned lies and statistics. For the purposes of that debate, I ask our colleagues on the other side of the House to bear in mind how many beds were closed when the previous Administration was in power. I congratulate my...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: I am not a mathematician but I have done some sums. If we had a 5% reduction in salary for those earning more than €65,000 in the HSE and a 10% cut for Professor Crown and his consultant colleagues, there would be no need for any cuts in the service programme for 2012.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (18 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: I hope we will have an open and frank debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: Like Senator Quinn, I also like good news. However, I thought the best news that came from last year was from the Road Safety Authority in that the number of people killed on the roads was below 200 for the first time. While that is good news in itself, it is still unacceptable. Of the 185 people killed on our roads, an unfortunate point is that 48 were pedestrians. I asked the Leader late...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I know time is limited today and tomorrow but I would like the Leader to set aside time to debate road safety as we approach the Christmas season. There are more pedestrians being killed on the roads now than ever before. If this issue could be highlighted now and we could have a debate before the recess, I would appreciate it. Families who have lost a loved one on the road during the year...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: That is Senator Leyden's campaign for Europe launched.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I agree with what Senator Darragh O'Brien said regarding our colleague, Senator Barrett, bringing forward the Bill. We are lucky to have an academic economist of the stature of Senator Barrett in our midst. The Seanad is a better place for his presence. He is not one of these doomsday economic commentators.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: Neither is he one of the fair day economists Before he became a Member of the Seanad, when I read his articles I always thought he was a balanced individual in his thoughts and commentary. I welcome a Bill of this nature coming before the House. It is unfortunate that we did not have such a measure prior to 2007.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: The then Taoiseach would not have been allowed to buy the 2007 election to get his three in a row. He would not have had to send the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Charlie McCreevy, to Europe to get him out of the way. Deputy McCreevy did his utmost to maintain fiscal stability.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: The Bill sets parameters which must be met and kept, by this and future Governments. That is why this is very important legislation. Senator Barrett must be commended on that. I liked the comments of Senator Feargal Quinn. I come from a business background and I am of the same view as Senator Quinn. We have to pay our way. I agree with his sentiments regarding paying our debts. I am not...

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: It was disrespectful, unwarranted and should be withdrawn.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: It was factual.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: It was stated measures would be announced before Christmas.

Seanad: Fiscal Responsibility (Statement) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: They are contained in the budget.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Dec 2011)

Tom Shehan: I have been monitoring the debate up to now and there is one point I wish to raise with the Minister. I refer to the reduction — from 60% to 15% — in the rebate for employers in respect of redundancy payments. There should be an exemption in this regard for sole traders and self-employed persons whose staff complements do not exceed 20. I appreciate what the goal was when this...