Results 481-500 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: The Economy: Statements (5 Dec 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I join other speakers who spoke about the recapitalisation of the banks. I am conscious of the fact that Bank of Ireland has a very successful bond issue. The triple A rating granted to that issue stemmed from the fact that the Government had given the bank a guarantee. The banks are clear that they do not require recapitalisation but the fact that there is no liquidity in the market and...

Seanad: Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: That embryo-destructive research is wrong in principle because it attacks the life of a human being at the earliest stage of his or her development is also backed up by the absolute inability of embryonic stem cells to have any successful clinical application. It is saddening to think of how much money, like the alchemists of the Dark Ages, has been wasted when so much could have been...

Seanad: Stem-Cell Research (Protection of Human Embryos) Bill 2008: Second Stage (26 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: While we may disagree on the detail, there is one fact we all share, which is we were all embryos at one stage. With that in mind I am conscious that life did not start in the reproductive process with the embryo, but human life did. That is what makes the embryo something that of its own right has dignity. It must have respect or we would cross a Rubicon over which we could never go back....

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader request the Minister for Finance to come to the House to discuss the issue of the recapitalisation of the banks? The banks have stated clearly they do not need recapitalisation, but commentators suggest they might need it. There is a question of what type of recapitalisation might be required and who would provide the capital. I am aware there is talk of some hedge funds...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment should come before the House because a serious issue has developed as a result of cost differentials north and south of the Border. Although no VAT is levied on food, it is significantly cheaper north of the Border. Two further changes have taken place recently in respect of goods north of the Border. First, VAT rates have...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I join with those who call for a debate on transport. It is entirely practical and proper that in these times we should have maximum flexibility. If the Irish Exporters Association tells us we can become more competitive by having rail transport directly to the ports by night then we should take it on board. We are told that in the first nine months of this year exports increased by 4%....

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share the views in support of ethical research. It does us no harm to remind ourselves frequently that there have been no successes with embryonic stem cell research. All the research to date has indicated that the adult stem cells are the ones that are producing successful results. We hear of the new alchemists spending millions of taxpayers' money throughout the world trying to find...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Hear, hear. Senator Bacik was outrageous.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share in the calls for a debate on the economy, with particular emphasis on the banks. Like other Senators, I was happy to stay up all night to put through the emergency legislation to ensure stability in the banking sector. All Irish banks have remained solid and the banks state that they do not need recapitalisation, but, unfortunately, the banks are retrenching very significantly.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: In business terms, liquidity is considered to be life blood. Liquidity is being removed from the marketplace by the banks. Under no circumstances do I want to see a situation where, having provided stability for the banks, they increase the number of repossessions. That is particularly poignant at Christmas. They should work with customers and show them the same support that we, on behalf...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am aware of two medium to large sized businesses where the owners are telling department heads to purchase nothing for January and that only what is in stock is to be sold over Christmas because they do not want to receive bills in January. That was not the reason we stayed up all night, put emphasis on ensuring stability and took the risk for the State. The last thing we want is for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Given that the price of oil has dropped significantly and given that there is a real need to ensure the public finances are kept in order and we reduce our carbon footprint, would it not now be appropriate to consider increasing further the tax on petrol? This is because the tax on petrol was the most acceptable part of the budget, notwithstanding the fact that some people drew attention to...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to request the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan, to come to House to debate, before Christmas, the promotion of a Buy Irish campaign within the confines of EU rules. There are many positive things we can do. I am encouraged that the price of oil is falling, interest rates are falling — there is a cut of 0.5% due by the ECB...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I agree with the calls for realism in the debate on the economy. Most people recognise that certain action must be taken but whenever action is taken objections are made without reasonable alternatives being put forward. That debate will be ongoing until such time as we get through the current difficulties in the world economy. I share the views of those who spoke earlier. There is no...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate at the earliest opportunity on the subject of buying Irish. We are heading into the Christmas purchasing season and there are many products, including high ticket items such as laptops and computers which are manufactured in this country by American companies. Given a choice and all things being equal, it makes perfect sense for people to make a...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: In light of the report that Eircom may be the subject of a further bid, the fifth sale of the company since it was privatised, I ask for a debate on the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: In particular, I call for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to attend. Last week, Gordon Brown made a major speech in which he referred to the Keynesian nature of the future of the British economy. In the past 12 years we have had 11 surpluses. This is the first year in which we have had a deficit. It is standard practice that in times when the market cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: Now, having sold Eircom for such a good price——

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

John Gerard Hanafin: ——and using the money correctly and investing it for the future, is it incumbent on the State to retake Eircom for the benefit of the nation and develop it as we would wish when we could pick up the company for a reasonable rate? Fianna Fáil has always undertaken what was good for the country.