Results 521-540 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

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

Tom Shehan: Both I and Senator Hayden made presentations and asked questions during them. Perhaps the Minister might return to them.

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

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister and I would like to congratulate him. When this programme was published last week, one would expect that there would be some kind of kick back. However, the majority of people, including myself, would think that as we are in recessionary times and we should expect the basic provision of services. We have to go back to the grassroots and our core job. Everybody...

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

Tom Shehan: I would have to think back to know how long it has been on the agenda. I must compliment the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues on the fact that this is now happening. Personally, I do not agree with the location of the site, but that is a different issue.

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

Tom Shehan: It is going ahead, and the general public will appreciate that the Government is doing what it set out to do and what it has a mandate to do, namely, to provide a national children's hospital. It must be applauded and I am delighted it is going ahead. On the education side, there is no doubt that a lot of money was spent in schools. I feel sorry for Senator Byrne, who did not achieve much...

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

Tom Shehan: I can only speak from my own experience when I was in the other House with Senator Byrne. Major projects went ahead in my constituency. Maybe that is a reflection on Senator Byrne, I do not know.

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

Tom Shehan: There are 40 new schools. I listened with great interest to the Minister, Deputy Quinn, when he outlined the demographics and so on. These will not be your two and three-teacher schools. Many of these national schools will be equipped for up to 700 children, while secondary schools will be even larger, to the best of my knowledge. This is to cater for the demographics. As I outlined...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Most days our thoughts and vocabulary are primarily dominated by economics, financial matters, family income, personal debt and Europe. I was shocked and saddened to learn that this country is No. 1 in Europe for the use of heroin and we are third highest for deaths from illegal substances. It is a shocking indictment to hold those positions in Europe. There is a human side to what is...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Social Protection to the House to discuss the recent proposal to transfer sick payment benefit for the first four weeks of an illness from the State to the employer? This suggestion must be thought out more fully and redressed. Who, for example, will pay the sick payment benefit to the 9,000 staff out on sick leave in the HSE, which has the highest...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Senator O'Brien wants all Taoisigh to come from Dublin.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Senator Ó Domhnaill should indulge us by naming the embassies in question.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: I will do my best to keep to the point.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: I wish to raise two issues. First, will the Leader ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, to come before the House for a debate on the review by the Valuation Office of rateable valuations nationally? The process in this regard began in 2005. In 2008, it was estimated that the process would not be concluded until 2018. However, I spoke to the Commissioner of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Three local authorities in Dublin have reduced the rates relating to certain sectors - the hospitality sector is most notable among these - by 30%. There is a need to expedite matters in respect of the review of rateable valuations nationally. If he is available, the Minister, Deputy Howlin, should be brought before the House in order that we might engage in a discussion on this matter....

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Absolutely. I would ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Bruton, into the House to discuss this. If there were 50 lay-offs anywhere in the country today there would be uproar, but it is the way it is being done. I wonder if it is legal.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: The worry is that there is no product development or research and development here. I ask that the Minister would get the agencies to make contact with this company and try to stop the loss of jobs.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: He could be by the end of the day.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Hear, Hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: Prior to the 2009 nursing homes Act there were three types of nursing homes, public, private and voluntary. In the Act the voluntary sector was included with the private sector. In my constituency a community voluntary hospital is being included with the private sector, something which is happening all over the country. The funding provided by the NTPF for a public bed is approximately...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: I would like to raise two issues, the first of which is the whole Gaza issue. I will be honest and say it is not something I get very exercised about. As Senator Cullinane said, among those on the trip to Gaza are two Sinn Féin councillors and a former Fianna Fáil Deputy. This is not the first aid mission to Gaza. Those involved know what happened the last time. They knew what would...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2011)

Tom Shehan: That is what the people on the ground wrote on their placards.