Results 621-640 of 23,109 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: I will give way to Senator McDowell.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: I have given way to the Senator.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: There is a proposal in the report for a Seanad electoral commission.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: That may well be, eventually.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: Yes, but there are five panels. One of the suggestions Senator McDowell put forward was that it might help the local post office. That was during the crisis with post offices, but Senator McDowell has no more regard for the local post office in Ballyglass or Belcarra, where I come from, than the man in the moon. However, we should calculate the cost, and I hope the Department will examine...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: That might well be, but that will be even worse.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: Then there is the problem of counting 500,000 votes. We saw this during the European elections. A recount was called and it was proposed that the recount could take up to six weeks.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: It was not.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: It did not happen but if it had, it could have taken six weeks-----

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: -----at an enormous cost to the Exchequer. There are no detailed costs put forward by anybody. I cannot stand over what I believe the costs will be and the imposition they will be on the Irish taxpayer with a reformed Seanad. I support Seanad reform but I believe constitutional change is required for proper reform. We are trying to reform the Seanad without changing the Constitution and I...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: Second, do we need to have two Chambers that are elected by the popular vote? That question must be asked. Senator McDowell is a great advocate for having an independent Seanad, and the current one is the most diverse I have seen, but there will be campaigning for the popular vote in both Houses. When a Bill is going through one House or the other, Members will have to deal with the...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: Yes. Everything seems to be very simple but I cannot see how that can happen. There will be many issues. There will also be personation. If ballot papers are to be downloaded in a house where there are four or five votes and the people concerned are missing or are overseas, one person in the house can download all the papers and send them in. There will be a great deal of personation....

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

Paddy Burke: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2019)

Paddy Burke: I congratulate Commissioner Phil Hogan on his nomination for reappointment to the European Commission. No doubt we will see him get a big portfolio in the coming reshuffle of Commissioners. We wish him well in that. The better the portfolio, the better for Ireland. Commissioner Hogan will have the interests of Ireland at heart. I wish to be associated with the comments that have been...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Paddy Burke: I wonder how a situation such as that outlined in section 6 might arise. How would it work in reality? When the manager of the local authority brings forward his estimates for the end of the financial year or the year going forward and the councillors debate the estimates or the budget and decide to increase or reduce the rate by a certain amount, would the direction be given at that stage?...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Paddy Burke: What the Minister of State is really saying is that the councillors set the budget and if the manager is not happy with it, he notifies the Department or the Minister. The Minister then issues a direction and the county manager implements it.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Paddy Burke: That is the same thing.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Paddy Burke: I agree with Senator Lawlor. This is a very important section. I totally agree with the section but I would be happier if the variation or the direction the Minister of State may give was tied to something. If it was tied to inflation, as Senator Lawlor stated, I would fully agree with that. There might be 5% in one local authority area and 6% in another. As has been stated, there are...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Paddy Burke: My questions are on section 9 and the abatement of rates as well as section 15 and the waiver. Are they both the same? Will the Minister of State outline the difference between abatement and a waiver? This is an important section. My local authority introduced an 85% waiver. For a closed property, the local authority charges rates at 15% of the value. Is that a waiver or abatement?

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Paddy Burke: Previously, if a premises was not occupied, then zero in rates would have been due. Obviously, rates would be due but the collection would be zero and they would have been written off at the end of the year by the council or the manager. How does it operate under this section? A person could be letting a property. It might be let for two or three months of the year. There might be change...