Results 7,781-7,800 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Oct 2010)

Alex White: Four weeks and no Government legislation. This is disgraceful.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Oct 2010)

Alex White: Stick to the question.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2010)

Alex White: We will give a considered response in the course of the day to the letter the Taoiseach sent at 5 p.m. yesterday. The Labour Party has no difficulty talking to anyone, including the Government, about economic issues. It is odd how this has come about after a period of four or five days. The Taoiseach initially appeared to pour a lot of cold water on what the Minister, Deputy Gormley, said...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Oct 2010)

Alex White: He let the cat out of the bag there.

Seanad: Organisational Review Programme: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: We had a good debate earlier on reform in the public service and, as the Minister of State acknowledged, statements were made on the overarching policy and wider political issues that arise in seeking such reform. I will not repeat what I said. However, the debate was interesting and might be continued at that level. I am not sure what this debate is intended to achieve.

Seanad: Organisational Review Programme: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: Perhaps, or maybe there should have been a single comprehensive debate. However, the Leader is not present and I do not wish to talk behind his back.

Seanad: Organisational Review Programme: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: There is a clear necessity for a rigorous analysis of the public service. I have no difficulty with this and welcome the initiative that led to the production of the ORP reports. While I have not read them in detail, I can see their analysis of the problems and recommendations arising therefrom. I am sure the Minister of State will not take it as a personal criticism because he knows me...

Seanad: Organisational Review Programme: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: I do not see what this has to do with Dublin South.

Seanad: Organisational Review Programme: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: Maybe so. From a cursory glance of the report, the issues that emerged and were reported on in the press were much more serious for the Department of Health and Children than the Minister of State was prepared to acknowledge. Senator Ormonde got closer to what was stated in the report. The first thing we must do in all debates is be frank and put our finger on the problems. I thought that...

Seanad: Organisational Review Programme: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: It has been published. I thank the Minister of State because I was not aware of that. A better focus for today's debate in that case would be to table the action plan of the Department of Health and Children to let us see what the Minister of State and the Department intend to do about all these issues. It is important we have these debates and I welcome the Minister of State to the House....

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: There has never been a time, good or bad, when there has not been a debate on the need for reform in the public service. I do not make this point because I want to diminish the importance of this debate and achieving real reform in the public service. However, it is interesting to note that it is a constant dynamic in public debate and discussion. As we approach the budget, people are free...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: I remind the House that when the Croke Park agreement was first published, my party leader welcomed and commended those involved in putting it together and said it would be a matter for the members of each of the unions to consider the proposals and vote on them in accordance with their respective democratic procedures. That was exactly how the Minister of State put it in his speech today,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: From the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2010)

Alex White: I spoke about it in the House last week. I will not be speaking when the Leader tells me to.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Alex White: I thank the Leader and colleagues for their gracious remarks. As for the failure of the House to sit yesterday, I agree with my colleagues that it is embarrassing. However, it is just as embarrassing when one considers not so much the quantity of Seanad sittings but their quality. The Cathaoirleach should bear with me, as I do not for one minute suggest debate in the House is not of high...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Alex White: Members cannot simply have a set piece debate, for which a Minister comes into the House to make a speech, followed by others by a series of Members. Instead, the quality of discussion must be examined, as well as the ability of Members to make a genuine contribution to the public debate that must happen. This is not taking place, although Members on all sides of the House have been calling...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Alex White: Why not have the by-elections?

Seanad: National Economy: Statements (Resumed) (6 Oct 2010)

Alex White: I would like to return to the discussion that took place on the Order of Business. It arises with great regularity in the House and is taking on an air of unreality. Both sides of the House must face up to the issue. I refer to our discussion on the need for co-operation and the level of debate across the floor on the economic measures that require to be taken, the budget, etc. With all...

Seanad: National Economy: Statements (Resumed) (6 Oct 2010)

Alex White: I was not talking about a tax.

Seanad: National Economy: Statements (Resumed) (6 Oct 2010)

Alex White: Yes. For example, prior to last year's budget, the Labour Party, following a briefing by the Department of Finance, proposed a higher income tax rate for higher earners. The price tag in introducing a third rate of tax of 48% on earnings over €100,000 was €355 million as costed by the Department. Iinformed by the contents of the report of the Commission on Taxation, we also proposed a...