Results 7,821-7,840 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2010)

Alex White: -----rather than simply having a Minister come in and do a set speech after which we speak, which apparently constitutes a debate? I would have no problem if the Labour Party's comprehensive jobs policy were tabled for debate and scrutinised and criticised if necessary by people on the opposite side so we could use this forum in a genuine way to see how best we can look to the future and...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Jul 2010)

Alex White: On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend sympathy to the late Nuala Fennell's family and remember her here today. It is appropriate that we remember her as a great campaigner. I remember her as a great social reformer. The first time I came across her, as was the case for many people, was when she started to write in newspapers and the women's press which at the time was not particularly...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Banking Sector) Order 2010: Motion (8 Jul 2010)

Alex White: The more information and analysis we have the better. I acknowledge that the Regling-Watson and Honohan reports are extremely rigorous and helpful in making an assessment or analysis of what has occurred. Although I have never heard of the gentleman who has been appointed to lead the commission, I have no reason to believe Senator MacSharry is incorrect when he says he is a person of...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Banking Sector) Order 2010: Motion (8 Jul 2010)

Alex White: Senator Ross is also not a member. It is an important exercise. There was much debate about this issue a few months ago and I recall the Taoiseach being anxious to say he would be available to come to the committee to answer questions. However, because of the way the terms of reference have been drawn up, they do not suggest the Taoiseach will be going before the committee or will be...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Banking Sector) Order 2010: Motion (8 Jul 2010)

Alex White: He is still around and will still feature in all of this as our former Taoiseach. While I do not want to personalise the issue, I raise his involvement for one reason only, that he himself said this recently when asked about his role in what had occurred: 'Even the self-criticisms in it I accept also, which was mainly the tax incentives. We probably should have closed those down a good bit...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Alex White: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on Second Stage of this hugely important and momentous legislation. As my colleagues, Senators Hannigan and Bacik, have indicated, the Labour Party enthusiastically supports the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations for Cohabitants Bill 2009. We will try to amend it in some areas and, while we can to some extent predict the...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2010)

Alex White: It is a complete fabrication. The opponents of this legislation are creating a class of people that they posit will have a difficulty. There is no evidence that such a difficulty would ever be felt by people or has been expressed. It has been wholly contrived and fabricated to try to create a basis for objection to the legislation on equality grounds. Examples have been given, including...

Seanad: Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Alex White: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Alex White: I too am delighted that we have reached this day when we will debate and hopefully pass the civil partnership legislation in the next two days. My party has long supported this legislation and this change to our law. It will be a progressive change. It is enlightened legislation. My party as a whole will support the Bill with a heart and a half. We will try to amend it in some respects...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Alex White: Set one up.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2010)

Alex White: On a point of order, is that amendment in order? Is it not a matter which is exclusively in the remit of political parties? It is not a matter for the Seanad. As far as the Seanad is concerned, every vote is a free vote and every Member exercises a free vote. The issue of party discipline and decisions is peculiarly and exclusively a matter for parties and not the Seanad.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: On the face of it, there is nothing wrong with what Senator MacSharry has proposed, but the difficulty is that the machinery to be extend to the credit union movement will have been brought into operation. I support the amendment because once the measures are extended in an extensive, if not a draconian, way to the operations of the credit union movement, it will be nigh on impossible to...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: The former Fianna Fáil people who are heckling me from beyond do not know either. Let us try to be more realistic. I am urging those on both sides - I am prepared to take on board some of this myself - that if we are more realistic in the claims we are making and sometimes in some of the criticism, we might make more progress in what we are trying to do with the economy which is in such a...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: Created.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: It was.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: There will be plenty of time tomorrow.

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, before section 4, but in Part 1, to insert the following new section: "4.—On the cessation date, the Freedom of Information Act 1997 is amended by inserting— (a) in paragraph 1(2) of the First Schedule, "the Central Bank of Ireland,", and (b) in Part I of the Third Schedule at the end thereof— (i) in column (2), "Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2010", and...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: What the Minister says is useful and helpful, apart from the conclusion. It seems the first reason, namely, sensitivity of information and the third, the risk of an inadvertent revelation of sensitive information, are the same so there are two rather than three reasons. The fact that there is sensitive information within the Central Bank which people might seek is not of itself a reason for...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: Listening to Senator Boyle it struck me, as it has often struck me while listening to speakers from the Government side, that if the Government were to be more realistic and less robust about some of the claims it makes on the impact of some of its policies, its expectation that critics would temper what may be exaggerated criticism would be easier to accept. I say to Senator Boyle, that...

Seanad: Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (6 Jul 2010)

Alex White: -----and would be likely to attract a profit. The Minister does not know that.