Results 7,961-7,980 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Banking: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

Alex White: Here it is.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Alex White: Given there is no public element to the inquiries into the banking system which we are told are taking place, perhaps a progress report in terms of what precisely is happening in those examinations could be made to the Houses so that we can get some sense or insight into what if anything is happening. My colleagues are correct that there is a need for public information so that there can be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Alex White: On a point of order, there is no requirement on the party leaders to raise any issue with the Leader in respect of what Members propose to raise on the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

Alex White: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

Alex White: The answer is "Yes".

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

Alex White: I would be delighted to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

Alex White: I would relish the opportunity.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

Alex White: Every day is 1 April for Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

Alex White: Will the Leader be able to assist in answering a question I and others have about Anglo Irish Bank which has arisen in recent days? One of the many justifications put forward for adopting the current strategy towards Anglo Irish Bank is that it is not like Lehman Brothers, the balance sheet of which was apparently worth only a small percentage of the full value of the US economy, in that its...

Seanad: Banking: Statements (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: It is always a pleasure to follow my namesake. There is no doubt that Anglo Irish Bank has poisoned the well of this country's banking sector and also its economy. What happened at that bank led to the making of the decisions that were announced yesterday in the Dáil. I do not accept, however, that this issue can be reduced to alleging wrongdoing on the part of certain named individuals....

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I wish to record my strong support for this important amendment tabled by Senator Fitzgerald and it will be interesting to hear the Minister of State's response. This is a relatively new area of policy delivery and a number of reports have been prepared. While not all the information available is universally positive, there definitely have been improvements that it is important to...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: This is the first I have heard of the ruling. How is it a potential charge? I am sure this is just a glitch in the system, but I have not even received a letter about the ruling. I accept that one normally gets a letter, but I literally did not know of the ruling until I stood up to address the amendment. The Bill is an amendment to and extension of the Child Care Act. Its Long Title...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: It was before my time.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I acknowledge that since I last rose to speak I have found on my desk a letter addressed to Senator Phil Prendergast which makes the point about the amendment being ruled out of order. I wish to correct matters. A letter was sent. I agree with much of what Senator Norris said about the basis on which amendments were ruled out of order. I propose to raise this matter at the next meeting of...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: As leader of the Labour Party group in the Seanad, at the next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges I propose to raise the complete lack of consistency in ruling amendments in or out of order. I will say no more about the matter today, in fairness to the Chair. I thank the Minister of State for what he said. I understood him to say he thought the issues raised by me and...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: If that is the basis on which the Minister of State does not accept what is being said and thinks we should go further, I will be happy to discuss the matter with him or support an amendment he might bring forward which, of course, would not be ruled out of order.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 4: In page 8, line 31, to delete "detention" and substitute "rehabilitation". This has more to do with the language of the Bill than with anything else. When we discussed this matter on Second Stage, I had the impression the Minister of State was somewhat sympathetic to the point being made about the use of a word such as "detention" in a child care measure. The word...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: The fact the word "detention" is used in various judgments cannot be the end of this matter. Once a word enters into the language and the nomenclature, if that is the right word, that is the language everybody uses. We are the Oireachtas and are in an important position of being able to change legislation and by doing so we can change the way matters are referred to. If we make such a...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: We could canvass some other options between now and Report Stage. In situations such as this when one brings forward a proposal which may not be perfect and the Minister is not amenable to accepting it but understands the argument behind it, I am always struck that the person who is in the best position to come up with alternatives is the Minister and his advisers. They would know what...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (31 Mar 2010)

Alex White: I think so. The words "secure placement" are as close as one can get. Rather than just being prepared for us to canvass alternatives, I hope the Minister of State will consider the matter with his advisers and come up with wording that might suit. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.