Results 781-800 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Feb 2006)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support the call for a debate on the 1916 Rising. I come from a republican tradition and I have always understood that the Irishmen who participated in the First World War fought against German imperialism in Europe and those involved in the 1916 Rising fought against British imperialism in Ireland. My primary degree is in history and in the context of the Penguin book of history, we won...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jan 2006)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to take up an issue raised yesterday and ask for a debate on road safety. This House and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business have assisted the insurance companies in recent years, putting in place the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, so much so that in the past three years the profitability of insurance companies...

Seanad: Employment Issues: Motion. (25 Jan 2006)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and second the amendment. The Government has a proud record. Some of the difficulties it has faced had not been experienced by previous Governments, such as dealing with vast numbers of immigrants. This is borne out by the fact that the Opposition constantly berates us for not having the numbers necessary to enforce standards. This issue was raised...

Seanad: Development Banks Bill 2005: Second Stage. (16 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I warmly welcome the Minister of State to the House. This Bill gives us an opportunity to discuss wider issues in connection with overseas development aid. If there is something we have learned it is that when you give, you receive. Aid works. After the Second World War much of industry in western Europe was devastate, people were displaced, economies and cities lay in ruins and the American...

Seanad: Development Banks Bill 2005: Second Stage. (16 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the fact that this Bill will facilitate Ireland in meeting its international obligations with regard to membership of international financial institutions. It will support the delivery of the Government's overseas development assistance strategy, including the policy of attaining the UN target for assistance of 0.7% of GNP by 2012. The Bill provides for Ireland's membership of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2005: Second Stage. (15 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: Every budget belongs to the people, but this budget can particularly be described as the people's budget because it provides for substantial social policy reforms, which are being enacted in the Social Welfare Bill 2005. It can be described as a family budget because it offers significant increases to the elderly, people on benefit and people in receipt of child care payments. As a result of...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, to the House. I would like to share time with Senator Dardis, with the agreement of the House.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (13 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: As the reservations about the removal of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 which were expressed at meetings of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business have been comprehensively dealt with by the Minister, Deputy Martin, I warmly welcome the introduction of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005. The Minister said recently that the order had acted against the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I request that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, be invited to the House so that we can commend him on the budget. All budgets belong to the people, but this budget in particular is truly a people's budget.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am aware of that. I commend those who promoted child care from an early stage. They deserve our commendation rather than our sarcasm.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: Fair dues to them. Finally, I thank Senator O'Toole and the House for their warm congratulations yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: On a point of clarification, that is not what I said.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: It had no relation to the Ferns Report. There were two separate sections. I ask that the Leader quote me correctly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: Correct.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to raise a number of issues, the first of which is the need for a debate on the World Trade Organisation discussions which are currently taking place. The beef and beet sectors are within the ambit of those discussions. I am particularly concerned about the issue of free trade versus fair trade. We have been told that free trade is to the benefit of Third World countries, but the...

Seanad: Employment Rights: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to share time with Senator Cox.

Seanad: Employment Rights: Statements. (24 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and commend him and the Department on their work. It is unusual that we should speak about employment rights at a time when labour shortages are evident, we have full employment and all the hallmarks of an advanced economy working within social partnership. Nevertheless, there are those who would flout the rules and try to retreat from their spirit...

Seanad: Ferns Report: Statements (Resumed). (17 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, to the House. The bishops have rightly called what happened at Ferns an horrific litany of abuse. That is exactly what it is. Much of the conduct was simply indefensible. It raises questions about betrayal. Children, those who were abused and the church itself, including those who put...

Seanad: Quarterly National Household Survey: Statements. (2 Nov 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House. The quarterly national household survey brings more good news. We should never be embarrassed by good news from The Economist, which described Ireland as the best place to live. The quarterly national household survey shows how well the economy is going. It is backed up by the National Competitiveness Council and by further...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2005)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support Senator Mooney and Senator Mansergh. The world is a more dangerous place today. The President of Iran speaking of Israel in those terms and given our knowledge that Iran is pursuing a nuclear programme, there is a strong probability that Israel will defend its interests prior to any other eventuality. The situation is very serious. Will the Leader arrange a debate on transport? A...