Results 801-820 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: ——on the treaty and how it will be interpreted in the future. Even for Senator Norris that leaves a solid basis for meaningful debate in this House for the future.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I wish to ask the Leader about the empty chair policy of the Green Party in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I mentioned the party.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: It is a question to the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: It is an important question. I would have to blame the Leader because he went public on this issue about the Seanad nomination. It is important to this House because the question is whether the Green Party Members are operating an empty chair policy. Is it simply about this nomination or is it more fundamental about whether the Green Party is supporting the Government, be it on the Lisbon...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I would add that if the Green Party has a problem we may be able to assist it. If it would vote for a candidate from this side of the House, we might be able to facilitate it and if its Members came back into the Chamber, we could discuss that.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (17 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister of State for his exposition of the situation with regard to terrorism on the island of Ireland and the need for this legislation to be continued. Fine Gael fully supports the continuation of the provisions of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 given the deterioration in the situation over the past year. I refer to the killings of British Army soldiers,...

Seanad: Death of former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I knew Michael Howard very briefly, but found him a unique gentleman. His insight into Irish politics, and the Seanad and its operation in particular, was profound. I am privileged to have known him and am proud to say he was a friend of mine. Senator Fitzgerald spoke about his ability as a strategist and his experience of 20 years in the Seanad. I was the beneficiary of some of that...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: The National Assets Management Agency is mandated to assume the toxic loans of the banks and, where necessary, call in the securities provided and realise the value of the properties in question. The Government has not addressed a technical problem of fundamental importance to the ability of NAMA to realise the assets which underpin the loans it proposes to assume. This problem, of which...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: In 2006, Ms Justice Laffoy noted a lacuna in the law and stated it was for legislators to remedy it. As no action has been taken, I ask the Leader to address the matter to the Minister. The question of family homes does not arise in this respect as such properties are afforded additional constitutional and statutory protections. The problem relates to commercial and agricultural property...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: Regarding the Lisbon treaty and the guarantees which are now being put in place, I welcome the progress that has been made. As Senator Norris said, we need clear language on this and we are getting that. We had a confused, emotionally charged referendum campaign on the last occasion and it is time to end the emotional blackmail that existed at that time. We now have clear language being...

Seanad: Health Services. (11 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: The issue I am raising is a specific one but it arises in the context of a more general problem in the health service, namely, that hospital beds are being occupied by persons who do not require hospital care but rather nursing care or special assistance. A gentleman whom I will not name who suffers from Parkinson's disease and is confined to a wheelchair has been cared for in an acute...

Seanad: Health Services. (11 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I welcome the HSE's undertaking to engage in a case review in respect of the person in question. I hope the statement to the effect that the Cheshire Home in Blackrock is not suitable is not an indication that the case review is being prejudged. However, I again welcome the commitment to review the needs of the individual to whom I refer.

Seanad: Health Services. (11 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I accept that.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: A worrying report appears in The Irish Times today under the headline "EU members fear Lisbon guarantees may reopen whole debate". I presume this refers to the concern of other EU governments that the possible inclusion in the Lisbon treaty of a protocol relating to the guarantees Ireland is seeking in respect of abortion, workers' rights, neutrality etc. may cause political problems in...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: Is there a need for an integrated computer database to facilitate this "catch me if you can" approach to policing and the investigation of fraud in order that we might tackle this issue more effectively?

Seanad: Human Trafficking: Motion (10 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern. Fine Gael supports the motion before the House. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this difficult and important issue. Human trafficking is the third most lucrative illicit business in the world after arms and drug trafficking. The Government's record in this area is not impressive. The introduction of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking)...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2009: Second Stage (10 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the fact this Bill is initiated here and is being introduced in this House. In June 2008, Fine Gael published its Victims Rights Bill to give the victims of crime comprehensive statutory rights for the first time under Irish law. The Minister at that time attacked Deputies Shatter and Charles Flanagan, the co-authors of that Bill, and surreptitiously...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: I thank Senators O'Toole and Quinn for supporting my call for a debate on the Schengen Agreement. I raised this matter last week and as the Leader agreed there would be a debate, perhaps he can confirm when the debate on Schengen will take place. The reality is that it involves passport-free passage between member states. One justification for having this restriction and for Ireland not...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2009)

Eugene Regan: No one said that.