Results 8,961-8,980 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for a change in the Order of Business to allow a discussion of the undocumented Irish in the United States. The manner in which the Taoiseach has abandoned his previous position on supporting the calls made on behalf of these people is surprising and extraordinary. If only for that reason, we should have a debate. There now appears to be a clear change...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Mar 2008)

Alex White: Clearly, we need a debate on this. Members on the Government side have raised this repeatedly. Now that they have a timely opportunity, let them support the call for a debate. I second Senator Fitzgerald's proposal for an amendment to the Order of Business. There have been calls in the House for a debate on the economy. One of the aspects of the changes in recent weeks and months in our...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: Despite the talk of people being in favour of the spirit of the Bill, of everybody singing from the same hymn sheet and of the Bill being premature and not thought through, the Labour Party, with the support of others, is proposing a real and practical measure to protect agency workers which is being opposed by the Government. It is being rejected by the Government which will vote against...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: ——and all the nonsense about everyone singing from the same hymn sheet. When we present a practical proposal which has been well thought through and is clear in describing the impact of the measure, the Government informs us this proposal will be rejected, that it might do something in the future and it will discuss it with the social partners.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: We will go through the reasons because there are many of them. The Minister of State does not seem to be able to decide what the reason is.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I refer to the contribution by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, which lists at least five or six reasons. He referred to the reason the Irish Government did not support the EU directive on temporary agency work. He spoke a nonsense about the fact there are different industrial regimes across Europe, something we all know is the case. Everyone knows there is a long history of...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: The Minister of State's second reason and explanation is that flexibility is required. He stated that the Irish Government is concerned that these proposals to give proper basic rights to agency workers might compromise the flexibility that is required in a market economy. We are now getting to the real meat. He gives a reason that is much closer to the truth of what is going on. The...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: Who runs this country? Is it the sovereign Irish Government or the FDI sector? We listened to the views and must take into consideration the views of people who set up industries in this country and I do not disagree with that for one moment. However, such people do not decide, do not determine and should not be allowed determine the basic employment standards in this country. The foreign...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: If Senator Callely reads the Minister of State's contribution, he will see that the six weeks proposal is entirely consistent with what is being proposed in the EU directive.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: Senator de Búrca who is sitting behind Senator Callely on the same side of the House, made a very good speech and I agree with her criticism of the Irish Government for its failure. I am not seeking to embarrass anyone in this House; I genuinely agree with what she said, that the Irish Government is wrong to stand in the way of this progressive measure. It is not enough for the Minister of...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: Senator Callely does not seem to know the facts.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: If he checks the facts he will see clearly that Ireland is one of the three governments that has essentially blocked this progressive measure. He cannot have it every way; either he is for this measure or he is not.

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: The Minister of State referred to flexibility. Why is it that this great notion of flexibility is so privileged and elevated in the case of what employees must tolerate and sustain but never applies on the other side of the equation? Flexibility is something only looked for from employees. What about flexibility from employers and from this Government in terms of introducing basic...

Seanad: Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: In what manner is it not thought through? This legislation is modelled on existing legislation covering the rights of fixed-term workers. There is nothing particularly strange or unusual in the overall scheme of this legislation. That statement is not thought through. It is a self-serving attempt by the Government to renege on the responsibility it should have as a sovereign Government to...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, subsection (2)(a), line 35, after "or" to insert "the person does not comply with section 18(6), or" The proposal refers to section 12(2)(a). Again we are dealing with a circumstance whereby the Minister may refuse to issue a passport. Section 12(2) states: The Minister may refuse to issue a passport to a person if— (a) the application for the issue of a...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I do not propose to press the amendment at this point. I might review the matter between now and Report Stage.

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 6: In page 10, subsection (1), line 6, after "child" to insert the following: "and, if the father of the child is not a guardian but is named on the birth certificate of the child, such father,".

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: What Senator Ormonde says is very fair. There are complex issues associated with the question of guardianship. When I finish here I shall be attending the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, and we are wrestling with these issues, which are very complex and sensitive. These are issues which have come up in the course of public debate not just in this context of...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I move amendment No. 8: In page 12, subsection (1), line 26, after "duties" to insert the following: "or for related or other purposes in accordance with generally accepted international practice". Some of the provisions in section 16 are intriguing and worthy of further scrutiny. Section 16(1), which concerns diplomatic and official passports, states: The Minister may, on application in...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Committee Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Alex White: I have heard it suggested a Senator is always on official duties.