Results 881-900 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 May 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: On numerous occasions I have listened to debates here and they are well ordered, incisive and worth listening to. I am disappointed the media consistently refuse, for whatever reason, to take note of what is said in this House. As a matter of interest, Mr. Peter Sutherland, Mrs. Mary Robinson and President Mary McAleese have something in common — they failed to be elected to the Dáil. This...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader congratulate the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Government on the speed with which they responded to the report of the Commission on Electronic Voting?

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: It showed the sensitivity and pragmatism of this Government.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share Senator Mooney's call for a debate on Sudan. It is perhaps not one of the better known conflicts yet it is a serious one in that it has the potential for even further division. It appears it is becoming a Muslim-Christian conflict but because it does not involve American soldiers it has not made the headlines and this serious issue is not spoken about.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to explain why I will be voting for this Bill. As it stands the Constitution contains an anomaly. The generous constitutional allowance, which gives citizenship to a child on birth, has been abused. That is the only reason. There are no complications or variations. I have no wish to take a political stance other than recommending that this generosity not be abused. People have arrived...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I feel as Senator Ó Murchú does on the issue of the torture of the Iraqi citizens in Iraq by American soldiers. It is disturbing for somebody like me who accepted the reasoning for the war, that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that it was ready to use them in a short period. Words take form and have meaning. As a conscientious Senator, like all Members, I am deeply...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the call for a debate on DIRT evasion and would like to see a holistic approach taken to such a debate. I remember a time when people queued to collect their interest, as it was so significant. There are no queues today but the past is a different place. We should look at the reasons people were tempted to obtain a non-resident account. At that time, vast sums of money were leaving...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: Although I do not usually respond to heckling, I made it clear at the outset that I do not justify it. I asked for a holistic approach to the debate.

Seanad: Report of National Advisory Committee on Drugs: Statements. (28 Apr 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I agree with Senator Ó Murchú that an advertising campaign is essential. We could perhaps consider opportunities available in the media, for example, RTE, which might make an effort in its programming to show the harrowing decline of drug addicts and the problems created in communities and for families caught up with drugs. I welcome the publication of the first progress report of the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support Senator Tuffy's request for a speedy return of the Colombia Three, notwithstanding the fact that it has been presented as if they had got lost on the bus. There were certainly in Colombia for some reason. However, the reality is that their lives could be in danger. I also share Senator Leyden's view that trading hours should be regulated. When I worked in the retail trade I was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: Exactly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on housing. The ESRI has confirmed the current boom is expected to continue. It has projected single figure growth in the price of housing. This is on top of the exceptionally high cost of housing in cities, especially in Dublin. Auctioneers have referred to the possibility of double digit growth. In light of the situation where a large proportion of land is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to make inquiries about the need to pay such exorbitant fees to barristers who have guaranteed jobs at the tribunals, which look as if they will continue indefinitely.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am not trying to close them down.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: In many cases they are earning up to €3,000 per day. It is not unreasonable to raise this matter because this is guaranteed income as the tribunals will run for some time yet. That may answer the points raised by the Opposition. Given that these tribunals will run for some time, they could be asked to take €2,000 per day, which is still a huge sum. However, it would be a significant...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: Yes. There was a huge budgetary surplus of approximately €300 million at the beginning of the year.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: Perhaps it would be appropriate for the Leader to write to the Department, stating that there are clearly some places where money could be spent to alleviate suffering.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on competition. In light of what we have seen in the airlines industry, telecommunications and the energy market in recent years, there seems increasing evidence that competition is good. Whereas we all have a constitutional right to strike, I question whether there will be public support for a strike that seems to be politically motivated more than anything else.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: It is not 29 February any longer.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the suggestion that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government should attend the House to discuss one-off rural housing. Having said that, however, the Minister should be commended on his excellent work, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, on the section 48 allowances, which have renewed seaside areas. In addition, the section 23 allowances have...