Results 1,241-1,260 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I refer to a statement made by the Leader, Senator Donie Cassidy, last Thursday, when he referred to the new Senators in the House. He complained about certain interruptions from these benches. We have been very patient with the Leader in his replies each week to the Order of Business and the questions raised. Indeed, we have been more patient than Senators on the Fianna Fáil benches, who...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask that the Leader would desist from talking down in that fashion. The Leader also has a tendency to avoid the specific questions raised in the debate. I asked last week if he would comment on the lack of experience and qualifications, whether in the economic, commercial, banking or financial spheres, of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to manage the economy. I got no...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——that are designed to distract from the points that are made and the failures of the Government which are highlighted by Members on this side of the House. I find his replies tedious, tiresome and long-winded and I ask that the Leader would not talk down to new Senators in this House ——

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——and I ask that he would bear that in mind. If we are to have constructive debates, new Senators should not be denigrated in the manner in which they have been. On the basis of treating people equally, I wish to refer to a case to be heard in the European Court tomorrow relating to mandatory retirement ages. The case has been referred from the United Kingdom and centres on the...

Seanad: Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2008: Second and Subsequent Stages (26 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister for his presentation and welcome him to the House. It is the first time I have had an opportunity to discuss a policy issue with him. There is no question a new prison is needed and it must be of the highest standard. I appreciate that the process which has gone through the Oireachtas on Thornton Hall essentially has been a planning one. I have difficulties, however,...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The penny seems to have dropped with the Taoiseach regarding the economy. One reads of corrective action now being taken. In managing the economy, those responsible must understand it and must have experience of managing an economy in different economic circumstances. However, the Government only has experience of managing the boom. It even has failed at that, to judge from the evidence...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: While I appreciate——

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I have only started, but I will be brief. I appreciate we will be having a debate on the issue, but I would like to make a point to the Leader about the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance. Where is their experience of managing an economy in difficult economic circumstances? Do these people have qualifications in economics? Do they have experience in business, banking,...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: How can we have confidence in the Taoiseach or his Minister for Finance to manage the recession if they have failed to manage the boom? There is a contrast between the current Government and those of Garret FitzGerald, Alan Dukes and John Bruton, who had the qualifications and the experience of managing an economy in the kind of circumstances which exist today.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: This Government has a lack of experience and qualifications and has a very poor track record over the past ten years. How can we have confidence that it will manage the economy in this recession?

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The only issue I raised in respect of this Bill was the element of retrospection and the situation of those who have sat, or are who are about to sit, the Irish examination for the qualification of barrister or solicitor. The Minister's amendment satisfies that request but will he clarify precisely how he sees it applying in practice? That might deal with the concerns of Senator Alex White....

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I appreciate that the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, has responded to concerns raised at the previous reading of the Bill. The amendments put forward have neatly resolved the concerns of all parties and I appreciate the efforts of the Minister in that regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: On the Lisbon treaty, several points have been made across the floor on the Government side. There has been talk of issues decided in Brussels which constitute excessive regulation. The reality is that every measure agreed in Brussels is agreed by the Government and the relevant Minister who attends the Council. One cannot wash one's hands of decisions made in Brussels since we are part of...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——and a discretion left to member states in the way they implement EU regulations. To blame Brussels at this juncture is disingenuous. I support the call for a debate on the economy. The Taoiseach, in The Irish Times newspaper this morning, denied he is to blame for the economic downturn. We cannot blame the Taoiseach for everything. We do not believe all aspects of the recession are...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The forecast for 2009 is for a budget deficit of €7.4 billion which is not good management of the public finances.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: That is the net point and the self-evident responsibility of the Government which cannot be brushed under the carpet.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: We have had a number of attempts to have a debate on the economy in this House. When we discussed the economy the Leader and his colleagues generally referred to the past ten years and the level of growth. The reality is, as with so many other things, that Fianna Fáil has been caught out on this issue. It is now official because the report comes from the ESRI, not from Fine Gael, although...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——and inflation of——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The other side must face the facts——

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: It must face the facts. That Government left inflation of 1.5% with a growth rate of 7.8% and an increase in productivity that has not been excelled since then. Damage has been done to the national debt which is rising in a return to 1980 levels, Government spending——