Results 1,281-1,300 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: We will debate the matter this afternoon. Those on the "No" side, including Libertas and Sinn Féin have argued for a renegotiation. The logic of a renegotiation is that what is renegotiated must be ratified either by the Oireachtas or by the people in a referendum. The logic of their case for a "No" vote in this referendum is that another referendum will take place on the Lisbon treaty...

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister of State for that exposé. I consider the European Union to be a fantastic and extraordinary project in which we have played a part for 35 years. We have, in many ways, shaped the Europe in which we now live and have ownership of it. We have benefitted greatly from the EU and have a keen interest in ensuring it functions effectively, democratically and in a transparent...

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: If the treaty is not ratified, it is up to each member state. The harsh reality is that it is very likely that if Britain proceeds other member states will also proceed. We will have 26 member states that have ratified the treaty. Ultimately, we will have to decide whether we want to remain in the centre of Europe or enter the slow lane. Ireland has long experience of being on the...

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: It is calling a spade a spade——

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——and it needs to be done, because otherwise we cannot move forward.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: For the purposes of the discussion I will second the amendment.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report and Final Stages (5 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I second the amendment. The Minister gave a fairly comprehensive response to the debate and questions raised by Senator Alex White and me on the previous occasion and indicated that the intention of the amendment was to make it retrospective. My concern was that the existing provision provides for the ability of a tenant to renunciate prior to the taking out of a tenancy — assigning the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The UK constitutional structure is that sovereignty resides in the Crown through parliament. In the Irish constitutional set-up sovereignty resides with the people. This is the reason we are having a referendum in Ireland and the UK is not. I say this because whether Tony Blair or Gordon Browne promised a referendum in the United Kingdom is a matter of domestic politics there. It is not...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: The UK Independence Party wants out of Europe. I do not believe the Irish electorate should be influenced in terms of the referendum on the Lisbon treaty by UK propaganda. We fought long and hard for our sovereignty. It is our decision and it should be based on Ireland's interests. It is important we bear this in mind. We should not be influenced on this issue by the propaganda of the UK...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask that the Leader bring this point to the attention of the relevant Minister who has read the Lisbon treaty.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: On the Lisbon treaty——

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I would like to speak briefly about our reason for having a referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I welcome the Taoiseach's U-turn on the veto to the world trade talks.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I very much welcome the position taken by the ICMSA and the IFA on the Lisbon treaty. The Taoiseach's timing is not the best and it is unfortunate that this situation was not defused a long time ago, but it is better late than never.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: Perhaps the Taoiseach is not a tough guy after all and he is a bit of a pussycat when push comes to shove.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: It is fortunate that the matter has been resolved.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: As the campaign on the Lisbon treaty draws to a close, it would be useful to examine all the arguments made by the "No" campaign, which were completely undermined as information emerged about the treaty. There will be no change to Irishneutrality, the 12.5% corporation tax rate, abortion laws, gay marriage, stem cell research, the veto on the WTO agreement and the primacy of EU law or...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: There is no change in workers' rights except for the better with the introduction of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: What we have is a more democratic, transparent and efficient European Union.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: Does the Leader concur with that summary of the current position? Not only do we have these bizarre arguments, we now have an array of people and organisations opposed to the treaty.