Results 1,301-1,320 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: They range from Sinn Féin to the British Tories and from Jean-Marie Le Pen to the French Communists. There is also Youth Defence and Cóir. I referred to the CIA and Opus Dei on a previous occasion and I am quite happy to say that those organisations are not involved in the "No" campaign.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to correct the record in that regard. I believe that Senator Ross is also opposed at this stage.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: Not only have we seen bizarre and false arguments made, all these organisations have produced contradictory arguments because they do not agree on any one element of this.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: Sinn Féin complains about privatisation and public services while Libertas claims that it is the end of free competition.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: Does the Leader agree that this is a reasonable summary of the debate to date?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jun 2008)

Eugene Regan: Do not look at me.

Seanad: Prison Building Programme: Motion. (29 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: This is a project into which, in many respects, the Oireachtas was bounced. It was a rushed job at the time and it was ill-thought through. It is symptomatic of the waste of this Government and the expense incurred has been the subject of adverse comment by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The site secured was 50% bigger than originally intended and there was a lack of competition in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to follow up on what has been said regarding the Lisbon treaty. A new element has been introduced by an organisation, Cóir, relating to the primacy of EU law. Reference has been made by this organisation to a declaration 17 of the Lisbon treaty, which reiterates the existing position on the primacy of EU law. This is what we signed up to when we joined the European Union in 1973....

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I will respond to the Cathaoirleach's directions on that. I have a question for the Leader. On the basis of this false premise this organisation is suggesting that abortion could be introduced by the European Court, although the court is in fact bound by the express wording of the Lisbon treaty, which specifically acknowledges the Irish constitutional prohibition of abortion. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: However, the wording of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which forms part of the Lisbon treaty, specifically states that such issues will be decided in accordance with national law. Thus, it is for this House and the Dáil to decide on same-sex marriage. It is also suggested that ratification of the Lisbon treaty could result in harmonisation of taxes, including corporation taxes. Again,...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I have a specific question for the Leader. This is a matter which has to do with the interpretation of the Constitution and the existing legal position. It would be helpful if the Attorney General could issue a view on this and a statement clarifying the position. Senator Norris has a bee in his bonnet about the provisions on neutrality in the Lisbon treaty. The President of the European...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask that the relevant Minister come to the House to address this issue and allay the concerns of Senator Norris.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to express my surprise at the Leader's outburst yesterday following an appeal from this side of the House that Members avoid criticising each other for what they are doing in the referendum campaign on the Lisbon treaty. It was similar to the Taoiseach's response when Deputy Enda Kenny made a similar appeal. He remarked that Fine Gael and the Labour Party should crank up their...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: Senator Alex White has made a strong case in regard to this provision. If digital recording is being introduced and the District Court represents phase three of its roll out, a case can be made at that juncture to delete the provision. However, the requirement could provide for a healthy level of discipline given that most aspects of the law are administered in the District Court. It is...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: It would be useful if the Minister of State could indicate the motivation behind these amendments.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: On the same issue, the current provisions in the Landlord and Tenant Acts are designed to provide for renunciation of a long-term lease prior to a lease for offices would be entered into. That provision has worked well and it is intended that it be extended to all commercial lettings, if I understand the motivation for the amendment, but we are deleting the words "prior to entering into a...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: This aspect must be looked into further and I reserve the right to table an amendment on Report Stage. I accept that the explanation is helpful. Where it is a relieving provision I do not see any problem with retrospective legislation in this connection but it requires more examination and we will deal with it on Report Stage.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (27 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I welcome the Minister of State's proposal to replace the words "severe hardship" with "undue hardship". It was one of the main concerns raised on Second Stage in the discussions in this and the Lower House. There is still concern that the board does not have the discretion that the Minister of State suggests it has. This may be resolved through the relevant statutory instrument. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I second Senator Coghlan's proposal to amend the Order of Business to discuss consumer issues. This is a highly important matter both in respect of consumer protection and of the competitiveness of our economy. I also refer to the Civil Partnership Bill because I was involved in the debate in this House attended by the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan....

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I question whether the Government can be trusted on this and other issues. I wish to make one point on the statement made by the Taoiseach on the failure of Fine Gael and the Labour Party to pull their weight on the Lisbon treaty. This was a most unfortunate comment. The Taoiseach had an opportunity to be a statesman in respect of the Lisbon treaty. For some months, Deputies Enda Kenny and...