Results 1,321-1,340 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

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

Eugene Regan: Are amendments being taken in groups?

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: The Leader agreed last week to a request that we would have clarification on the WTO agreement, on whether the Government accepted it had a veto and whether it was prepared to use it in the case of the farm sector not being adequately safeguarded and protected in the World Trade talks. He assured the House that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food would give a clarification and...

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements (Resumed) (21 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. I look forward to working with him in this House. The Minister's outline of the existing position regarding the WTO ignores the questions raised in this House and the issue signalled to the Leader that Members required to be addressed. It is not a question of vetoing the WTO as it stands; it is a question of backing up one's words about...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to follow up on the point made by Senator O'Toole with regard to the request by Deputy Finian McGrath for the President to intervene in the ——

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: He is an Independent Deputy. The basis of that request is to identify the constitutional implications of the Lisbon treaty. It will not be passed by the Oireachtas but by the people in a referendum. As constitutional issues are decided by the people, it is a ludicrous request in some respects and should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. Senator O'Toole's point that no...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——Viking, Rüffert and other cases. Many of these cases turn on the facts particular to them. Citing them ignores the fact that the majority of workers' rights have emanated from Europe, and many from the European courts. These include equal pay and opportunity, health and safety at work, protection of workers in insolvency situations and the rights of part-time workers. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: There is a social clause in the Lisbon treaty and, as I have mentioned, there is a protocol on services of general economic interest. In international agreements unanimity is still required for any of those services concerning health, education or social matters. The situation is covered in the Lisbon treaty and where that argument is drummed up to support the "No" vote it is not well-founded.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I quoted from the Libertas press release "Government and Commission lying over WTO veto". I stated that if anyone is lying it is Libertas which has given out misinformation on abortion and the 12.5% tax rate. It is an organisation which has serious question marks over its sinister nature when we read The Irish Times today. Declan Ganley is in no position to interpret the Lisbon treaty for...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I accept this. The word was provoked by the wording of the Libertas press release. We can talk about misinformation or misleading information and this is the essence of my statement.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: Last week I spoke about the latest round of trade negotiations at the World Trade Organisation, especially regarding agriculture. I stated that Ireland currently has a veto and that it will continue to have one after the Lisbon treaty referendum. The European Commission has since confirmed that position, even though the Government has been slow to state its position and whether it would use...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: In this week's Irish Farmers' Journal, a poll shows that 78% of farmers are concerned about the WTO talks. This is largely due to the Government playing games with the issue. It has not clarified its position on the veto. As discussed in the House, the veto does not apply in the case of international agreements on agriculture per se. The WTO talks pertain to a mixed agreement on goods and...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I ask that the Minister be specific on these issues. It is only by his doing so that we can persuade farmers there is no link between the Lisbon treaty and the WTO round and that the Government will act in their interest in the negotiations.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Second Stage (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: Cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille. Gabhaim buíochas leis an tAire as ucht na reachtaíochta seo a chur os comhair an tSeanaid agus a mhíniú. The Bill is being introduced in the context of the official recognition in the European Union of Gaeilge as an official and working language of the Union. The basic purpose is that there be an adequate number of barristers and solicitors capable of...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: Will the Leader clarify when the debate will be held on the World Trade Organisation negotiations? That would offer the opportunity of clarifying the situation for Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to raise another issue concerning the Lisbon treaty. It is prompted by an article in The Irish Times today in which the former Deputy, Mr. Joe Higgins, claims the treaty will open the way for privatisation of public services. This is the same line that Sinn Féin trots out in its campaign.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I wish to make the point——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——that the actual wording in the treaty——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: I have a question for the Leader on this and I am entitled to offer the basis for my question.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: There are specific provisions in the treaty on services of general economic interest and services of general interest. This is totally contradictory to the statements made by Mr. Joe Higgins, Ms Mary Lou McDonald and others from Sinn Féin. Furthermore, this is entirely different from the line taken by Libertas——

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Eugene Regan: ——so there are blatant contradictions on the "No" side. It is important that the relevant Minister make a statement on the issue of privatisation as it concerns public undertakings and public services. They are not, and never have been, interfered with by Europe except to the extent that they are required to comply with the competition and Internal Market rules. They are protected by...