Results 1,461-1,480 of 1,591 for speaker:Eugene Regan

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I endorse the objections to the procedures followed in the appointments to the Standards in Public Office Commission. I believe they are slipshod. We have had issues regarding standards in public office and the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill. This is the wrong way to do business. There should be consultation and agreement on this issue. The Government has a tendency to take refuge in U-turns...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: The latter is a complete and ignominious U-turn. What is important is what these U-turns indicate about the Government: total confusion and lack of policy direction.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: They indicate a sheer incompetence and an arrogance that goes with it. It has fallen——

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: Yes, I have. It has fallen on Fine Gael and the Opposition to point out to the Government the direction in which it should go——

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: ——and map out the appropriate course of action. We have welcomed all these U-turns. It characterises a Government that has no policy and no adherence to the commitments made before the general election.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: The issue is how these U-turns have arisen. They have come about because the Government has been found out by a vigilant Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: One issue comes up for decision this week. The Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, has been found out in his stories of fictitious dig-outs and whip-rounds.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I suggest to the Leader that the Taoiseach does another U-turn and that when he comes to give evidence to the tribunal this week, he comes clean on his explanations.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I suggest he does not persist in the childish stories he has given the tribunal.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I ask the Leader, given this affront to democracy and the destruction of all trust in politics, to address that question to the Taoiseach.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: It is an elephant in the room.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I draw the attention of the House to two decisions in the European court this morning in cases relating to the Schengen Agreement. Ireland and the United Kingdom opted out of that agreement with the exception of certain provisions, but both have applied to partake in two aspects of the agreement. One relates to the EU agency, Frontex, which is concerned with co-operation on external...

Seanad: Integration Policy: Statements (Resumed) (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to outline his policies on this important subject. As with much of the business in the Chamber, Senators are making statements on a policy issue, as distinct from dealing with legislation. It would be preferable if we were to deal with legislation such as the immigration Bill, as it would allow us to focus on precisely what action is...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: However, I wish to raise one point regarding a statement made by my constituency colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who stated that Ministers must be paid well in order that they will not be susceptible to outside interference. I was surprised and disturbed by this statement because we have been assured on many occasions that the bad old days of Fianna Fáil...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: If it is, does this need to be included in the terms of reference——

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I ask that the Minister come to the House to explain that statement. If that is a reality——

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: ——then perhaps that should be included in the terms of reference of the review body on higher remuneration.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I ask that the Minister explain that statement and come into the House to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: I have a point of order. The question I asked the Leader was about clarification of the statement of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin. I ask him to address that rather than the general point——

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Eugene Regan: It is on the procedure of addressing the questions that were asked. I believe it is a point of order.