Results 61-80 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: National Recovery Plan 2011-2014: Statements (24 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: The necessity of the national recovery plan is self-evident. We have the lowest tax wedge within the EU and 45% of our people pay no tax at all. While we would all love to see this continue, in the current climate change is unavoidable. Over the last two years, there has been an 8% decrease in the cost of living; in real terms, even though there might be a small tax increase for people, in...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am conscious that we have one universal provider of postal services in the country. There are dangers inherent in the changes that take place in implementing an EU directive and these should be flagged. An Post's services have been profitable and successful. It has a 90% next-day delivery rate and provides banking and bill payment services. We must ensure such services will continue to...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on the media. I am very conscious that there is a misrepresentation in certain sections of the media at the moment as regards the severity of the situation in this country. I am thinking in particular of Vincent Browne's programme last night, referred to earlier in the House, where a debt of €300 billion plus was suggested for the banks. There were extreme...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: When Mr. Pat Cox addressed this Chamber, he spoke about the light that was the European Union and said part of that light was the European currency. The actions of one of the Government parties in the last couple of days has put the euro in a destabilising position. It is the function of the Government to provide stability. Unfortunately, the coalition partner, the Green Party, has reneged...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: We did it not to save the banks but to save the economy. If we had not saved the banks at the time, bank doors could have closed, ATMs would have stopped working, salaries would not have been paid and the economy would have been seriously damaged. We collectively took decisions at the time. I have no doubt the public will shortly have its say. I hope the Opposition will rise to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: The debate this morning should concentrate on whether the banks need funding.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: If we require this extra funding under the shared sovereignty agreement with the European Union, the debate should cendtre on how much we need. We have heard calls for honesty, for which we have been asked this morning. If the State receives funding for the banks, it cannot come directly through the banks but to the State. Will the Opposition stand up and state that in reality it is not a...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: In looking for a debate on the banks it has become clear that some of the bankers have received non-recourse loans which means that if they are not paid back, one has nothing to come back for. This is an unsustainable position and we must do whatever we need to do to ensure any non-recourse loans taken out by a bank official are found not to be legal because it was an abuse of the system....

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: Like many others, I mourn the passing of our colleague. In particular, I found that, like others, I was drawn to Kieran. I was drawn to his affable ways, his kindness and his good humour. I will especially miss him at a time such as this when we have difficulties. I would get a statement from him as to the bottom line of what we are going through. He was a man who had the ability to see...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader request the Minister for Finance to address the House at the earliest opportunity on the outcome of the ECOFIN meeting? I am especially conscious that we are not in a vacuum and that we need to be very careful about what we say. The comments about sovereign default and the question mark over how we manage our economy do not serve us well because what we say is often...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: Again, unfortunately, we have the impression from the Opposition that circumstances are much worse than they are. To say that Ireland failed to borrow from international lenders is wrong. We did not attempt to seek international funding. We went to the Europeans first. That is a misrepresentation. A further misrepresentation, which I hope ends in the media, is the benchmarking of Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I, too, ask for a debate on consensus. I am confident there is consensus within Europe to the effect that we can deal with our difficulties. That consensus was expressed by Commissioner Michel Barnier last week and Commissioner Olli Rehn today in the belief that we can manage our finances and that there is a way forward and a clear path through the European model. There is another consensus...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: Yesterday, we received very positive news in respect of the economy when it was announced that, for the second successive month, the number of those who are unemployed has decreased.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: In addition, the amount taken in through corporation tax has increased significantly. It does not follow that jobs are created first and then businesses profit. It is the other way around. Yesterday's announcement is a good indicator that there will be further increases in employment in the future. The quantitative easing taking place in the United States is another positive factor. I am...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: In the context of the by-elections, while we can welcome yesterday's result from the High Court, we can also expect that there will be a confirmation from the Supreme Court that there is a separation of powers. I have good news for the Opposition. A by-election was already held in Dublin South and there was a huge waste of public money when the candidate who won did not remain a Member of...

Seanad: Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: In supporting the Government's policies I am cognisant that in 1986 we had a budget deficit of 13%. Some elements of the media keep pressing the issue to the effect that we will not be able to manage our finances, and nothing could be further from the truth. Historically, we were in much more difficult situations in the 1980s, where today only 17% of Government income goes on servicing the...

Seanad: Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I honestly believe the context that was I referring to was specific to making decisions and nobody can say this Government baulks from making strong decisions, and we are heading in the right direction. The public service is getting a very bad press. It is well paid, but the adjustments that had to be made were made. Let us not forget the value the public service gives and the absolute...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: First, I agree with previous speakers who spoke on the issue of child abuse and the lack of care and dereliction of duty. There is no question that as public representatives our message to the public officials is clear. They should do their duty without fear or favour and without consideration of any care other than that which has been entrusted to them. In the case of child care, it is...

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: The first factor to be welcomed from the statement of the Minister for Finance on banking on 30 September is that we have a clear scenario within which we can work. We have figures for the final cost to the taxpayer of the banking crisis. I am cognisant that although the bill will be much higher than initially anticipated, given that we had the lowest debt to GDP anywhere in Europe at €30...

Seanad: Announcement on Banking by the Minister for Finance: Statements (20 Oct 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: That was quick.