Results 161-180 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to seek a debate on the economy. I am particularly conscious of the fact the markets reflect the realities that obtain. Earlier this year, the markets recovered somewhat before falling back. What is happening in the markets at present is a sustained recovery. In light of this and the fact that all boats will rise with the tide that will result from such a recovery, it is time the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: The Senator was allowed to speak without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I do not wish to be interrupted.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: We are the true Republican Party. We brought the peace process.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I thank the Cathaoirleach because I am able to make my point better than someone else can make it for me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I again call for that debate on pensions.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to allow statements on banking to be taken for two hours.

Seanad: Banking: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State and I welcome the opportunity to speak on the banks again. The attempts by the Opposition to hold the Government responsible are very interesting. It is something that Oppositions occasionally do. Senator O'Reilly outlined the case of how sometime in the past the then Opposition spokesperson, a Fianna Fáil Deputy, attempted to hold the then Minister for...

Seanad: Banking: Statements. (27 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I would like to hold accountable what Opposition Members are saying. They have made certain claims about the banking crisis. Even the spokesperson here today claimed that during the last term in the Dáil he outlined how we had a property bubble. That being the case, why in 2007 did he support the Fine Gael manifesto that proposed the complete abolition of stamp duty, which would have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support the calls for a debate on the role of tribunals. There are times when tribunals are necessary. I am conscious that in the North a tribunal to find out what exactly happened on Bloody Sunday in Derry cost €100 million and a cost of €1 billion or more would have been correct to find out the truth in that case. However, there are tribunals in this country at present the public...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: The House is in consensus in its disbelief that the banking sector has not understood the fundamental changes that have taken place not only in this country but across the world. Goldman Sachs is now experiencing strong regulation in the United States. I welcome strong regulation of the Irish banking sector which we have seen recently. Electricity prices are a fundamental cost in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support calls for a debate involving the Minister for Finance. Naturally, I would not expect him to cancel all his duties today and put down his tools immediately in order that we could debate an issue that could be debated on another date. In particular I note the bank regulator appears to be doing very good job at the moment in outlining exactly what needs to be done to ensure...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Apr 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I agree with the call for a debate on the Government's cardiovascular policy. We could do some good service in this area, for example by pointing out that more than 2,000 people die as a result of strokes in this country each year. Strokes are the biggest cause of acquired disability. We need a focused and cost-effective approach. The management of disability is very expensive. I look...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I thank the Leader for so speedily arranging the debate on the banking situation for today. It is interesting to note from the Opposition this morning that there was knowledge in the Lower House during the previous term of Government of the difficulties in the banking sector. There was awareness of how difficult the situation was and of the property bubble that would create difficulties....

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Mar 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to write to the Russian ambassador offering support at this difficult time following the terrorist attacks on the Moscow metro. It must be terrifying to be trapped within an enclosed, possibly dark, space when a bomb explodes. I can think of few more frightening experiences. Yesterday's bomb attacks were a heinous crime. I welcome the progress made in talks with the trade...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I too would like a debate on the escalation of the public service work to rule. It is particularly serious now as the most vulnerable are going to be hit if the social welfare offices across the country close. I am conscious that those who would be affected do not have lines of credit, overdrafts, credit or debit cards or even savings. The very people who need welfare money immediately are...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (24 Mar 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to allow us to look at the way the Committee on Procedure and Privileges allows us to do our business. Last year we took radical steps to ensure the public finances and the banks were returned to a stable position and the full focus of the Government was on jobs. It is important, as mentioned by Senator Walsh, that the Seanad should now focus exclusively on jobs this year...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (24 Mar 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: That is right. I am asking the Leader to address the Committee on Procedure and Privileges with this in mind in order to have a full and ongoing debate on job creation as a priority this year.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2010 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage. (24 Mar 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to share time with Senator Larry Butler, with the permission of the House. The debate on the benefits of the Finance Bill 2010 has been well answered at an international level. It is very easy to make a decision when there is no choice. The Government took long hours, days, weeks and months, to ensure the tough decisions were fair. It is no surprise that the effective cut in pay of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Mar 2010)

John Gerard Hanafin: I also raise the issue of the way that the public has been treated in the Passport Office. No doubt whatever aims the people who work in the Passport Office may have had, have been negated in full by the strong reaction from the public and I suggest that this is not the way forward to achieve their aims. When this economy was doing quite well, there was benchmarking. Given the severe...