Results 181-200 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Standards in Public Office Commission Membership: Motions (22 Jan 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome and support the proposed appointments of Mr. Justice Daniel O'Keeffe and Mr. Jim O'Keeffe to the Standards in Public Office Commission. While I do not know Mr. Justice O'Keeffe, I can certainly vouch for my former colleague, Mr. Jim O'Keeffe, who also has a legal background. The Minister seeks to strike a balance on the commission by appointing a former Member of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jan 2014)

Tom Shehan: I have two issues to raise with the Deputy Leader. When can we expect the Coroners Bill in the House? I understood that the two pillar banks were instructed to, and indicated that they would, lend €3 billion each to the business community. Could we have the Minister for Finance in the House to debate that and determine what the two pillar banks loaned to small businesses last year...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: When will the Coroners Bill 2007 be brought before the House? It has been on the list for some time and needs to be dealt with shortly because the current process is outdated and archaic. It needs to be freshened up.

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: The Minister should put his legal hat on.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: I support the points made by the Leader. I also endorse the provisions in the Bill regarding the furnishing of receipts and so on. Something that springs to mind as we discuss this issue is the phenomenon of certain multimillionaires in this country pointing out that they do not need children's allowance, while still going to the trouble of claiming it.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (13 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: They are saying they do not need it, but they are not giving it back. That is why I agree with a vouched system of receipts. If money is being claimed, there must be a paper trail to support it.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: We do have a constituency and I live in my constituency. I am contacted by people from throughout the country, but I live in my constituency. However, when people come seeking help, where is a Senator supposed to meet with those people? The day of politicians meeting people in pubs and carparks is gone. Let us be honest about this. No Member of this House is a Senator on a part-time...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Howlin, to the Chamber to discuss this short but significant Bill. The primary purpose of the Bill is to amend and extend Part 3 of the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938. In short, the Bill provides for a 10% reduction in the rates of the allowance, with a saving of €840,000, and for changes to improve the effectiveness and transparency of...

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: -----from the people.

Seanad: Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2013)

Tom Shehan: On section 2 the Minister stated: The section includes two new provisions. The first new provision provides that qualifying expenses arising out of parliamentary activities will only be regarded as qualifying expenditure where such expenditure is not otherwise reimbursed or provided for.I put it to the Minister that I am not a part-time Senator. I do not spend just three days a week working...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Tom Shehan: Senator David Norris observed that the budget announced today will involve an adjustment of €2.5 billion, constituting both taxation measures and expenditure savings. As unpalatable as those measures will be, I am glad the Minister has not succumbed to the austerity junkies - many of them members of my own party - who are unhappy with measures amounting to €2.5 billion and...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister to the House. The Bill will establish a detailed and comprehensive legislative framework protecting whistleblowers in all sectors of the economy. This Bill represents a positive step in our programme for political reform. We have tackled corruption head-on in our term in office. The legislation will provide a robust statutory framework within which workers can now...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (25 Sep 2013)

Tom Shehan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: SI 325 of 2012 - European Union (Quality and Safety of Human Organs Intended for Transplantation) Regulations 2012: Motion (20 Aug 2013)

Tom Shehan: I was contacted during the week by a consultant from a major trauma hospital. What he hopes will come from this debate is that someone will name the hospitals that are not doing their job. He said that in the case of every trauma he deals with where there is a possibility of organ donation, he, personally, speaks to the family involved. The suggestion has been bandied about here that we...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Jul 2013)

Tom Shehan: I commend Senator Quinn. When he initiated this legislation, I wondered why this could not be done in six months because it was such a simple Bill and he explained it so simply at the time. We are where we are. The Senator is to be commended on introducing this Bill. The Minister has to be commended for running with it and bringing it to fruition today. I know the Irish Concrete...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jul 2013)

Tom Shehan: We should be directing our attention towards the upcoming budget. To that end I have written this morning to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, asking that we give austerity a break, following the words of Mr. Mody, formerly of the IMF. I believe he is right. The working people are suffering. They are finding life very difficult and we cannot hit them again in this budget. This...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2013)

Tom Shehan: I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, to the House to put one question to him, that is, are those in the education system within his remit adhering to the Haddington Road agreement? A parent who came to me last week has a son with Asperger's syndrome. Such pupils are prescribed a scribe at State examinations - the junior and leaving...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Tom Shehan: Next Wednesday.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Tom Shehan: I think it is in the Liffey.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Tom Shehan: There was an old style of budgeting. Senator Darragh O'Brien mentioned local authorities which were probably the biggest culprits of this spend it or lose it approach. We saw roadworks being done in November and December in ice and snow because local authorities had to spend the money as they would not get the equivalent funding the following year if they had not spent it and had to return...