Results 141-160 of 1,934 for speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: They will be stakeholders obviously.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2014)

Tom Shehan: I have a question on outsourcing, if I may be so bold. Two or three years ago the issue of outsourcing was first raised, with the four Dublin local authorities and Waterford being done to date. If we kept at this rate, we would not get to the end of valuation of properties in the State until 2029. The progress that has been made has been miserable. At the time it was proposed that funding...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fisheries Protection (18 Sep 2014)

Tom Shehan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. The easy way to secure a level playing pitch, a term the Minister of State used on several occasions, would be to tackle those who are impinging on the fishing industry, namely, the fishermen from the Faroe Islands and Iceland who are fishing just outside our waters and to whom quotas do not apply. As I stated, they have taken 1...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Fisheries Protection (18 Sep 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister of State and compliment him on the fact that he has taken to his portfolio like the proverbial a duck to water. Speaking to colleagues and others, it is widely recognised that he is the most helpful and the most approachable and I thank him for that. The issue I raise is of national importance and relates to the whole fishing industry. It affects Dingle, Killybegs,...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: As soon as is practicable, will the Leader invite the new Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to the House to explore options for utilising our rail network to its maximum capacity? As it stands, that network is dormant for some eight hours of the day. It would be useful, for example, to debate the economic viability of using the network to move freight at night. As I said, this...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: That only involves Dublin Bus.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: Whoever will be Minister for Health come tomorrow, can he or she be brought to the House as a matter of urgency to debate the extension of the free cervical cancer screening programme to college students on their entrance to third level? As it stands, free screening is only available to the over-25s. There seems to be a quasi and lackadaisical approach to this matter. I dealt with a young...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on this Bill. I do not believe it goes far enough, however. From my experience over recent years, I believe there are a number of points that have been overlooked. This could be dealt with if the Minister gave local authorities autonomy in bringing in by-laws on housing, because no legislation will cover housing needs, discipline, etc.,...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: Like my colleagues, I congratulate the Minister. He is a Minister who listens, the proof of which is the Bill's unanimous acceptance today. I will tell the truth: I am glad to see this Bill pass, as it was only a number of weeks ago that a public servant contacted me to complain. I told her that she was protected when approaching management, but her response was "No way". I made the...

Seanad: Protected Disclosures Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: If a staff member goes to a more senior staff member and the senior member reports this to management or the employer, is the junior staff member covered by this provision? One can assume that would happen in the workplace. A junior staff member might not have the confidence or wherewithal to go to the boss or the management. There should be no ambiguity about whether he or she would be...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: It is glaringly obvious this afternoon that Members opposite from the Fianna Fáil group cannot hide their hurt, anger, disappointment and probably disillusionment-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: -----at the loss of their greatest vote getter, Brian Crowley. As Trapattoni used to say, "the cat is in the sack" but I wonder is it that the cat has been let out of the sack by the grouping that the former Fianna Fáil MEP, Brian Crowley, has joined?

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: One cannot but observe-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: I do. I ask the Deputy Leader to request the Minister for Social Protection to come into the House in order that we can have a debate on homelessness. I know of the case of a young man who granted might have a few blemishes on his CV but he is a citizen of the State. He is homeless and while accommodation is provided in a hostel-type building, he will not go there because he has found it...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: No, I believe this is a big debate. I request that the Minister for Social Protection come into the House to debate this matter. A debate on homelessness must commence sooner rather than later. It is a serious debate that needs to take place.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: If the Senator applied, he would be out of here and life would be much easier. I will second his nomination.

Seanad: Public Service Management (Transparency of Boards) Bill 2014: Second Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Tom Shehan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate Senator Feargal Quinn on bringing forward the Bill. My fear is that State boards would be made up of an elite group, probably from the same socio-economic background and more than likely would all come from Dublin. It is aspirational to believe that people, and there are great people on State boards, would give of their time for...

Seanad: Suspension of Standing Orders: Motion (11 Jun 2014)

Tom Shehan: We are responsible for our own votes.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jun 2014)

Tom Shehan: As soon as the Cabinet reshuffle is over and the replacement for the former Minister of State, former Deputy Brian Hayes, is made, will the Leader organise a debate with his replacement on public procurement procedures? We are told of the savings made through this new drive in procurement but I am afraid I am seeing the other side of it where jobs are being lost. Are real savings made? We...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Tom Shehan: I thank the Minister of State for providing this substantial reply. I am glad that forestry payments will not be affected for those whose plantations have been destroyed and that there will be no trimming of that. Much of this forestry is 15 or 20 years into a 30-year lifespan and so the value is minimal. The cost of the harvesting will probably be as much as will be achieved in selling...