Results 41-60 of 784 for speaker:Jimmy Harte

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I have recently been contacted by many soccer fans who will go to Barcelona hoping to see Ireland play Andorra in that city. Maybe the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport could be asked to make a statement on the position in which fans find themselves. To date about 4,000 people have booked trips to Barcelona to watch the European Championship game which was originally supposed to...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: Perhpas the Minister could make a statement, because the time for the match is approaching. I ask him to speak to UEFA about whether it could change its mind. There may be 3,000 fans arriving in Barcelona without a match to go to - I will probably be one myself. I ask the Minister to make a statement on this.

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I welcome the Minister and thank him for outlining the up-to-date position. I set up my insurance brokerage firm almost 30 years ago. Any insurance broker operating in the country could have predicted this day would come following the entry of Quinn Insurance into the market. When it entered the market, it massively undercut other insurance businesses. An example would be a shop which...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: We did, and with several other bodies. Ordinary people on the street were wondering how Quinn Insurance could do business at a figure one quarter of what massive companies such as Hibernian Insurance, Norwich Union and Axa, companies which have been in business for 200 or 300 years and experienced two world wars and depressions, were offering. They could not match it. One of the reasons...

Seanad: Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (15 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I am not an advocate for the use of the guillotine, but we do not have a choice today. I recognise who should be guillotined, but that is another day's work. We have to move on from this situation. Perhaps the country will learn in future how regulation should be done. As an insurance broker during the years, I know the hoops and jumps that we and others in smaller businesses have had to...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I am delighted to hear Senator Ó Clochartaigh refer to the all-Ireland context and calling for a vote for citizens north of the Border in the Presidential election. Would he be as keen to have people in Donegal voting in Northern Ireland or people in the south of Ireland voting in the Six Counties? I live in Donegal where the politicians in Derry are of great importance. Democracy is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: There is a debate, which we are discussing-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I ask Sinn Féin to consider extending the voting right in reverse so that people in the South would also have a vote in the Northern Ireland elections, specifically if there is an election for-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: The Senator is very close. I am sure he could talk to the Unionists.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: If the debate takes place in the context of an all-Ireland vote for a presidential election, people in Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth should be able to vote in areas that have a direct effect on funding for Northern Ireland. What happens in Derry and Tyrone impacts on Donegal, while what happens in Newry impacts on Dundalk. That is why I think it is easy to say we all want a vote. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I call for a debate on social housing, in particular long-term leasing. I do not know whether it has been an issue elsewhere, but people in County Donegal who are offered long-term leases are being told by the local council that, according to the Department of Social Protection, they will not be entitled to exceptional needs payments, which are used to furnish the properties. I have been...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: Perhaps the Cathaoirleach will let me clarify something that was raised in my absence yesterday by Senator Byrne, who himself is absent today, in relation to what I gather were comments about information that I received from-----

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I did not get a chance to reply. It is a matter of public record.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: Would the Deputy Leader allow me to make a statement on this to clarify the accusations Senator Byrne made yesterday? It is in the interests of clarity.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: The question is whether the Deputy Leader is happy that Senator Byrne would make accusations in the House in relation to information which I received from an individual who is not a member of any party and who is not giving that information to the Labour Party? That information was given to me in a casual conversation and was clarified subsequently.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I want a mechanism to investigate and clarify what Senator Byrne was getting at. For the Senator to raise the issue of where the information came from is typical. I want an investigation.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: It may not be, but it is relevant to my statement.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: When can I raise this?

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: I have, but I am not doing it in the proper forum according to the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2011)

Jimmy Harte: Can the Deputy Leader arrange an investigation into the comments Senator Byrne made towards me?