Results 21-40 of 23,052 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: This was a massive stroke of genius on the part of Fianna Fáil because it took on board all the people on the social housing list and they offered their support. They felt that Fianna Fáil would back them all the way and set aside 20% of every development for social housing. What has happened? They now have to face reality in relation to this Bill and the fact that the Bill Fianna Fáil...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Swimming Pool Projects. (10 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister of State. I do not want to labour the point about this swimming pool project but Castlebar is a progressive town of approximately 12,000 people. It was recently announced that it was to be a hub town, which we welcome. The existing swimming pool was installed in the late 1970s when some would say it was outdated, never mind today. While we appreciate that much has been...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. Like Senator McDowell, I find it hard to understand what the Bill is about. I have gone into some detail with regard to public private partnerships. In some cases, I can see how such partnerships will work but not in all. If this Bill is passed, I hope that public private partnerships will only be used where there will be a positive gain.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: The Minister is very unfair to the journalists who were present.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: I would like to ask the Minister of State about this amendment, in so far as it relates to projects such as group water schemes, extensions to sewerage schemes or the provision of sewage treatment units. There is a lot of merit in the amendment proposed by Senator John Phelan. I understand that a number of companies will tender for specific PPP projects, such as group water schemes or...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: Surely this is just another layer of bureaucracy, in the light of what the Minister of State has said. The National Development Finance Agency is only going to advise about finance. It will have no role other than obtaining finance for some of the public private partnerships and advising about the financial package. There is much more to those public private partnerships than just finance....

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: What about the pension fund?

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: I support Senator Phelan's amendment. I am amazed at Senator Mansergh, who said earlier that he worked in the Department of Finance.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: Higher up again.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: Perhaps the Senator chose to ignore the content of this amendment. Public private partnerships are set up to make money, no private company would go into partnership to lose money. Some of the pensions fund should be used to make money.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: Perhaps there are too many agencies but we should not lose out for the sake of making a decision, no matter if it is the pensions board or this agency that makes it. It would be too bad if we cannot use the money that we are providing in the pensions fund to invest in projects that will make money.

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: This agency will have the best financial expertise available from one of the most progressive countries in the world. If there is so much advice available, surely those people would be able to use our pensions fund in the best possible projects. They will have a choice. I cannot see why Senator Mansergh opposes this amendment. The agency will adjudicate on all public private partnership...

Seanad: National Development Finance Agency Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (17 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: I support Senator Phelan and agree it would not be much of a leap. When public private partnerships are in place, whether for water, sewerage of otherwise, the contracts will be for 20 to 25 years. Local accountability will be taken away. Heretofore, local authorities had annual estimates where local councillors could ask the county manager for a report regarding water, sewerage or otherwise....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. I support Senator Kitt in regard to the rural transport initiative. It is a great scheme and should be more widely advertised and used. Those who do avail of it for a day out get great enjoyment from it. The scheme could be broadened and companies and businesses should be encouraged to support it financially. I also support those who spoke about the...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: I have listened attentively to the debate and I consider the amendment to be worthy. The issue comes down to economics, because the Minister does not want to employ additional staff to man the ports or other points of entry into the country. How many people who emigrated to America from this country over the years were returned? It would be unfair to place the onus on carriers, including Aer...

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: The Minister missed the point.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: Is that the current position?

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: Nobody on this side is suggesting that would happen.

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: The Minister said that Ireland is the only country in the European Union that does not have carrier liability legislation. I thought this Bill was brought forward by the Minister, but it obviously emanates from Europe. Is it fair to suggest that EU laws apply to Irish carriers like Ryanair and Aer Lingus going to other European countries such as Spain and France on routes such as Dublin to Malaga?

Seanad: Immigration Bill, 2002: Committee Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Paddy Burke: They found her and they continue to find her today.