Results 1-20 of 51 for long speaker:Tom Shehan

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Tom Shehan: .... I have spoken to the Minister about these matters prior to the budget. No more than my colleague on the other side of the House, Senator White, and others, I have hobby horses. I recall how long it took the Minister to deliver the budget on budget day and the number of pages in his statement. Despite this, many people said to me the following day that they took only one line from the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Autism Awareness (26 Nov 2015)

Tom Shehan: ...important matter and one which I will champion. The reason I have suggested 1 April to 8 April is that it coincides with World Autism Week, and 2 April coincides with World Autism Day. For too long, people with autism have suffered in silence, many not even knowing that they have the condition. More must be done in order to highlight autism and its effects. I have been in contact with...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Apr 2015)

Tom Shehan: ...between the interested parties. At the time, the Minister of State gave the commitment that there would be. Now Senator Byrne turns around claiming the Bill has been hanging around for too long and that, in some way, the Minister of State dragged his feet on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Apr 2015)

Tom Shehan: ..., I seek a debate on housing, particularly in the context of what Senator Colm Burke said about expenditure. The funding to which Senator Michael D'Arcy and I refer is being allocated for new builds, long-term leasing arrangements and the purchasing of houses. I am confident that the CEO and director of services of Kerry County Council will ensure the money which has been allocated will...

Seanad: Regulation of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Tom Shehan: I am also afraid that such lobbyists would charge accordingly. It is long before time that legislation on lobbying was enacted. Several attempts have been made to do so. I hope the legislation will create greater openness and transparency for elected representatives, public officials senior civil servants. I concur with Senator Byrne that a public register of all lobbyists should be made...

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

Tom Shehan: ...and net profit of 4%, can be levied with a rate of €8,000 per annum. On the other hand, a professional operating out of two rooms with a turnover of €1.5 million per annum might pay €300. I have long argued that the calculation of rates should have a connection to turnover. The turnover should be reflected in the rates. As has been noted earlier, I do not think...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2014)

Tom Shehan: ..., to debate the economic viability of using the network to move freight at night. As I said, this infrastructure is not in use for approximately one third of the day. I raise this matter because long-haul truck drivers are finding it very difficult to make a living as a consequence of the new regulations. I suggest we move freight at night so that long-haul drivers can find work...

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

Tom Shehan: ..., to see a BMW with a 141 registration outside a local authority house that has been gifted or given to a family. People find it very upsetting if they have been waiting for housing for an equally long period. If I bought a BMW with a 141 registration in the morning, I would probably be asked by the Revenue Commissioners where I got the money for it. A gentleman who delivers for a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2014)

Tom Shehan: ...this year - to wear reflective jackets in areas where there are no footpaths or lighting? As it stands, I had a run-in with this over Christmas. I met a man who walks the roads and wears a long dark coat. God forbid any poor driver might come along and be unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident. I put it to the man on two occasions over Christmas that I would bring him a...

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

Tom Shehan: ...disorder, although it was not just Governments. I think every household in the country, in some form, got carried away with budgetary matters. In short, we are making progress but we realise we have a long way to go to clean up the mess we found on entering Government. We have completely modernised and reformed the annual Estimates process, built performance-related information into the...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2013)

Tom Shehan: ...3° to 4° Celsius where I come from, and it is still very cold at night and early in the morning. People in the lower socioeconomic grades have been affected by cold weather and fuel costs this long winter, which lasted from October to May Day. An extension would help people.

Seanad: Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (13 Jul 2012)

Tom Shehan: ...membership if they have a break in the Oireachtas service. The scheme will help ensure that when Ireland emerges from the current difficulties, our public service pension policy is on a better long-term and more sustainable footing. On the matter of the consumer price index, the Minister will be aware that in the context of the public service agreement, that is, the Croke Park agreement,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2012)

Tom Shehan: ...SMEs is costing jobs every day but we do not hear about it when only five or ten jobs are lost. The SME sector comprises mostly small, viable, family-run businesses that are committed to providing long-term sustainable jobs in Ireland. They need cash flow, not excuses. The people who run them work up to 80 hours a week and they need cash flow. I call on the Leader to invite the...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Tom Shehan: ...be involved? I have been asked whether there will be consultation with them in the future. Having their input would make for better legislation. As Senator O'Donovan has said, this revision is long overdue and it is good that both sides of the House welcome it. We look forward to dealing with the legislation as briskly as we can.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2012)

Tom Shehan: ...up by 2.7%. Some 1.15 million people from overseas visited the country during those three months. However, Shannon Airport has lost 2 million passengers since 2007 and is understood to have a long-standing debt of €100 million. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, previously stated that Shannon will be the first of the State airports to have certainty about...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Tom Shehan: ...and different Governments, Ireland has punched above its weight in the European arena because of its pro-Europe stance. We have played the game well and although the process may happen over the long term, we have some very good allies in Europe. Other people have raised the issue of the sale of State assets. A Government must have priorities. Is it a priority of the Government to grow...

Seanad: Bretton Woods Agreements (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (14 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: ...by way of an interest rate reduction. Some have given figures of 100 base points, 1%, etc. but I would not quantify any reduction we may receive when the Minister is negotiating on our behalf. A long game is being played in respect of the promissory notes, but some of our more economic minded people and academics appear to be jumping the gun and not waiting for the negotiations to...

Seanad: Croke Park Agreement: Statements (9 Feb 2012)

Tom Shehan: ...This year, the Croke Park agreement will cost €600 million in lump sum payments and up to €1 billion with pensions, to achieve staff reductions by the end of this month. While Croke Park is a long-term plan, the country is in crisis now. If over 65,000 public sector workers took a 5% pay reduction it would be immediate and would achieve what needs to be done much more quickly. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: My point is that this is well deserved and long overdue to Mick O'Dwyer. As I said, it is unfortunate the GAA did not do it for the contribution he has made. Would it be appropriate for the Leader, on behalf of this Chamber, to send a letter of congratulations to Mick O'Dwyer, Mary Carmel and the rest of the family?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2012)

Tom Shehan: ..., if needs be, to stop this. Approximately 20 credit unions throughout the country will have to have special managers. If special managers earn €423 an hour, how much will that cost? How long will they be there for? It will cost over €3,500 a week. Mr. Elderfield said a salary of €500,000 was not enough for the chief executive of AIB.