Results 161-180 of 19,908 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Alan Kelly: I have already said I am asking for a debate. I will conclude. As well as looking at this from the bottom up, we need to look at it from the top down. We also need to consider the level of management and its performance. I do not believe the performance level in many areas is up to scratch and it therefore needs to be examined. To give an example, I have raised on a number of occasions...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Alan Kelly: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am disappointed that some of the Senators who have been criticising the HSE for the past nine months have not shown themselves in the House today. I would like to hear them repeat some of the comments they made during the year about the HSE. There is a philosophy in the HSE of budget management rather than demand for services. That is the...

Seanad: Health Services: Motion (28 May 2008)

Alan Kelly: No. There is an inconsistency in that their roles and job specifications are not defined. At a public affairs level, the management and corporate policy of the HSE is the worst of any public body. This is not good enough from an information point of view because we are entitled to better. As evidenced in this week's "Prime Time Investigates" programme and as has been stated by Senators...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2008)

Alan Kelly: I join with Senators O'Toole, Twomey and MacSharry in seeking regular debates on the economy. This is something we must monitor at all times, especially given the possible growth rate of 1% to 1.5% this year. The Taoiseach said yesterday that the country needed a 4% growth rate in order to allow continued investment in the national development programme. This is where politics comes into...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: I would like to support the call made by my colleague, Senator Alex White, for a debate on the economy. Unlike the previous speaker, I believe this is a domestic problem, in the main, that has been created by this Government. While it is easy to suggest that people are talking up or down the economy, it is time to deal with the reality. It is easy for those on the other side of the House...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: We have to deal with the reality. We are in a recession. That is the fact of the matter. The good growth rates we enjoyed between 1995 and 2001 were based on exports and a sound economy. The reality is that between 2001 and 2008, we were living in a false economy, based on a cosy relationship between Fianna Fáil and the construction industry. That is the reality. Everybody here knows...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: That relationship was facilitated by the current Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, as Minister for Finance. We have had a huge multi-billion turnaround in the economy. It is obvious there are external factors. The reality, as this report shows, is that this is being caused by mostly domestic factors.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: The previous speaker asked for suggestions. I have some suggestions. It is obvious that the new Minister for Finance will argue that cutbacks are needed in certain areas of the national development plan. We look forward to hearing what he has to say in that regard. I do not see how the national development plan can be cut. When the Minister is taking such action to facilitate the...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: He is laughing.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: I agree wholeheartedly with Senator O'Toole's comments on the Bank of Ireland, whose behaviour is not justified. It is a sign of the times when the bank takes such actions. We need clear information on the country's finances, as other speakers have said. I made my comments yesterday on what action was needed. I wish to return to one issue, the upskilling and reskilling of manufacturing,...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the legislation on health and safety which is necessary but which puts up barriers of entry to people working in farmers' markets and also the issue of food labelling. Why does a man or woman making 12 tarts need to obtain scientific analysis of the ingredients of a tart such as jam?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Alan Kelly: This is ridiculous. They have to print the information in font size 12 on the jars, which is also ridiculous. As a country we need to say we have had enough. Rural Ireland is being affected both socially and economically. We need to dismiss such legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Alan Kelly: Being consistent with what I said last week, I, too, would welcome a debate on the economy. It is necessary that it take place prior to the recess. The figures released since we last met are startling. We knew that housing output would be one third of what it was last year. People have mortgages, yet rates have increased to6%. People with young families are finding it tight in terms of...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Alan Kelly: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2008)

Alan Kelly: What about broadband?

Seanad: OECD Report on Integrated Public Service Reform: Statements (2 Jul 2008)

Alan Kelly: I welcome my fellow county man, the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, and I welcome the chance to comment on the report on public service reform. We could talk for ever on this issue which has been raised many times in the House. For the record, the public service has contributed significantly to the development of our country and its economy. I am not one of those who, now the economy...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2008)

Alan Kelly: I endorse Senator Coffey's call for a debate on environmental issues. He referred to Silvermines. Unfortunately, Government commitments to date in this area have not been up to the level required. Three schools lie within a short distance of the Silvermines dumps. There are six times more carcinogenics in the air in this locality than anywhere else. Unless dust blows containing toxic...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (30 Sep 2008)

Alan Kelly: That is the quickest turnaround.

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (30 Sep 2008)

Alan Kelly: I was going to do the Minister of State a disservice by saying that was probably the worst speech I have heard from him in his time in either House but I believe that my colleague, the leader of the Green Party in this House, has just surpassed him. Senator Boyle, in fairness, is somebody who usually has a good commentary on finance even if I do not agree with him. Seamus Heaney's phrase...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (30 Sep 2008)

Alan Kelly: It is preposterous that we do not know this before we vote. Are we postponing the inevitable? We are guaranteeing deposits and I know that interbank lending is the other side of this issue. What will happen if a bank goes under? What will happen across Europe and the world when different governments implement their own methods of bailing out institutions? What will happen, were the pitch...