Results 281-300 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share the calls for a rolling debate on the economy and job creation. I am conscious that, in the case of the latter, it is not a question of us not having a certain amount of knowledge. We went through all of this in the 1980s. We could have a structured debate system in which, in or around this time, we could discuss buying Irish products for Christmas and ask the media to be present...

Seanad: Mortgage and Debt Support Measures: Motion (4 Nov 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I second the amendment because the Opposition's proposal is to incorporate in NAMA a home owner's support scheme to protect those families facing home repossessions. However, NAMA's purpose is to protect the economy. It is a single purpose vehicle and repossessions can be addressed by other means and methods. On most, if not all, other issues, we agree that the situation in which we have...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I join the other Members who have called for balance in the media.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: We have achieved independence and there is a system of government where people go to great lengths to elect representatives but we find the media are sovereign. That is not as it is meant to be. The media are dictating the pace and setting the agendas but they are trying to wash their hands of the responsibility from subsequent actions. We are in a very difficult position and we need...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I am asking for a debate on the media in this Chamber so we can look for balance and ensure it will be present in the media. It is sadly lacking now.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on innovation. I have heard good news from Trinity College Dublin regarding a cancer drug. Given the current difficulties in world markets, it is important that we focus on areas which offer advantages. The future of the country and its economy will be based on export-led growth. The population of the Republic is 4.3 million out of a global population...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to share in all the tributes that have been paid to Tony. It particularly springs to my mind that Tony was a gentleman and he was kind. While he was part of an organisation within the Fianna Fáil organisation that achieved a great deal in its time, he was a very humble man who showed how hard work, discipline and attention to detail without any fanfare can achieve so much. He was...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: It was an interesting proposal to invite someone from the IMF and it is important that we debate fiscal rectitude. I call for a debate on how we are handling the national finances because the Government is doing an excellent job. We would not need to get outside advice if there was not a cynical application of politics from the Opposition-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: -----when dealing with necessary issues, as the Government is doing, and it finds it is in favour of fiscal rectitude but will not agree to any of the proposals.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I would like to have a debate on the disparity in tax rates between the North of Ireland and the Republic, particularly now that the value of sterling has fallen by a third in the past year. There is a huge moral hazard for people who might get involved in illegal transactions for carbon fuels or other items and will wear a republican or paramilitary hat to justify their existence. These...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on our democratic institutions. There has been a specific proposal to abolish the Seanad. It must not be forgotten that there is a good, democratic reason for having a bicameral system, although there is need for reform. Ironically, the reports to date have mainly dealt with electoral reform, but it is the way in which we do our business that is most in need...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: We must examine how the FÁS budget can be expended properly to ensure the long-term unemployed can access training courses to prepare for the future of our country.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on the economy. If anything demonstrates that this is a small open economy, it must be agriculture, in which we either benefit or suffer from commodity prices set abroad. It is a wholly international scene. There are food surpluses, which means that the price of product is being driven downwards. In the debate on the economy there are many practical aspects we...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Economies around the world are slowly coming out of recession and it looks as if the long-term difficulty will be the long-term unemployed. Will the Leader consider arranging a debate in which Senators could make suggestions to the Government on FÁS-sponsored job creation and other employment techniques that could be used to get people back to work quickly? We could fast-track ideas that...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Will the Leader arrange a debate on the role of FÁS? We are in a severe recession again but this is not something of which we do not have experience. Therefore, we are not working in a vacuum. The reality is that many people in difficult times were very happy to take up positions in FÁS and do work for the organisation. Despite this, because of the regulations within the organisation,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share Senator Brady's concern about valuations. It is time to have a debate about how the public service reacts to various situations. The fact is a valuation made in 2005 affects a business in 2009 when the world economy has changed significantly and the retail and service sectors here are having an extremely difficult time. We need to make it clear to the public service that we would...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: They lauded other countries for doing the same and making sure their economies were safe. When it happens here, they suggest it is done to save developers. The spreading of such obvious untruths is not worthy of certain members of the Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the bank sector. I refer specifically the €54 billion injection that is to be invested in the banks as part of the NAMA proposal. At this time, we should be introducing regulations to govern how much money can be loaned against private property. We should limit the percentage of total bank lending that can be made available for commercial purposes....

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support the calls for a debate on NAMA. Of course we can take great pride on this side of the House in the fact that the money we are getting from the ECB is at a rate of 1.5%.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

John Gerard Hanafin: Despite this, we have already given €7 billion to the Irish banks at 8%. In other words we can more than finance all the toxic debt and other good assets, amounting to €37.2 billion-----