Results 81-100 of 996 for speaker:John Gerard Hanafin

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Jan 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I share Senator Tuffy's concern about the abuse of video phones. It is not beyond the capabilities of technology to block all mobile telephones and prevent pornography being transmitted. Companies make huge profits and it would not be unreasonable to ask them to undertake this measure voluntarily in order that we can protect our young people.

Seanad: Report on Future Skills Needs: Statements. (22 Jan 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I wish to share my time with Senator Ormonde.

Seanad: Report on Future Skills Needs: Statements. (22 Jan 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: In researching the Fourth Report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, I came across an interesting quote from an eminent philosopher, Yogi Berra. Notwithstanding his fine credentials, the quotation reads "the future ain't what it used to be." This is all too true in the context of where the Irish economy will be going in future years. We have come from an agrarian to a manufacturing...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following: — notes that the number of places being supported under the Community Employment (CE) Programme in 2004 is being maintained at 2003 levels and that the total allocation for employment programmes has been fixed at €351 million which will support up to 25,000 places across the CE, Job...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask for a debate on the mobile telephone industry in this country. Currently, we have a duopoly which makes fine profits. The Eircell wing of Eircom was sold to Vodafone at a discounted price. The successful creation of a duopoly has resulted in keeping other players out of the market. Vodafone and O2 together have 95% of the market. Meteor has no opportunity to grow because of the refusal...

Seanad: Crisis Pregnancy Strategy: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome members of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency in the Gallery. While there may be crises and even unwanted pregnancies, there is no such thing as an unwanted baby and I would like the members of the agency to take this message from the debate. Many families in this country would love to adopt a child. Irish families are travelling all over the world,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I also share in the calls for a debate on electronic voting, but I would like to see balance in the debate. As with the electronic system, our current system is imperfect. Many of us are aware that a surplus may be distributed on the basis of a representative sample rather than counting all the number two votes. However, under the electronic system, this may not happen. I am not suggesting...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I call for a debate on the National Treasury Management Agency, which will affect many of us. It was an excellent use of the bounty derived from the sale of Eircom. It is timely to have a discussion on the future funding and expenditure of this agency.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on migrant workers. It is important for us to recognise the great work undertaken by such people who have taken up 47,000 visas to come here. They have assisted us by working in many sectors, including tourism and agriculture, particularly in beef processing and mushroom cultivation. At a time when intemperate remarks have been made by the Opposition about the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to commend the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, on his fine efforts to ensure competition in the mobile telephone market. We spoke about this issue at length in the House on a few occasions. The Minister has ensured that mobile users can get a single country tariff when using their mobile telephones in the North of Ireland, and,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I support Senator Tuffy's request for a debate on road transport safety, particularly in the context of the tragic accident on Saturday. I have just returned from London where I noticed that crash barriers are installed at any point along routes where a large number of people congregate. Saturday's accident need not necessarily have been caused by a bus. A truck or car could have careered or...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I, too, would welcome a debate on electronic voting. The Opposition is concentrating on rumours and stories emanating from other parts of the world, but failing to take into account a fact to which I have referred previously in the House, namely, that under the current system a representative, random sample can be taken from a surplus for distribution, which is not a democratic procedure.

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I would welcome a debate on the issue, particularly as the tally system may not be as democratic as we believe given the ease with which one can note which votes have changed sides when counting small boxes of votes in rural areas. This issue has not been mentioned.

Seanad: Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (25 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State and I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this important Bill in the light of Sustaining Progress agreed with the social partners. Since Fianna Fáil brought the social partners together we have successfully developed the economy to the point of being one of the most developed countries in the OECD, with one of the highest GDPs per person in that...

Seanad: Competition Authority Report: Statements. (25 Feb 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne. I wish to raise a few points as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business. A severe lack of competition is evident in the insurance industry. Hearing some of the harrowing tales of the high cost of insurance that have nothing to do with brokers leads me to conclude that the consumer is paying for the cost of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I call on the Leader to allow for an extended debate on the Middle East, particularly in light of recent events. I was one of the people who believed there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that there was an immediate threat to world peace. I would also like to raise another issue which occurred during the week. A 13 year old suicide bomber was sent out from the Palestinian area....

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I welcome the suggestion that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government should attend the House to discuss one-off rural housing. Having said that, however, the Minister should be commended on his excellent work, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, on the section 48 allowances, which have renewed seaside areas. In addition, the section 23 allowances have...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: It is not 29 February any longer.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader for a debate on competition. In light of what we have seen in the airlines industry, telecommunications and the energy market in recent years, there seems increasing evidence that competition is good. Whereas we all have a constitutional right to strike, I question whether there will be public support for a strike that seems to be politically motivated more than anything else.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Mar 2004)

John Gerard Hanafin: I ask the Leader to make inquiries about the need to pay such exorbitant fees to barristers who have guaranteed jobs at the tribunals, which look as if they will continue indefinitely.