Results 1-20 of 1,625 for speaker:Pat O'Neill

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2016)

Pat O'Neill: Did Bertie never make a promise?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2016)

Pat O'Neill: Is he retiring?

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2016)

Pat O'Neill: Today is a day on which we reflect on the past five years and it is important we thank people. I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, the Leader and the Deputy Leader, Deirdre Lane and all the staff in the Seanad office, the ushers and everybody around the House who has helped us over the past five years. During this term, we retained the Seanad, and rightly so. I wish all...

Seanad: Public Transport Bill 2015: Second Stage (27 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: The Minister is very welcome to the House. As he stated, the Public Transport Bill 2015 is a technical Bill and does not involve any regulatory policy but we must pass these things through the Houses. Section 1 amends the Dublin Transport Authority Act. It aims to ensure that the NTA has the necessary powers to develop and deliver public transport infrastructure that has been approved for...

Seanad: Public Transport Bill 2015: Second Stage (27 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: I asked the Minister if the NTA would have the power to introduce by-laws for congestion charges. Section 2(h) proposes to insert a subsection (15) into section 13, which would immediately revoke or suspend a licence where a vehicle fails a vehicle standards inspection test. The effect of this would be that the vehicle that fails a vehicle standards inspection test cannot be used as an SPSV...

Seanad: Public Transport Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: With the agreement of the House, I propose that the debate be extended by ten minutes.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2016: Committee Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: This Bill deals with three different aspects of the road traffic legislation, including the section on drugs. People have been in contact with me concerning drugs that are forbidden, as listed in Schedule 4, such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin, or derivatives of those drugs. Where people are prescribed a medicine which may be a derivative of cannabis, for example, to treat some illness,...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2016: Committee Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: It is a testament to Jake Brennan and to his parents that the legislation has made it to the House and will be passed. This will be part of his legacy. A speed limit of 20 km/h is slow, as Senator Mooney said. The explanatory memorandum states: "Slow zones are envisaged as areas with a reduced speed limit of 30 km/h along with self-enforcing traffic calming measures such as speed bumps...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2016: Committee Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: I understand Senator Barrett's frustration with insurance companies. My insurance is due in the middle of next month. I have got my documentation and just noticed that it went up by 23.5% in 12 months. It is worrying. I do not know whether the legislation under discussion would help people in that situation. The biggest problem is that the awards are too much, as the PIAB says. I do not...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (26 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: It was proposed to take it next Tuesday. However, would it be possible to take Report and Final Stages now?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (26 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: As acting Leader, I ask that we take Report Stage now.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (26 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: I do not want to delay the House as we have another Bill to deal with. I said a lot on Second Stage, but I would like to compliment the Minister and his officials. As I said, he is very proactive as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. He summed it up when he said that if the Bill saved one life, its passage through the House would have been worthwhile. The Bill deals with three...

Seanad: Local Government Review: Statements (26 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, for coming to the House. A great deal has been said during the debate. The vast majority of Members served as local councillors before they came to the House. This issue revolves around remuneration. People do not like to hear mention payment for politicians because many of them feel politicians are well off and should not be remunerated....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Beef Industry (21 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh. I am disappointed that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, is not present. I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State in saying that and I am aware that the Minister is currently speaking in the Dáil, perhaps on the same matter. I tabled this matter because there is a great deal of concern in the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Beef Industry (21 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, for the reply on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Minister of State mentioned that live exports are down this year, which is not a good development, and he predicts that they will be up next year. One must bear in mind that over 50% of the live exports from this country are female dairy exports which does not help...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, to the House. Before we continue, I wish to remind Senators that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to the discussion on the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: No.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: No sections are being discussed. We are discussing amendments.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: Amendments Nos. 2, 3, 5 to 22, inclusive, 27 and 44 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (21 Jan 2016)

Pat O'Neill: No, I cannot allow the Senator.