Results 1-20 of 30 for going forward speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (30 May 2023)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Tánaiste. I commend my colleagues, Senators McGreehan and Blaney, on tabling this important motion. Last Easter marked the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April 1998. The 25th anniversary celebrations provided an opportunity to reflect on what was achieved and what is left to be achieved. Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach and one of the...

Seanad: Location of Victims' Remains: Motion (22 Mar 2023)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...Blaney and McGreehan, for tabling this extremely important and emotive motion. I welcome the fact that 14 families of the 19 affected families have found their deceased loved ones. I look forward to the day that the remaining five families are reconciled with the bodies of their loved ones. I commend the 19 families for coming together to form a group to pursue this issue - the location...

Seanad: Ireland's Military Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Diarmuid Wilson: I commend Senators Clonan and McDowell and my colleagues on putting forward this important motion. It is timely, given the war situation we are in. I would like to say a few words on behalf of Fianna Fáil and then to make a few comments on what Senators Clonan and McDowell have said in their contributions. Neutrality means different things to many people. As a result of Russia's...

Seanad: Business of Seanad: Motion (21 Jan 2020)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...remain here. Each and every person I have met and served with in all of those four Seanaid have been exceptional and outstanding people in their own way and in their own field. Some of them have gone to their eternal reward and we have paid tribute to them down through the years. This Seanad is unique in one sense.It never remains the same, normally because of people who are elected to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Media Regulation (28 Nov 2018)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...I outlined as he was not aware of it, I ask him to take what I have said about it back to the Minister, Deputy Bruton. I assure him that my party will support the legislation when it is brought forward. It is important that it be speeded up and brought before us as soon as possible. On the particular case, I will continue to raise the issue in this House until a satisfactory conclusion...

Seanad: Forestry Sector: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...Forest Park in County Cavan, a beautiful 240 ha forest set on the shores of Lough Oughter. That incorporates 74 acres with 28 log cabins that have recently been sold to a private entity by Coillte and I look forward to that developing in the near future for the benefit of the local community. In the future I would like to see more investment, in Killykeen Forest Park, in particular...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...and would not initiate a variation to a development plan unless they thought it necessary. As the Minister of State is aware, councillors work on the ground every day of the week and know what is going on in their communities, which the executive may not know. I strongly support the thrust of the amendment. Councillors have to go before the people every five years to be adjudicated upon...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...next week, I will not push the matter. I am well aware that people on all sides want progress regarding the pay and conditions of councillors. It is an extremely serious matter that councillors going about their democratically-elected business are worse off now as a result of so-called improvements. I would like the Minister of State to have some answers to our questions when he comes...

Seanad: Judicial Council Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...before the House today, the council was to be an independent body charged with the promotion of excellence in the exercise by judges of their judicial functions. The 2011 Fine Gael-Labour Party programme for Government contained a commitment to establish a judicial council. Regrettably, like so many other promises in that programme for Government, that was not delivered upon. However, I...

Seanad: Defence Forces (Veterans Lapel Badge) Bill 2017: Second Stage (22 Nov 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...and NATO-led missions in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. They leave their families for six months at a time, missing milestones such as birthdays, christenings and family weddings. When they go abroad they are aware that they are going on a peacekeeping mission, often to very volatile and fragile countries. They are most certainly more at risk then, than if they were to stay at...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: .... Some people get confused and forget that the franchise of a national brand in their town is a franchise and that the person with that franchise is putting up their own money to keep that store going. They are putting up their money to ensure that employment is created and a proper professional service is provided in their communities. They have no difficulty in keeping a tight eye on...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...and repeat offenders while ordinary people who fall prey to criminality are very often left unrecognised. While we are supporting this Bill, we have a number of amendments which we will bring forward on Committee Stage. There is often a feeling that our laws do not do enough for victims and that they are not consistently applied. A criminal act leaves a victim vulnerable and, often, in...

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (24 May 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...for quite some time so we very much appreciate that the Minister of State is here this afternoon. As Senator Ó Donnghaile has stated, many of the areas have been covered and I have no wish to go back over them. Suffice it to say, as my colleague, Senator Gallagher outlined, the people of this country have much respect for our Defence Forces, our Reserve Defence Forces and our Civil...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Second Stage (17 May 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I thank Senator Reilly for bringing forward this legislation and for his enlightening and emotional contribution. Fianna Fáil fully supports the Bill. I have a speech in front of me that is full of statistics which highlight where mistakes have been made in the past not only by this Government and that which preceded it but by Governments that were in power over the past decade or so....

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Keith Swanick, whom I commend for the particular Bill he is bringing forward. I join Senator Kevin Humphreys and other colleagues who yesterday expressed their sympathy to the wife of the late Deputy Peter Matthews. While Peter was not known for his brevity, he certainly was for his bravery and principles....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...for Standing Orders to be amended to allow the Bill to be discussed by the new Seanad and afford over 80% of the Members who have not had an opportunity to contribute to us to do so. I look forward to a positive response from the Leader in that regard. I support the comments of Senator Gavan and Senator Landy on Tesco. If what they have outlined to us is going on, it is appalling. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the main provisions contained in today's budget. I welcome the increase in funding for health, social welfare, education and child care. I look forward to the relevant Minister outlining in detail where increases will be made in funding for further education. I hope that funding is increased for the Youthreach sector as it provides badly needed educational training to vulnerable...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: ..., like everybody else. I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Clifford-Lee, that the Leader would allow the corporate manslaughter (No. 2) Bill 2016 to go forward and to be printed. I also wish to join other colleagues in asking that the Minister for Health come to the House to clarify the situation regarding the report in The Sunday Business...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...throughout the year, to provide passports in a timely manner. I ask that extra resources be provided because this is an essential service, particularly at this time of year when many people are going on holidays and need passports at short notice. In that context, I would also ask the Minister to ensure that the Passport Office would do as the motor taxation office does and text people a...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: ...I first became a Member. I pay tribute to Senator Feargal Quinn and Senator Jim Walsh who have announced their retirement. I pay tribute to other colleagues in the House who have decided not to go forward either in the Seanad or the general elections. It has been a privilege to serve with each and every one of them. Like Senator Michael Mullins, before I became a Member I was an avid...