Results 21-40 of 43 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Joe Behan

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2009)

Joe Behan: Perhaps this might be an opportunity to appeal to their patriotic duty. If they are acquiring very generous pensions as a result of their public service, having been paid very generous salaries, then they might consider opting into paying pension contributions. Many public servants throughout this country, who are going to feel the pain of this levy, will certainly look askance at the news...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Joe Behan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak for the third time in six months. On resigning from Fianna Fáil I undertook to support the Government when it acted in the public interest and I have done so in good faith even when some controversial measures were proposed. Sadly, the moral authority of the Government has been fatally damaged by recent events for which it...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Joe Behan: The agreement should provide for power sharing between all parties and Independent Members in the House with the leadership of the national Government to be shared. While the idea will probably be dismissed as naive or unworkable, as the world economy heads for complete collapse, the national interest may dictate that there soon will be no alternative. The talent is available on all sides...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Joe Behan: I thank the Acting Chairman for allowing me the opportunity to make a brief comment. I have no difficulty agreeing with the general sentiments expressed here today. I wish to make a plea on behalf of the small independent bookmakers and perhaps the Minister might comment on it. They are currently competing against some of the major bookmakers and this is one of the difficulties with the...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Joe Behan: I join with the Acting Chairman and all the Members of the House in welcoming and congratulating Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan and Deputy George Lee and I wish them both every success in their careers here in Dáil Éireann. I am grateful to have the opportunity to respond to the Government's motion of confidence in itself which will be decided by this House at 5.30 p.m. This Government is...

Ryan Report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (11 Jun 2009)

Joe Behan: I believe I am to speak first, followed by Deputies O'Sullivan and McGrath.

Ryan Report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (11 Jun 2009)

Joe Behan: In the short time available to me I wish to associate myself fully with the agreed motion on this dreadful and horrific history of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect perpetrated on children of this republic for almost 50 years. I welcome the attendance in the House today of representatives of survivors and join with the people of this country in offering my personal solidarity...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2009)

Joe Behan: I will share my time with Deputies Maureen O'Sullivan and Finian McGrath.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Sep 2009)

Joe Behan: This legislation is unprecedented in its scope and potential impact on our small nation. In my 25 years as a public representative, few issues have caused me such deep concern. As a parent, teacher and public representative, I have made decisions that affected the lives of others. I have always taken this responsibility seriously and it is why I have listened carefully to all sides of the...

Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Joe Behan: It may not be in order to ask the question but this morning the people of Arklow, the constituency of Wicklow and the whole country are coming to terms with the shocking and tragic murder last night of a shopkeeper who was defending his premises. Has the Government any plans to address the issue of knife crime? Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances although some details are in...

Order of Business (11 Dec 2009)

Joe Behan: I have contacted the Ceann Comhairle's office on three occasions in the past four weeks asking for time to speak on very important issues - the pre-budget document issued by the Department of Finance, the Adoption Bill and this morning I contacted the Ceann Comhairle's office asking for time to speak on the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill. On each occasion the Ceann Comhairle has...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2009)

Joe Behan: I thank the Labour Party, particularly Deputy O'Sullivan and Deputy Stagg, for giving me the opportunity to speak for 60 seconds on this Bill. They have been very generous in offering valuable time, because I know that time for discussion is coming to an end. Deputies McGrath and O'Sullivan have their own distinct opinions, but I think they generally agree with me when I say this is an...

Personal Indebtedness (6 May 2010)

Joe Behan: At the outset, I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the important matter of personal indebtedness and its consequences for our country. I was prompted to raise this issue of personal indebtedness and its consequences following many heart-wrenching representations from my constituents on the matter and I congratulate the Oireachtas Library...

Diversification of Primary School Provision: Statements (20 May 2010)

Joe Behan: On a point of order, I hesitated to interrupt this magnificent debate. I have sat in the Chamber and listened to the entire debate since 1 p.m. I welcome the Tánaiste's opinion on having an open debate, but I wish to point something out to the Members still present.

Diversification of Primary School Provision: Statements (20 May 2010)

Joe Behan: It is. I am referring to how 16 Deputies were called to contribute to the debate. There were seven from Fianna Fáil, two Green Party Members, one Sinn Féin Member, four from Fine Gael and two from Labour. There has not been any facility for myself or Deputies Finian McGrath or Maureen O'Sullivan to speak on this issue. I am no longer willing to accept that position. I ask Members of...

Care of the Elderly (20 May 2010)

Joe Behan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the important matter of Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, inspection charges being passed on to individual residents of nursing homes, in direct contravention of the stated policy of the Government as set down by the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, in this House on Wednesday, 4 November 2009. The announcement in March...

Health Services (27 May 2010)

Joe Behan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter on the future of the HSE in the light of recent developments. We are all aware, and I certainly acknowledge, individual staff members in the HSE are conscientious, diligent and public-spirited but time and again the HSE as an organisation has proven to be disturbingly dysfunctional and unfit for purpose. Sadly, in recent days...

Implementation of the Ryan Report: Statements (9 Jun 2010)

Joe Behan: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I reiterate my support for and solidarity with the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse catalogued in the Ryan report. I believe the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, is sincerely committed and deeply conscious of his duty to ensure that the Ryan report recommendations are enacted comprehensively and speedily. I am...

Announcement by Minister for Finance on Banking of 30 September 2010: Statements (30 Sep 2010)

Joe Behan: I thank the Taoiseach, the party leaders and the Ceann Comhairle for giving us this rare opportunity to address the Chamber on an issue of such importance. When this crisis originally broke on 30 September 2008, I was a member of Fianna Fáil. I was under the party whip and supported the measures passed in law in that week. I opposed the decision to nationalise Anglo Irish Bank because I...

Announcement by Minister for Finance on Banking of 30 September 2010: Statements (30 Sep 2010)

Joe Behan: It is my belief, for what it is worth. One thing which is now becoming very clear, apart from the clarity around how much money this will cost the State, which will possibly be up to €50 billion that we may or may or may not get back, from listening to the Governor of the Central Bank on the news today is that the representatives of the Government, the Central Bank and others were mislead...