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<title>Michael Woods - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:22+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1080.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1080.0</link>
	<description>The Minister should conclude.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1080.1">The Minister should conclude.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1068.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1068.0</link>
	<description>I ask Deputy Stagg to reduce the quantity of his heckling.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1068.1">I ask Deputy Stagg to reduce the quantity of his heckling.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1063.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1063.0</link>
	<description>The Minister without interruptions. </description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1063.1">The Minister without interruptions. </p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1035.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1035.0</link>
	<description>The Deputy&acirc;€™s time has concluded.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1035.1">The Deputyâ€™s time has concluded.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1032.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1032.0</link>
	<description>We would have given Deputy McGrath more time.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1032.1">We would have given Deputy McGrath more time.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1029.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1029.0</link>
	<description>Will the Deputy&acirc;€™s time be divided into slots of ten minutes and five minutes?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1029.1">Will the Deputyâ€™s time be divided into slots of ten minutes and five minutes?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1026.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1026.0</link>
	<description>Deputy Morgan has 15 minutes.  Does he intend to share his time?</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1026.1">Deputy Morgan has 15 minutes.  Does he intend to share his time?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T20:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1017.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1017.0</link>
	<description>Is that agreed?  Agreed.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1017.1">Is that agreed?  Agreed.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1012.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g1012.0</link>
	<description>The Deputy should conclude.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="1012.1">The Deputy should conclude.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g959.0">
	<title>Housing: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.898.0&amp;m=914#g959.0</link>
	<description>The Deputy should allow the Minister of State continue, or we will have to impose a penalty on him.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="959.1">The Deputy should allow the Minister of State continue, or we will have to impose a penalty on him.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.895.0&amp;m=914#g896.0">
	<title>Message from Seanad | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-12-17.895.0&amp;m=914#g896.0</link>
	<description>Seanad &Atilde;‰ireann has passed the Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008, without amendment.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="896.2">Seanad Ă‰ireann has passed the Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) (No. 2) Bill 2008, without amendment.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-12-17T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-03-06.6.0&amp;m=914#g25.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2008-03-06.6.0&amp;m=914#g25.0</link>
	<description>Hear, hear.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="25.1">Hear, hear.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2008-03-06T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-12-18.400.0&amp;m=914#g438.0">
	<title>Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-12-18.400.0&amp;m=914#g438.0</link>
	<description>I did not interrupt the Deputy.  I do not intend to take much of his time, but this is my hospital and I have a great interest in it.  I deeply regret what Fine Gael and Labour did to it the last...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="438.1">I did not interrupt the Deputy.  I do not intend to take much of his time, but this is my hospital and I have a great interest in it.  I deeply regret what Fine Gael and Labour did to it the last time.  It was a terrible scandal and that still exists in front of us today.  We have seen that 20% of the beds in the hospital are now taken up with private beds.  I should welcome very much the 180 beds that would come with this hospital in Beaumont; as far as I am concerned, they cannot come fast enough.  That is what the Minister is trying to do.  I know that situation, it is enormously important and  I am totally opposed to any suggestion of delay.  That is all there was in the amendment put on Second Stage.  It declined to give a Second Reading to the Bill on the grounds that it bundles together urgent and uncontroversial matters with those the Opposition alleges are in no way urgent.  This is politics.   It is development for people and has been urgent for a long time.  I am glad we are discussing it again.  It was all set to go in 1982 but was stopped and the site was taken back.  Fortunately, after 1987 when Fianna FĂˇil was back in government, it was proposed that consultants should have private clinics on the grounds in order that they could be near to the hospital in between times.  This was also opposed.  However, they are there now.  Let us have the private hospital there also.  It was due a long time ago.  Let us not delay it any longer, or play around and let on there is another reason for it not being located there.  There is a hardcore reason people are preventing it from being on the north side of Dublin.  For approximately 25 years prior to Beaumont Hospital being built there was resistance to it being developed on the north side of Dublin.  Eventually we broke this down and it was developed.</p><p pid="438.2">The theory of having wonderful hospitals for everybody which meet the highest possible standards is grand and we would all like to see it happen.  However, the practice was not grand for people on the north side of Dublin, as can be seen.  We must face the reality that almost half the population have health insurance and the reason is people want to have it.  They contribute to it during their lifetime and want the service to be available.  They are entitled to have provision made for this and to have it on a State-owned campus.  There is no reason they should not have it.</p><p pid="438.3">I fully support the Minister and congratulate her on pressing ahead with the Bill.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-12-18T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-12-18.400.0&amp;m=914#g436.0">
	<title>Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-12-18.400.0&amp;m=914#g436.0</link>
	<description>I want to support the Minister as regards what she has said.  I have the privilege of coming from the north side and this is my local hospital.  We must remove any doubt about the position now,...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="436.1">I want to support the Minister as regards what she has said.  I have the privilege of coming from the north side and this is my local hospital.  We must remove any doubt about the position now, as the Minister has suggested.  We must proceed right away with the plans for Beaumont.  There should not be any further delay.  Already there has been 25 years of delay on this issue in Beaumont Hospital.  In 1982, I was Minister for Health, when Jervis Street and the Richmond, St. Laurenceâ€™s, combined to go into Beaumont Hospital.  It was a very big change and a major development.  At that time a site was made available on the hospital grounds for a new private hospital so that consultants could be located in and beside Beaumont all the time.  This meant people would not have to cross the river and go out the other side to the Blackrock Clinic to get a consultant.  All that was ready, the hospital was built, heated, equipped and ready to go.  Then, this very argument was raised.  The Government changed and in came Fine Gael and Labour who tore up the agreement that was there.  The outcome of that was we now have 108 beds in the public hospital reserved for the private work of consultants. </p><p pid="436.2">That was the outcome of the delay at that time.  There is always a danger in delay.  The result was that the hospital actually sat idle for over four years.  It was one of the greatest scandals ever in the history of the State and nobody every talks about that.  A brand new hospital was left idle for over four years.  The people on the north side of Dublin suffered and continue to suffer because of that, not those from Galway or people from the south side or anywhere else.  Again and again we hear from the Opposition that there should be more beds, and that we do not have enough of them.  It is very hypocritical and I find it hard to keep my patience when I hear people from Fine Gael and Labour saying things such as that about Beaumont Hospital.  I do not know where they are living or what they are thinking of, because Beaumont Hospital already has purchased St. Josephâ€™s Hospital in Raheny where it is building a massive community development.  We do not have to wait for this in the future.  It is happening now and it will be a major focal point attached to Beaumont Hospital.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-12-18T21:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-11-28.453.0&amp;m=914#g495.0">
	<title>Despatch of Defence Forces Personnel: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-11-28.453.0&amp;m=914#g495.0</link>
	<description>This motion deals with the security of the Defence Forces personnel and the humanitarian aid being delivered.  Arising from the conflict, more than 180,000 internally displaced Chadians and...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="495.1">This motion deals with the security of the Defence Forces personnel and the humanitarian aid being delivered.  Arising from the conflict, more than 180,000 internally displaced Chadians and 236,000 Sudanese refugees live in camps in eastern Chad which is where our troops are going.  They will protect these refugees and displaced persons from starvation, rape and attack, until they can return to their homes.  The EU mission to Chad will complement the planned UN-African Union hybrid mission being launched by the United Nations in Darfur by limiting the spillover potential from the conflict in Sudan.</p><p pid="495.2">As Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to speak in support of the motion.  At last Wednesdayâ€™s meeting of the joint committee, it unanimously welcomed the Governmentâ€™s decision of the previous day to send 400 Irish troops to Chad once they were supported with the resources and equipment they needed.</p><p pid="495.3">The question of resources has been raised many times during the debate.  The Minister has informed the House that the intention is to have initial operational capability on the ground in December, with the operation fully functional by the end of March 2008.  While troop contributions are broadly in line with the requirements identified by the operational commander, gaps in the force still remain, particularly in vital elements of the structure such as helicopters and tactical aircraft and medical support associated with the launch of the operation.  The Minister is right to highlight these defects and shortfalls which are being actively examined and addressed by EU military staff in consultation with the operational commander.  At the recent meeting of EU Defence Ministers the Minister expressed his concerns and urged his colleagues to re-examine the shortfalls and actively support the mission.</p><p pid="495.4">Members will wish to ensure the mission is adequately resourced and capable of fulfilling its mandate.  The Minister has given an undertaking to the House that there is no question of the Defence Forces deploying in theatre without the required enabling mechanisms being in place.  I welcome his assurance, as will all Members.  The European Union must not fall short as the situation is too dangerous.  The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will monitor the progress of this mission.  We plan to visit the Irish UN force in the field when it is fully established.</p><p pid="495.5">Ireland has a long and proud tradition of participation in UN peace missions which extends back almost 50 years.  Members may recall two of the more prominent and dangerous missions undertaken by the Defence Forces; its participation in the UN peacekeeping mission in the former Belgian Congo in the 1960s and in the UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon from its establishment in 1978.  Ireland has also provided military personnel for other UN missions such as to Cyprus and Egypt.  In more recent years our forces played a highly valuable and distinctive role in bringing peace to Liberia and have contributed in that mission to new thinking about how conflict resolution should be addressed, with humanitarian aid and follow-up support.</p><p pid="495.6">In all these missions our forces behaved with great distinction and won many honours.  However, the missions in the Congo and Lebanon were also dangerous and brave Irish soldiers were lost in both missions.  We have learned that UN peacekeeping operations are not without risk.  As a small country, Ireland has punched above its weight in UN peacekeeping missions.  When it comes to the difficult work of peacekeeping, our officers and soldiers are internationally recognised as being second to none when it comes to deploying the necessary skills in the cause of keeping the peace in post-conflict situations.</p><p pid="495.7">Conflict resolution, security and peace are the foundations on which politics and democracy and economic and social development can flourish.  In this new operation in Chad all the experience and skills which the Defence Forces have developed during the years will be put to the test.  Everyone recognises that this will be one of the most difficult missions undertaken by the Irish Army.  Chad poses immense challenges.</p><p pid="495.8">The conditions on the ground will not be easy, the terrain is difficult and the hot summer climate will pose a real challenge to the Defence Forces personnel.  For this EU-UN peacekeeping operation to be successful, it must be fully resourced and the force must have all the necessary equipment at its disposal to ensure that the soldiers can carry out their mission in the manner expected, both in Ireland and in the broader international community.  This includes the capability to move quickly and reconfigure when necessary.  It is a matter of great pride for Members that the force commander is Lieutenant General Pat Nash.  His appointment to this important position is a testimony to the high regard in which members of our armed forces are held by the United Nations.  Members wish him well in this difficult undertaking and wish well to all who go with him, as well as a safe return.</p><p pid="495.9">The function of the force will be to establish a safe and secure environment for the many thousands of refugees who have fled into Chad to escape the horrors that have been inflicted on them in Darfur.  The force also will be required to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the refugees.  Additionally, the force must protect UN and humanitarian personnel.  These three tasks will require the deployment of all the skills our soldiers have learned from our extensive peacekeeping experience.  I am confident they will carry out their mission in the most professional manner possible and that they will be able to so do in the knowledge that they have the full support of this House and the people as a whole.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-11-28T18:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g272.0">
	<title>Shannon Airport: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g272.0</link>
	<description>The Minister of State without interruption, please.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="272.1">The Minister of State without interruption, please.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-09-27T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g241.0">
	<title>Shannon Airport: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g241.0</link>
	<description>Is that agreed?  Agreed.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="241.1">Is that agreed?  Agreed.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-09-27T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g215.0">
	<title>Shannon Airport: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g215.0</link>
	<description>The Deputy has made his point.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="215.1">The Deputy has made his point.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-09-27T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g213.0">
	<title>Shannon Airport: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g213.0</link>
	<description>It is not a point of order.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="213.1">It is not a point of order.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-09-27T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g211.0">
	<title>Shannon Airport: Motion | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2007-09-27.133.0&amp;m=914#g211.0</link>
	<description>It is not&acirc;€”&acirc;€”</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="211.1">It is notâ€”â€”</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2007-09-27T13:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>


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