Results 13,061-13,080 of 13,224 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I am not suggesting otherwise. The Senator probably believes the commission could incorporate the other commissions, such as the commission on electoral boundaries, the Referendum Commission and the Standards in Public Office Commission but it does not arise in the context of this legislation. There is no necessity for this amendment. However, it is a matter for the House to decide.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I have nothing to add. The late Jimmy Tully, another man for whom I had great respect, was appointed Minister for Defence in 1981 when I was a new Member of the House. He was also a Minister from 1973 to 1977 but he was not a director of elections; neither were former Deputy Peter Barry or former Deputy Dick Spring. However, it is an interesting point and even if they had been directors of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: It is abundantly clear that in passing the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2001, the Houses of the Oireachtas approved the use of the electronic voting system. I defended the original proposal in section 48 to provide the Minister with the authority to extend electronic voting to the other electoral codes. We took advice and the issue was compared to that of Carrickmines, which was debated in this...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Amendment No. 1 proposes to insert a new section into the Bill. The Government regards this as unnecessary. The commission's terms of reference in Schedule 5, together with sections 21 and 22, clearly state that the commission's reports will comprise recommendations on the secrecy and accuracy of the system including its application or non-application at the European and local elections on 11...

Seanad: Health Board Services. (7 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Terry for the opportunity to speak on this important matter. With regard to the provision of new health centres generally, the identification, prioritisation and provision of such facilities to meet the needs of local communities within its functional area is a matter for the relevant health board or the ERHA, the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the case of Mulhuddart,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senators Bannon, Kitt, Quinn, Maurice Hayes, McCarthy, Brady, Terry and Brennan for their contributions to this debate. We have debated the general concept of electronic voting on other occasions. The aspect of the system being considered today is important. In my introductory remarks, I clarified the reasons we are proceeding with the Bill. Although the Government has decided not to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Bill before the House, which was passed by Dáil Éireann yesterday, follows from the undertaking of the amended motion passed by Dáil Éireann on 18 February to establish on a statutory footing the Commission on Electronic Voting which has been asked to report on the secrecy and accuracy of the arrangements proposed for electronic voting; introduce legislation to enable electronic...

Córais Uisce agus Séarachais. (4 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Tá sé i gceist infheistíocht €4.4 billiún ina iomlán a chur ar fáil do sheirbhísí uisce agus séarachais ar feadh thréimhse an Phlean Fhorbartha Náisiúnta, 2000-2006. As an méid sin, tá €3.8 billiún sonraithe do mhórscéimeanna poiblí. Tá an infheistíocht seo dírithe ar na seirbhísí uisce agus uisce drámhaoile is gá a chur ar fáil chun tacú leis an bhforbairt...

Córais Uisce agus Séarachais. (4 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Tá tógáil na scéime seo freisin le tosú an bhliain seo chugainn. Tá an t-airgead ar fáil ón Roinn chun na scéimeanna seo a thógáil. Déanfar scrúdú práinneach sa Roinn ar na doiciméid ón chomhairle chondae a luaithe is a faightear iad anseo.

Seanad: Disabilities Bill: Motion. (28 Apr 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Government is committed to the preparation of a disability Bill that will facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in Irish society. The Government's intention to bring forward the Bill was signalled in An Agreed Programme for Government. The programme states: The Government will complete consultations on the Disability Bill and will bring the amended Bill through the...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (6 Apr 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Morrissey for giving me the opportunity to outline on behalf of the Department of Education and Science the position on the Beechpark Avenue site in which the Castleknock Educate Together national school is located in temporary accommodation. The Department purchased the lands at Beechpark Avenue in 1983 to provide a post-primary school in the Castleknock area. At the time of...

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements (Resumed). (6 Apr 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank all Senators for their valuable contributions on 10 March and today on the draft guidelines for planning authorities on sustainable rural housing. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, regrets he is unable to attend the debate this afternoon but I assure Members I will brief him fully on their contributions. The views expressed will be...

Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements (Resumed). (6 Apr 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The structures and provisions are in place, but I am not sure whether they have been effected hitherto. However, I assure the House that it will happen regarding the planning guidelines if they are not incorporated or taken on board. That should not be necessary, and this approach uses a carrot rather than a stick, but if it is necessary to issue such a directive, we will not be found wanting.

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (30 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: As part of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness initiative, €335,722 was spent in the three year period to end 2002 on awareness campaigns to promote voter registration. Further expenditure of €181,945 was incurred in the same period advertising the supplementary register facility and polling arrangements in the run up to polls. Separate information campaigns were also undertaken to...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (30 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Applications for approval in principle to proposals for 14 new replacement fire stations were received in my Department in the years 2001-03 and details are set out in table 1. It should be noted that funding decisions are not made until projects are approved to invite tenders. My Department has also initiated a review, with fire authorities, of all proposed station projects, along with those...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Senator will know that a car's cc, not its age, is the basis for taxation. On the principle about which he speaks, section 4 provides for new rates of motor tax for motorcycles and other vintage vehicles over 30 years old. I do not think anyone would describe a 12 year old Jaguar XJ6 as such. With the Senator living in the fast lane, I presume it is possibly 3000 cc. Of course, he cannot...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I very much appreciate the issues raised by all Senators who are totally realistic about motor tax. Taxes must be paid, even if we do not agree with them. If they are levied, everybody should pay them. A greater burden is placed on those who pay by those who are not tax compliant. The last survey of compliance with motor tax and motor insurance law and national car testing schemes was carried...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl dos na Seanadóirí, go háirithedóibh siúd a ghlac páirt ghníomhach san díospóireacht thábhachtach seo ar An mBille um Mótarfheithiclí (Dleachtanna agus Ceadúnais) 2004. Tá an Bille seo fíor thábhachtach ó thaobh na mbóithre nach bóithre náisiúnta iad ós rud é go mbeidh níos mó ná €34 milliún breise ag an Roinn agus ag na...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank all the Senators who contributed to this important debate. Like all of them, I am glad when the issue of local government is subjected in most cases to detailed and rigorous debate and examination. Local government is a key element of our democratic system and it is important to keep it at the centre of the political agenda. The contributions were wide-ranging and covered many of the...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: We cannot all be responsible for what our colleagues may say. The Senator's leader says he favours Internet voting, but the Senator does not. I am not critical of him. Ours is a broadly based party and we are not into hacking. The Senator's party leader obviously is and he must know more than I do. He is prepared to bring in Internet voting and to have it in the supermarkets.