Results 13,161-13,180 of 13,224 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: Senator Brady's response adequately addressed Senator Bannon's concerns on my behalf. The materials referred to by Senator Bannon do not come within the scope of the Bill as they are regulated already under other legislation and orders. The matter to which he refers is a responsibility of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Question put and agreed to. Question proposed: "That...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate on this legislation. The amendments proposed in the Dáil and accepted in the Seanad have improved the text of the Bill, consistent with the requirements of the protocol and our national position on nuclear non-proliferation. This is important legislation which has benefited from the consideration given to it in both Houses. The enactment...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Arts Funding. (11 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I welcome the opportunity to address the Members of the House on the topic of funding for the arts and I thank Senator Bannon for raising this important matter. The funding allocated to the Arts Council in 2003 was €44.1 million, which represented a reduction of €3.568 million or about 7% on the Arts Council's provision in 2002. Naturally, it would have been better to avoid any reduction...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Architectural Heritage. (11 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Henry for raising this matter. The order to which the Senator refers is the National Monuments (Approval of Joint Consent) Order 2003 made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 3 July 2003. This was laid before each House of the Oireachtas, as required by section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended. Either House of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Swimming Pool Projects. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Kitt for raising this matter and affording me the opportunity to outline the current position on the application for funding to provide a new local authority swimming pool in Tuam. The aim of the local authority swimming pool programme administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is to help local authorities to provide swimming pools. The Minister wishes me to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. The latest phase of my Department's water services investment programme for 2003 to 2005 was published last August. The programme provides for the construction of the Castlebar environs sewerage scheme at an overall cost in the region of €55 million.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: It is at the early stages. I attended a conference some months ago which was attended by all the stakeholders. It will ensure that we have a seamless transition through design, build and operation for a period of 20 years. Under a DBO contract, the contractor, usually a consortium which designs and builds a treatment plant, also operates the project for 20 years. The local authority recovers...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the current position in regard to the application for permanent accommodation for St. Patrick's national school in Diswellstown, Castleknock. St. Patrick's national school is a new school under the patronage of the Archdiocese of Dublin, which opened in September 2001. Enrolments at the...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Motion. (4 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: The purpose of this resolution is to reconstitute the membership of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments and ensure the tribunal will be able to get back into public session immediately. When resolutions have been passed by both Houses, the Minister will make an instrument under the Tribunals of Inquiries (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2002 to give full effect to the...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Motion. (4 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank all Members who contributed to the debate on this resolution. I am pleased but not surprised at the general support for the terms of the resolution. In dealing with this matter during the past few weeks, the primary concerns of the Government were to facilitate the continued operation of the tribunal and to ensure its future operations are conducted in a manner so as not to give rise...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages. (3 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I am pleased to be here to report on the amendments that were made to the Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 during its passage through the Dáil. However, before I do that, I wish to make two broad comments. First, the Bill has genuinely benefited from the consideration given to it in both Houses. This has resulted in significant amendments to the text by the Government but also as a...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages. (3 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: In my introductory statement I stated clearly that I would focus on amendments other than those of a technical, textual or consequential nature. Examples of such are amendments Nos. 1 and 2. Since the Bill was first introduced, the title of the Minister has changed to include heritage. Amendment No. 4 is a correction to the text – it is more appropriate to refer to the 1992 Act as a whole...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages. (3 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: Making the design of waste management plans an executive function has already been discussed at length in both Houses. Our approach is fully vindicated by the recent attempts on the part of a small number of councillors to undermine their own waste and development plans in Galway. We cannot allow further stalling. The plan currently in place must be implemented as soon as possible. We simply...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (10 Jun 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senators from all sides who, I understand from my colleagues who were present prior to my arrival, made a very constructive contribution to this most important debate. I congratulate the Seanad for taking the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive discussion on this important issue and I thank it on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, in that regard. Senator Ormonde and...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise for the absence of the Minister, Deputy Cullen, who is meeting the British Minister for Energy this afternoon to discuss a matter of interest to everyone, namely, Sellafield. He is also obliged to appear before the Select Committee on the Environment and Local Government with regard to the Estimates today. The Local Government Bill 2003 was initiated in the Seanad last February...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (28 May 2003)

Pat Gallagher: Having listened carefully to the Acting Chairman's ruling, I do not wish to stray into Second Stage debate. Given the opportunity, however, I would be delighted to debate the issue and respond to a number of the questions asked by Senators. When I used the word "confusion", I was referring to the difficulties that might arise from having the Local Government (No. 2) Bill 2003 become the Local...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Bill 2000: Second Stage. (27 May 2003)

Pat Gallagher: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I am pleased to present to the House the Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Bill 2000. The enactment of this Bill will enable Ireland to accede to the Council of Europe Agreement on Illicit Traffic by Sea implementing Article 17 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Illicit Traffic by Sea) Bill 2000: Second Stage. (27 May 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I wish to express my gratitude to Senators Terry, Tuffy, Jim Walsh, Kett and the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I hope the Bill can be enacted quickly so that we can continue to reinforce our commitment – in this instance in conjunction with our international partners – that no effort will spared to bring drug traffickers to justice wherever they may seek to operate. In response to Senator Kett's...

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

Pat Gallagher: We will deal with the coupled amendments Nos. 1 and 10, tabled by Senator Bannon. I cannot disagree with anything he has said about the importance of fire safety. The feeling is unanimous in both Houses that we have a duty and obligation in relation to fire safety. Regarding the proposal to insert "chief fire officer or inspection officer" in the Bill, the person authorised by the fire...

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Committee and Remaining Stages. (7 May 2003)

Pat Gallagher: While I appreciate that Senator Bannon is trying to strengthen the legislation, we have already done this by incorporating section 29(c) which inserts a new subsection (5) in section 18 of the Fire Service Act. We have now given authority to the authorised officer – who could be the chief fire officer, assistant fire officer or senior officer – to issue a closure notice. Depending on the...