Results 15,061-15,080 of 26,076 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is Senator Ó Ríordáin pressing the amendment?

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Seanad: United Kingdom Referendum on European Union Membership: Statements (28 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, to the House. Last Friday night, like many others, I watched the BBC news at midnight. I assumed I would watch the programme for ten minutes and go to bed, but I suddenly found I was still watching it at 2.30 a.m. because of the way the vote was unfolding. It was a stark reminder to all of us and to the European project that we have to reflect and...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator's information is very good.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: Maybe Mick will pay for all of us to go.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I join other Senators in congratulating the Republic of Ireland team. It was the bravery of Robbie Brady and the skill of Wes Hoolahan that resulted in the goal being scored. It was almost more significant than the goal scored by Ray Houghton because it was scored literally at the death. They were under the cosh, but the result was fantastic. This may be a question for the Clerk of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is of such significance in terms of symbolism that we, as Members of the Seanad, should look to see if it is possible to bring the two teams to the Houses of Parliament for a form of civic reception to honour them. I am making that request.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: Equally, it is welcome in the South.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: Karma.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and wish her well. She has a great personal interest in this issue, to which she brings a wealth of experience. I have never smoked a joint.

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator. I do not agree with him in saying he does not have a problem with the use of cannabis. I have to say I have a major problem with it. The drug treatment centres tell us that in the past year there has been a huge increase in the numbers of students referred to them for cannabis rather than alcohol use. Cannabis use can lead to a person taking harder drugs. That is...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I responded to a comment made by Senator Norris.

Seanad: Mental Health: Statements (22 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, and wish her well in her brief. I wish to speak about the issue of suicide, particularly in the context of the position in my constituency of Limerick City. Studies have shown that, between 2011 and 2013, it had the highest suicide rate in Ireland. At more than 21 deaths per 100,000 of population, the rate was almost twice the national...

Seanad: EU-UK Relations: Statements (22 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the Minister and congratulate him on his reappointment. I wish him well. The European Union was set up after the Second World War where it was agreed in the spirit of Schuman and others that we would be creating a Europe where war would never happen again. However, there was also an economic context to that. We cannot ignore the advance of people such as Mr. Nigel Farage, MEP,...

Seanad: EU-UK Relations: Statements (22 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: People will play the man rather than the ball when voting on this issue in Britain. I cannot see how it would benefit Britain, Northern Ireland or Ireland if Britain votes to leave the European Union. I hope that common sense will prevail. Jo Cox's husband, Brendan, asked the British people to vote to remain. I hope that in her memory and in the interests of Britain, their families,...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: There are 32,000 home owners with mortgages that have been in arrears for more than two years. It is, I suppose, the elephant in the room in terms of people with homes. I ask the Leader to arrange for the relevant Ministers to come before the House for a wide-ranging debate on whether the current insolvency regime is fit for purpose. An appeal mechanism was introduced to allow people to...

Seanad: Death of Jo Cox, MP: Expressions of Sympathy (21 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to be associated with the tributes to Jo Cox, MP. Like everyone else, I did not know the lady. From what I have read, however, she was an excellent parliamentarian. She had previously been head of policy at Oxfam and brought many skills and much experience to her job as an MP. She was going about her daily duty, holding a clinic like any of us would, and she was gunned down and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (16 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ross. It is particularly significant that he is a former Member of this House, but the issue I am bringing up today is more significant. As a Senator based in Limerick city, the upgrade of the N20 to a motorway, the M20, between Cork and Limerick is the number one infrastructural project for both Cork and Limerick at the moment. If one travels from Cork along...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (16 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask the Minister to request or direct Transport Infrastructure Ireland to carry out an updated business case for the M20. The business case conducted in 2009 clearly indicated the need for this route between Limerick and Cork. It is a huge concern and priority for my constituents in Limerick. Furthermore, the fact that there have been nine fatalities on that route in the past 12 to 14...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (16 Jun 2016)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will the Minister inform us of the outcome of that?