Results 181-200 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am asking a question. A highly specialised political unit was established in the Department of Social Welfare to disseminate information to the Rainbow parties——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——and to respective party members.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Could I ask if the Opposition parties——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am entitled to ask a question. The Opposition can shout all it wants but it will not silence me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Does the House agree——

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am finishing. Does the House agree this sinister development should be investigated along with all the others when the Minister comes to the House?

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Senator should ask a question, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I wish to share my time with Senator Leyden. I welcome the Minister to the House. I do not have the great problems with the Minister's timing of this referendum that others seem to have. I believe the core issue is extremely simple: there is an abuse of our Constitution and our citizenship laws. The people either decide to hand that matter back to the Oireachtas or they decide not to. That is...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: If there was ever a case for holding a referendum alongside other elections, this is it. The issue is simple but important and by holding the referendum alongside local and European elections, we will maximise turnout. After all, increasing participation in the democratic process is the reason the local elections are being held alongside the European elections. A low turnout, following a...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am glad he has a combative style and it is particularly welcome on an issue of such fundamental importance. Surely every country has a duty to address problems related to the welfare of society. This is one such problem and the Minister has a statutory and constitutional duty to solve it. There is no point arguing that a court decision in England or elsewhere would give one greater...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I second the motion and am delighted to do so, despite what Senator Brian Hayes said this morning about Fianna Fáil having a brass neck. While we would love to hear an alternative set of economic policies, the amendment indicates Fine Gael members are living in a fairyland. The dustbin would be the best place for it as it contains very little, if any, economic logic. There is no serious...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: We have been out all year.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 May 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I support calls for a debate on whole school assessment for a number of reasons, mainly the ongoing media publication of selective information about the performance of schools which is the most damaging development in this area. A recent court decision, to which previous speakers referred, is a further reason to have a debate. I understand 19 pilot projects are under way in this area, mainly...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Regarding the issue raised by Senator Brian Hayes, my understanding is that the CAO refused information to the newspapers because of a concern that it would be in breach of the Data Protection Act. Such information has been used in the past for the type of crude league tables we are trying to guard against. I am surprised that Senator Brian Hayes appears to be enthusiastically supporting the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Notwithstanding the fact that this dispute does not involve the Minister for Education and Science, we would all welcome him to the House as soon as possible to outline his proposals for the release of more holistic information to parents and students.

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan. This significant Bill is very welcome. Following its publication, the Bill was debated at length among various organisations, at the Joint Committee on Education and Science and during its passage in the Dáil. One of the greatest challenges to our education system down through the years and in recent times is the inability to respond to...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: There is a determination, and this is very evident in the past number of years, to bring this service to the centre and to the heart of the education service in general. It was very much on the periphery. It was the case of a nod and a wink and a sometimes best forgotten service. Now it is being brought rapidly to the centre of the education service and that is to be greatly welcomed. In...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: There are individual disparities, difficulties and imbalances within that service but overall that has been the thrust of this development. I pay tribute to two groups which made a significant contribution to promoting awareness of children with special needs and disabilities, to asserting their right to equal treatment and to realising their potential. Enabling children with special needs to...

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: People may be irritated by the term "revolutionary".

Seanad: Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill 2003: Second Stage. (23 Jun 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: People will have plenty of time to articulate their irritation as will Senator O'Toole following my very humble contribution.