Results 1,981-2,000 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: Many people do not realise that. We should grasp any opportunity for job creation in the south east. It may be necessary for the Minister of State and his officials to redraft the Opposition proposals as set out in these amendments. I hope that in his response, the Minister of State will say he can accept them now or, as a second resort, in modified form on Report Stage. I do not think we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: Exactly.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senator O'Toole. I ask the Leader whether, before the close of business tomorrow evening, we can reach agreement across the House on the broadcast levy, as proposed by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which will have potentially devastating effects on local radio, in particular. There is no need for the House to divide on the issue. Members on both sides are on the same...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: It should be possible to get one of them to come to the House as soon as possible for a discussion on banking. I agree with Senators, in particular Senator Mooney, who have spoken about pub opening hours on Good Friday. In this instance, it seems the campaign is being driven by the rugby authorities and a particular television company. As someone who enjoys a drink, I believe pubs should be...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: The day the Second World War broke out was the day there was thunder and lightning at the all-Ireland hurling final. Kilkenny won by a point.

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I will not repeat the arguments that have been made by Senators Norris, Walsh and O'Reilly. They have raised the specific issues relating to Green Biofuels Ireland in New Ross and proposed a mechanism by which the difficulty can be resolved. I would like to hear the Minister's response to that proposition. I spoke at length during the first debate on Committee Stage of the legislation and...

Seanad: Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: Perish the thought.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, to the House. I have not spoken on Committee Stage although I contributed on Second Stage. I have listened to and been present in the Chamber for all of this debate and I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of Senator Coffey's amendments. I come from an area like his and, I suspect, the Minister of State's. Indeed, the latter is...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: The Minister of State indicated that the main reason he could not accept the amendments was that he did not want two different standards of regulation in place. The Bill proposes that the greyhound and hunting sectors be subject to two different inspection, registration and fees regimes. From what I and all those with whom I have spoken can see, the current regime serves its purpose. We do...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: Senator Kieran Phelan is a well-known dog breeder. I thought he was going to contribute.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I support Senator Coffey's amendment. As the amendment makes perfect sense, I do not understand Senator Ó Brolcháin's comments. It proposes that local authorities should be able to appoint as authorised inspectors officials such as litter wardens who double up as dog wardens and are known as community wardens or by similar names in certain local authorities. Such persons and veterinary...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I did not say it involved a crime. I stated that what is proposed would be similar to having community alert or neighbourhood watch groups involved in the investigation of crime. Senator Ó Brolcháin should read section 17 on the powers of authorised persons.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I am aware of that. I refer to the powers of the authorised person, which are substantial. Such persons will have the power to enter dog breeding establishments and examine with regard to any matter under the Act the operator of the establishment and anyone employed therein. These are strong powers to grant to people who may be directly involved in the process. For this reason, the...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: Under this legislation, persons such as this will be eligible to enter a dog breeding premises as an authorised person appointed by the local authority.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I do trust them. However, despite the probability that my party will be in control of local authorities ad infinitum, it is possible that another party will take control of them eventually and someone like Bernie Wright may be appointed an inspector. Senator Ó Brolcháin should read section 16. Subsection (1) states the local authority may appoint any such person, including-----

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: This is directly related to the amendment. Under subsection (1) a local authority may appoint as authorised persons veterinary practitioners and any persons connected with animal welfare with whom an arrangement has been entered into under section 15(3) of the Act of 1986. Subsection (2) goes further and reads: "A body with which a local authority has entered into an arrangement under...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: We should have a debate on the health issue. I agree with many of the sentiments expressed by Senators. Senator Harris spoke about subsidiarity and said no large organisation should do the work of a small one. Like him, I was an admirer of Deputy Harney before she was appointed Minister for Health and Children. I remember the day she was appointed and thought it was a good one for the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: She single-handedly pushed it politically. Three or four extra levels of national management were created for the health service, on top of what already was in place at regional level. That is what the Minister is responsible for. Ministers should not he held accountable for every minor detail that goes wrong in their Departments but too much has gone wrong in the Department of Health and...

Seanad: Pension Provisions (11 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister of State. This matter relates to last week's announcement by the Government of the pensions framework for the future. Everybody acknowledges that the State faces a significant liability in pension provision. However, I was contacted by a constituent who represented a number of others in a similar position. He highlighted that his pension agreement provided for a...

Seanad: Pension Provisions (11 Mar 2010)

John Paul Phelan: While I welcome most of what the Minister of State said, a difficulty that arises is that the individual concerned had an agreed contract with his former employers who provided major employment in Waterford city in the south eastern region but who are now no longer in existence. The possibility that the scheme, of which this individual is a member, would pay a supplementary bridging pension...