Results 201-220 of 445 for speaker:Eoghan Harris

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (14 Jul 2009)

Eoghan Harris: I will not waste time in hand-wringing about guillotining and the rest of it. The fact that some of our contributions are terse and to the point may be valuable. This Bill is necessary but not sufficient. We will be back here again, but there is nothing particularly reprehensible about that; law is a process, not a product. We must respond to events as they occur. As a non-lawyer, I will...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: Members are aware that there were scapegoats in the Hebrew tradition. Incidentally, they also had sacrificial bulls and lambs. If the Opposition and the fainthearted in Fianna Fáil seek a sacrificial bull and if the Ceann Comhairle did something wrong a few weeks ago-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: Okay. If anyone had done something wrong, his head should have been sought. However, as his head was not sought, therefore, he must not have done anything wrong. If he did, the matter should have been dealt with.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: Fair enough; I will move on. However, if one is afraid to take on a sacrificial bull, it is wrong to take on a sacrificial lamb. I refer to the person who has been targeted as an alleged political adviser. He is not a political adviser.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: He is a cultural adviser who has never been a member of a political party. He has never engaged in political activities. He is a distinguished former RTE producer who has done great work in outreach programmes on this House. He was appointed by the commission to publicise the work of the Oireachtas. He has done so with great ability-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: -----and it is very wrong to target, for sacrificial purposes-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: I have never mentioned his name.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: It is very rare that I defend public servants. I am defending a minor public servant who has been targeted when his employer is being let off the hook. That is very wrong.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: On a point of order, I really want to protest at my treatment today. The Cathaoirleach was prompted by the Clerk to interfere with me but I never mentioned any names.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: How dare anyone-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: The Cathaoirleach was prompted to interfere with me. I did not mention any names. I stood up and made a legitimate protection of a public servant-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: -----who is being targeted by the media as a political adviser when he is not a political adviser. The Cathaoirleach interrupted me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: I protest; the Cathaoirleach behaved disgracefully. The Cathaoirleach had no right to interfere with me.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: I did not identify the person.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: What is really disgusting is that I spoke to the Cathaoirleach before this sitting and I told him that I was not going to mention names-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: -----but that I was going to defend Mr. Dan Collins. I am now going to mention his name. The Cathaoirleach agreed with me at that time-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: -----and now he has dodged it on prompting from the side. This is disgraceful treatment.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: I did not name anyone.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: The Cathaoirleach was prompted and ran in to protect something that he was wrong about.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2009)

Eoghan Harris: The Cathaoirleach should have the decency to give me a chance.