Results 201-220 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (27 Apr 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I thank all the Senators who participated in this debate. I also thank the Minister for Transport for staying so long in the House today. We have been criticised by some in this House for choosing this subject for tonight's motion. If it was so important to Opposition Members why have they not addressed it in their Private Members' time before now? We tabled this motion before the bank...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (27 Apr 2005)

Tom Morrissey: There will be almost 700 extra gardaí in the traffic corps, bringing its total to 1,200.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (27 Apr 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I am not here to defend heavy goods vehicles or the haulage industry, but this country depends on that industry for transporting our exports and raw materials. The heavy goods vehicle industry must be policed correctly and with that I would like to see the regulations on the weight that can be carried by these vehicles, particularly in the building industry, properly enforced. The recent...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (27 Apr 2005)

Tom Morrissey: Through cost-benefit analysis, all Departments can see the costs of road safety. We do not have a budgetary provision or methodology to evaluate the benefits but on examining the Goodbody consultants report, the benefits are quite clear. Each fatality costs the State €2 million and each serious injury costs in excess of €200,000, and that must be considered. With regard to drivers between...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment. (27 Apr 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I raise this issue about St.Brigid's national school, Castleknock. It is a school with an enrolment of 768 pupils. The Castleknock parish area has had projections of a 170% increase in housing in recent years. This school has long waiting lists. It urgently needs a new gym. The existing gym that was built in 1971 has been condemned by health and safety experts as being totally inadequate for...

Seanad: Immigrant Workers: Motion. (4 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I wish to share my time with Senators Mansergh and Leyden.

Seanad: Immigrant Workers: Motion. (4 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: As someone who has employed migrant workers I feel very annoyed that there are unscrupulous employers who have gotten away with exploiting these workers for years. The greatest service we can provide for migrant workers is integration. The only way that is possible is through language. The difficulties with Gama Construction would not have happened if those workers had received language...

Seanad: Health Services. (5 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: The community mothers' programme has run successfully in Finglas, Ballymun and Coolock for the past seven years. It is worthwhile because it enables young mothers to deal with their young children often in difficult situations. Many of these mothers are vulnerable and I ask that consideration be given to extending the programme to the greater Blanchardstown area where a similar scheme is needed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: On Monday, many Oireachtas Members from the Dublin area met with the management of Fingal County Council. They were shocked to be given information that despite the proposed ratification of the review of the draft development plan by the council in the coming weeks, the projected population figures for 2011 will be reached by 2008. This is in tandem with 7,000 housing units being taken out of...

Seanad: Alternative Energy Projects. (11 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I have raised this issue on the Adjournment because, from commentators and from our own experience in the past few years and very recently, we all know about the cost of energy in our homes and businesses. We must begin looking at alternative sources of energy in this country. As an island nation we are very dependent on others to supply our energy needs. Without Government support for, or...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion. (18 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Independent group for tabling this motion and the Minister of State for attending. The issue of competitiveness is paramount to this economy and is of crucial national importance. Continuing to compete not only in selling our goods and services but also in attracting foreign direct investment and creating high quality jobs are the key to our future growth. Economic competitiveness...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: Much comment has been made on the package of aviation measures announced by the Minister for Transport yesterday. Looking across at the members of the Opposition, they may——

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: They may very well criticise the decisions that have been made. One thing is for certain — without this decision, a state of paralysis would have continued.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: On the one hand, we have two parties divided on this side of the House about the future of Aer Lingus. One party is in favour of private equity and one is favour of——

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: Nobody has a monopoly of wisdom on this issue. Now that the decision has been made, I call for the Minister to come into the House. I agree with Senator Mansergh that we must look at an holistic approach to how we get to and from the airport.

Seanad: Aviation Action Plan: Statements. (31 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister to the House for this debate. Recently I met a Dublin businessman who employs 50 people in a medium-sized industry. He informed me that 20 years ago if one of his machines broke down in Dublin he would be forced to wait until the following day to book an Aer Lingus flight to Birmingham, stay overnight and fly back the next day. His machine would then need to be...

Seanad: Aviation Action Plan: Statements. (31 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: This is what the unions were prepared to do. It was not to be at a price less than the price for that job in Dublin Airport today — it was at the same price for that job — there was no race to the bottom as we often hear. However, the price to be requested was greater efficiency. I will give an example of such efficiency. Dublin Airport has 140 check-in desks. Some 20 of them, 17%, are...

Seanad: Aviation Action Plan: Statements. (31 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: —— and which is very volatile, cyclical and risky? We in the Progressive Democrats wholeheartedly support an equity stake of considerably more than 50% in Aer Lingus. Only then can Aer Lingus fight the good fight.

Seanad: Aviation Action Plan: Statements. (31 May 2005)

Tom Morrissey: I am saying from 50% up to 60%. The Minister said the Government would retain 25% and there is a further 15% for the staff. If 40 is subtracted from 100, it leaves 60, and a majority stake is anywhere between 50% and 60%. It is only then that Aer Lingus can take its hands from behind its back, where they have been tied for the past few years. It had a Government shareholder that by its very...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jun 2005)

Tom Morrissey: On 1 June 2003, the Department of Transport indicated it would introduce new regulations regarding safety precautions for motor cyclists. Two years have passed since this indication. I understand a consultative group was established at the time. It made its report but it was never published and seems to have got lost in the sands. I raise this matter because motorcycles represent...