Results 201-220 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I join my colleagues who condemned the appalling cold-blooded murder of Mr. Shane Geoghegan in Limerick. I know other Senators have spoken passionately, but as regards gangland crime I have no problem with the reintroduction of the Special Criminal Court. I know it is a serious step but it appears that a certain element involved in the drugs trade has no respect for jurors. Most people who...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I had the view when I came into this House almost 20 years ago in 1989 that Senator Norris was a very intelligent, witty, gregarious and broad-minded person. I take offence, however, at his condemnation yesterday of a debate the House is having today on the fishing industry. I have waited nine months for this debate and gave way on the matter last July. I appreciate and wish to thank the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I respect and am delighted that these debates take place. Why not have a debate on fishing instead of one on extraordinary rendition? The fishermen are on their knees at present. I respect Members on the other side of the House who want debates on education, health or——

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: With all due respect, these debates were belittled.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Leader for his graciousness in allowing these debates. If we could have a debate on farming, fishing or other issues once or twice a year, I would welcome them, even if they occurred in lieu of legislation.

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House. I do not want to go through the history of the fishing industry and the raw deal we got in 1973 where we ended up with 4% of the quotas with in excess of 20% of the coastal waters. For every 1 tonne of fish caught by Irish vessels over the years 20 tonnes were taken out of Irish waters by other EU vessels. That is historical...

Seanad: Criminal Assets Bureau Annual Report 2007: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister. I am glad we are having a debate on this important issue. Setting up the CAB is one of the success stories of the country from the point of view of dealing with organised crime. I accept Senator Regan's comment that the CAB legislation was introduced and passed by the rainbow coalition led by Fine Gael when former Deputy Nora Owen was Minister for Justice. I remind...

Seanad: Criminal Assets Bureau Annual Report 2007: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I compliment the Minister on a fulsome debate on this important issue, at a most appropriate time given the unfortunate and tragic incident that occurred in Limerick. A point was raised by a colleague, and is often put to me, that it is perceived by the general public that some of the more reputed criminals find shelter in places such as Spain. I accept that CAB cannot do anything about...

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome this debate. I spoke earlier on rural Ireland and the fishing industry. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, who has strong links with Drimoleague in west Cork, where I believe he joined the Green Party. I would have encouraged him to join another party but he slipped through the net. The allocation committed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in...

Seanad: Radon Protection Measures: Statements (13 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank Senator Brady for allowing me to say a few words and welcome the Minister of State to the House. I would prefer to discuss issues such as fishing, farming and tourism because I do not know a great deal about radon gas. I confess, however, that the woman with whom I share a home has two devices for measuring radon gas, one suspended from a light fixture and another in the bedroom....

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: In case we have lost track of what has happened since we last debated this two weeks ago, the amendment proposed by Senator Donohoe states that "public consultation" means a publicly advertised invitation for submissions from stakeholders and the public. I am support this issue and I spoke about it with some brevity on the previous occasion. In case I had the wrong meaning of the word...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I am still on the question of consultation which is tough, but I must read it into the record because there is still a problem in that regard. Mr. O'Mahoney suggested that Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners should write to the Department before they would consider any amalgamation or partnership. The whole pier would have to be sorted out financially and the dredging done before any...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: It is all about consultation.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The Leas-Chathaoirleach might have missed it on his resumption of that beautiful position.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Paschal Donohoe, for whom I have great respect and who has recently been promoted, tabled this amendment, which states: In page 17, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "'public consultation' means a publicly advertised invitation for submission from stakeholders and the general public;". In other words, he is making the important point that consultation should take...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: And I will get busier, unfortunately.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: This letter, which is dated September 2004, further states: As was agreed at our meeting, Mr Michael Guilfoyle, Assistant Secretary General, will work with the Commissioners in identifying the issues to be addressed in relation to the pier development and the future of the harbour. He would envisage, as agreed at our meeting, meeting the existing Board again (or a subgroup) on these issues...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: A bit like Bantry pier running out of water, the way I am going, I will soon run out of steam. I was in the process of reading into the record correspondence and minutes which deal with consultation and, in some cases, the lack of it. It is relevant to the amendment and to the section. Most of the minutes and letters to and from the Department refer to different areas of co-operation,...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: It is proposed that the House will sit again at 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday, 25 November 2008.

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects (25 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Minister for attending to deal with the issue. I wish to outline my concern at the situation regarding the community swimming pool in Dunmanway. I was informed a few years ago by the then Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, that refurbishment work would be carried out on the pool and subsequent to that there was a possibility that a brand new pool would be built. The pool serves a...