Results 201-220 of 4,905 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Second Stage. (9 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, and his officials to the House. This is my first opportunity to wish him well in his new position. As the Minister of State outlined in his detailed speech on the introduction of the Road Traffic Bill 2004, its main purpose is to promote further improvements in road safety and to provide for the introduction of a new system of metric speed...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Senator should speak to Deputy Ring about that matter.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Senator Burke has raised an interesting point. Currently if people are caught on camera for speeding they receive a letter in the post and are given a certain number of days to pay the fine or else they receive a summons and are brought to court. However, I know of a case where an individual received no letter in the post. The first indication that person had of having incurred penalty points...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: We have a system in place whereby the Garda is obliged to notify a person of an alleged offence. There are so many days within which a fixed penalty must be paid. If it is not paid a summons is issued. Would the Minister of State agree that in the interest if fairness there should be an onus on the Garda to prove the original notice was served?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Garda should be able to prove that. At the moment it is not able to do that.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: People use designated disabled parking spaces because such spaces are always in the most convenient location in terms of the associated destination. I agree with my colleagues that such behaviour is disgraceful. The fine could never be too high. I would not afford anybody who parks illegally in a designated space the opportunity of getting away with a penalty point. Such people should be...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Senator should not rule it out.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Bill and I thank the Minister of State and his officials for coming before the House. I also thank the Minister of State for being present during all Stages. Concerns were expressed on all sides of the House and I thank the Minister of State for addressing them. I welcome the Bill and look forward to its enactment early in the new year.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I wish to share my time with Senator White.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, and his officials to the House. This is the first opportunity I have had to welcome him publicly in his new capacity. On behalf of the people of Cavan, in particular, I pay tribute to him for the work he achieved formerly as Minister for Transport. The Bill provides for the introduction of a series of social welfare...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I remind the House that in 1995, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Proinsias De Rossa's outfit were given the opportunity to put their rhetoric into action.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: They failed to do so.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: In 1995, they awarded £1.80 to pensioners who worked hard to build the economy we have today.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The three budgets for which they were responsible, from 1995 to 1997, provided an average increase of €3.50 to pensioners. Let us put the record straight and cut out the nonsense. I welcome the largest ever expenditure on social welfare in the history of the State.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The social welfare budget has risen by €1 billion, which is an increase of 8.8% on last year. The total spending on social welfare has more than doubled since 1997. Payments have increased by three times the expected rate of inflation. A total of 1.5 million people will benefit from social welfare payments weekly. There has been a fourfold increase in child benefit since 1997. The increase...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (16 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the allocation of €13.6 million to MABS. We are all aware of people in a financial vicious circle who have availed of the service. There was no light at the end of the tunnel for them until they consulted the local MABS office. This money is being well spent. The Minister said that this year's allocation related to 52 centres nationwide. Funding has now been allocated for an...

Seanad: Job Losses. (26 Jan 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: This is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate Deputy Killeen on his appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I wish him well in the years ahead. What steps will be taken to secure replacement jobs in view of the closure of Ezy Koter Limited, Virginia, County Cavan? This is a pressing issue. Last week, the announcement of the pending...

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: The tracks are in much better condition than when Fine Gael was in power.

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: They are on the way. It takes time to train them.

Seanad: Regional Transport Policy: Statements. (16 Feb 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: It takes time to train people. One cannot simply ask them to wear a uniform and then deploy them.