Results 201-220 of 1,637 for speaker:Labhrás Ó Murchú

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I join Senator Brian Hayes in welcoming the GAA report on alcohol in sport. It is a very responsible document and sets a guideline for other groups in society. Anti-social behaviour is not generally associated with sport in the GAA compared to international events, of which we are all quite critical. Senators Hayes and O'Toole have made important points on sponsorship. Many organisations rely...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Ar dtús, is mian liom céad míle fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá an díospóireacht seo thar a bheith suimiúil. Tá sí ar siúl, ní hamháin anseo i dTithe an Oireachtais ach lasmuigh chomh maith. Tugann sin dóchas dom agus cruthaíonn sé go bhfuil an-suim ag muintir na hÉireann inár n-oidhreacht náisiúnta. Sin mar ba chóir a bheith mar níl aon tír ar domhan a bhfuil...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (6 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It is obvious Senator Bannon has a deep interest in and an extensive knowledge of the subject. There is much to be said for compiling an inventory of all the national monuments. I presume that is being done or has been done and, as such, I am not sure it is necessary to include the register in legislation. It is something that should be done because I recall when the then Minister for Arts,...

Seanad: Barron Report: Statements. (7 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Fáiltím roimh an Aire. I express my appreciation of the work done to bring about the Barron report and the work of the Sub-Committee on the Barron Report. It is evident that the sub-committee was meticulous and sincere in its approach to a very harrowing matter. All of us who observed at first hand the terrible anguish of the relatives of the victims have come to accept that for them there...

Seanad: National Monuments (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (7 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Tuigimse cad ina thaobh go bhfuil daoine aireach agus cúramach faoinár n-oidhreacht náisiúnta. Ach is é an dúshlán atá romhainn go léir ár n-oidhreacht náisiúnta a chothú, ar an dtaobh amháin, agus, ar an dtaobh eile, cinntiú go mbeimid in ann dul chun cinn agus forbairt a dhéanamh ins an tír. Is reachtaíocht faoi leith í seo agus ní Acht iomlán atá i gceist. Thug an...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: One reason we are having such a robust debate on this amendment is because it is central to the case of my colleagues on the other side of the House.

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: They are concerned with the issue of transparency. Senator Ryan is correct and has set out his stall regarding his definition of transparency. I am not sure there is a great divergence of views but there is a perception, as distinct from a definition, of what transparency means. In this case, perception is just as important. The Minister does not need my defence but I reiterate the point I...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (7 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: This amendment is taking so much time because this aspect is central to the case being made.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jul 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Virtually every week one reads of another person who has gone missing and the list seems to be growing all the time. They are often either people of a tender age or elderly people and it must be difficult for families not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead. I raised this matter in the House approximately three years ago and at that time the Government provided money in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I have re-read the report on the Irish in Britain, which makes a good contribution to fully understanding the plight of many Irishmen and Irishwomen who live abroad. From the information provided it is clear that a good response has been made by the Government and many agencies with finance and back-up services to resolve some of the difficulties that exist. The report is largely concerned...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (30 Sep 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: With the permission of the House, I propose to share my time with Senator Feeney.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (30 Sep 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I dtosach, is mian liom fáiltiú roimh an tuarascáil seo. Is mian liom freisin na daoine a chuaigh i mbun na hoibre a mholadh. Tá sár jab déanta acu. Tá sé soiléir freisin go raibh modus operandi ann a bhí an-oscailte, an-fhairsing agus an-éifeachtach. Is mór an cabhair é dúinn agus táimid go mór faoi chomaoin, ní amháin ag na daoine a bhí ar an gcoiste ach ag na daoine a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It would be timely to have a debate in this House on Northern Ireland because it is very difficult for us to interact on the Order of Business on such an important issue. I recall that there was criticism in this House when the DUP emerged as the major Unionist party after the last local elections. Some of those criticisms bordered on the anti-democratic. However, if the Unionist population...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Oct 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support Senator Morrissey's call for a debate on sport. It would give us an opportunity to acknowledge the immense contribution sports bodies have made to the country.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Oct 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: In particular, it would give us an opportunity to commend the GAA on the very positive contribution it has made to the social, cultural and economic life of the country. The €40 million which has been referred to is an acknowledgement in some small way for well over a century of cultural and sporting activity. I agree that there should be no strings attached. There were no strings attached...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I wish to make reference to the same issue if I may and I will be as brief as possible. I heard the interview Ms Hassan gave at the time of the invasion. She comes across as a courageous and concerned person. There is little point in us trying to rationalise how anybody expects any cause to be advanced by interfering with people of that calibre. I still believe the invasion of Iraq was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I still think it was unjust.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: To try to advance where we are now on such a flawed basis does not make any sense——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: ——and until Britain and the United States are removed from the equation, we will not make progress. We are only clouding the issue by thinking otherwise.