Results 2,261-2,280 of 4,132 for speaker:Donie Cassidy

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: When a Bill is initiated in the House we endeavour to leave a week between Second Stage and Committee Stage, but as that is the final week before the summer recess, which is almost into the last week in July-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: Yes, of course it is.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009 - all Stages, with Second Stage to conclude not later than 1.45 p.m. with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed seven minutes, Senators may share time with the agreement of the House, and the Minister shall be called not later than 1.35 p.m. to reply; No....

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: In response to Senator Regan's query, it was proposed to take the Enforcement of Court Orders (Amendment) Bill 2009 on Friday but I now propose to take it next Tuesday to give colleagues an opportunity to prepare given the publishing time of the Bill. I hope all colleagues agree with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole and Coghlan expressed the urgency of dealing with mental health issues and spoke about the important meeting taking place today. I wish everyone well. We will give it our full support. Many of our Seanad colleagues on all sides of the House want to make their mark by doing something substantial to address the challenges facing mental health. The new Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I congratulate Senator Coghlan on his presidency last Sunday. It was an outstanding success. I know he is still on a high and I understand that - it happens to people at that age.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: It is also a fact that 53% of the population is in serious debt with 47%-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: Senator Twomey may not address the Cathaoirleach with his hands in his pockets. I do not know whether he knows that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I was stating that it is a fact that 53% of the population is in quite substantial debt. However, it is also true that 47% of the population does not owe anything. This is the area of growth-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: -----we can look forward to and where the green shoots will appear. That is a statistical fact.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: Senators Leyden, Norris, Ó Murchú and Hannigan all expressed their abhorrence at what is happening in the Middle East and I will certainly endeavour to allocate a small portion of time prior to the recess to allow colleagues to make their views known and to support the Minister for Foreign Affairs who is doing an incredible job expressing the views of the Irish people and their abhorrence...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: This is statistical information that has been supplied to us all and we must accept it in good faith. Senator Regan raised local government charges and the Bill will go ahead as outlined. Senators Coffey, Buttimer and Healy Eames raised the unemployment figures. As we often stated in the House the biggest challenge facing the country is jobs, and competitiveness is the root of the evil. If...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: Whether we like it or not, the high costs of labour and energy have taken away our competitiveness and we must seriously examine this through social partnership. I applauded the social partnership achievements since 1987 when the country was last in a massive downturn. All of us on all sides of the House face a serious challenge in this area; if we can get Ireland back to be competitive,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I seek information because I have just re-entered the House. This has been a very interesting debate and many colleagues are very interested in this very important legislation. Is it proposed by the Minister that we adjourn Committee Stage until 7 p.m. to allow him and Senators to discuss in the ante-room their various concerns and continue with the other two Bills listed for consideration...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: As long as clarification will be sufficient, I am very satisfied with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I am very happy with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I have a difficulty with that because there are major time pressures. We want to be out by midnight-----

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: Let me raise a point of information, because we are always learning. If there are no amendments for Report Stage, will no printing take place?

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: If there is progress involving the Minister and colleagues after Committee Stage, we can conclude the Bill by midnight or some such time. There is no guillotine. This House does not guillotine any Bill in any shape or form; that is the big advantage of being a Senator.