Results 221-240 of 35,959 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Yes, if that is possible.

Seanad: Lisbon Treaty: Statements (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: A Government Senator asked to which side Sinn Féin is now aligned. I am glad to say that Sinn Féin is aligned to the majority of people who came out on Thursday to cast their votes and to the people of France and Holland. The overwhelming majority of people across the European Union, as shown in opinion polls, would have voted in the same way. The people have spoken. The Lisbon treaty...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Motion (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the important issue of the national drugs strategy. I do not support the motion but I will support the amendment tabled by the Fine Gael Party because it best reflects the current crisis we are in. Chronic underfunding has been a feature of this area. It is one thing to have a strategy but one needs to look at the reality to date with the...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 85a: In page 86, subsection (1), between lines 35 and 35, to insert the following: "(m) sport," Some of these amendments relate to the recognition that must be included in the Bill in respect of domestic sports coverage. I wish to ensure that domestic sport is afforded its rightful place in television and radio broadcasts. A domestic sporting event such as track racing,...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The Senator is confusing amendment No. 90a with No. a90a.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I have listened to the Minister of State's response to the amendments I tabled and will not press them at a later stage. I thank him for his contribution on all of them, particularly amendment No. 85a, as he suggested he would consider including sport as one of the criteria for members of the board. We will return to this on Report Stage to see what has been done in this regard and I...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 86a: In page 89, between lines 42 and 43 to insert the following: "(f) is a shareholder, director or is otherwise commercially involved in another broadcasting company.".

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I note what the Minister of State said. The matter may be already dealt with, as the Minister of State said, but it would do no harm to express it more clearly in the Bill.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an méid atá ráite aige agus táim sásta an moladh a tharraingt siar.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I move amendment No. 99a: In page 117, line 35, after "continues" to insert the following: "and that it be given a set budget for each financial year". Déileálann an moladh seo le ceist TG4 agus maoiniú TG4. Mar a dúirt mé nuair a bhí muid ag plé seo ar Chéim 2, bhí a fhios ag an Aire ó bhunaíodh TG4 nach raibh an maoiniú cuí curtha ar fáil don stáisiún. Tá an scéal mar an...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Go raibh maith agat. As that was my last amendment I thank the Minister of State for the way he has dealt with the amendments, especially the ones I tabled. I am disappointed with his response to the final amendment and I urge him to reconsider as the amendment does not deal with the specific issues TG4 faces currently but it proposes to deal with problems it may encounter in future. A...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cathaoirleach as an deis labhairt ar an Bhille tábhachtach seo atá os comhair an tSeanaid anocht agus as an deis tacú leis. Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na Seanadóirí ón Pháirtí Glas as ucht an Bille seo a thabhairt chun tosach agus deis a thabhairt dúinn é a phlé. Tá súil agam, ní amháin go bpléifimid é ach ina dhiaidh sin go...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I agree with Senator Walsh. The idea of sending somebody to prison for non-payment of a television licence is foolhardy. If we as legislators were to bring in legislation that could allow that to happen we would be fools. What Senators O'Toole and Norris propose in their amendment is sensible because nobody in this Chamber, including the Minister of State, wants to see people being sent to...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid atá ráite agus buíochas a ghabháil leis na hAirí, go háirithe an Teachta Seán Power a bhí ag déileáil leis na leasuithe. Glacadh le cuid acu, ina measc cuid a chuir me fhéin síos, agus gabhaim buíochas leis ar son sin. Ní raibh muid ábalta achan moladh a ghlacadh ach sin mar a tharlaíonn. Chuir na Seanadóirí uilig agus na hAirí cuid mhór...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (25 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: In the last fortnight the issue of how a special educational needs organiser, SENO, makes decisions about the allocation of special needs assistants without the right to appeal, brought hundreds of people across the Inishowen peninsula in my home county of Donegal to a public meeting in support of the parents affected by this situation. I wish to publicly commend and offer my full support and...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (25 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I am not sure if the Minister of State is familiar with the situation that pertains in Inisowen but I want to repeat what I stated in my earlier comments. All of us involved in politics know that it is hard to engage the public appetite for whatever the cause, but when 350 people turn out to a meeting in a peninsula there is clearly a problem. We are dealing with a small issue in a number of...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I wish to echo a call I made last week, a call made by many Senators in previous weeks and in recent days, to have a debate on the economy. I especially call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coughlan, to come to the House and speak about the current job losses taking place across the State. Members of Opposition parties, including myself, have...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: There are schools where windows are nailed shut, where rodents are taking over——

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I appeal to the Leader to understand the severity of the situation and to ask the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House——

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2008)

Pearse Doherty: On a separate matter, we all know that to have a strong economy we need a skilled workforce. Unfortunately, we have a downturn in the construction industry which has been highlighted. What is happening now is that those who are losing their jobs in that industry, who wish to go back to reskilling and avail of the back to education allowance, cannot do so because they must be unemployed for...