Results 2,421-2,440 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: It is all our fault.

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I endorse all that has been said in praise of the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and welcome her back to the House. Her initiative is to be applauded and there has been universal praise for the content of the amendment and for the manner in which it has been introduced. There was a certain political skill involved in this because, to a degree, it has defeated previous incumbents of the...

Seanad: Radical Seanad Reform Through Legislative Change: Statements (3 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for this rather unexpected opportunity. Like everybody else I commend our colleagues, both inside and outside the House, for compiling the report, particularly Senators Zappone and Quinn. I am concerned that a group of Senators presenting a case for the retention of the Seanad would not necessarily play well with the general public. I would like to see a...

Seanad: Radical Seanad Reform Through Legislative Change: Statements (3 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I would like to report progress.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Bus Services (3 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this issue because the timing is important. Behind the motion lies a very real concern about the effect on people in various parts of the country of a decision taken by Bus Éireann a number of weeks ago, which only came into the public domain in the last week to ten days. The company intends to reduce the amount...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Bus Services (3 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I am grateful for the comprehensive reply given by the Minister of State and acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, is not only aware of the issues arising but has also been proactive in addressing them. I hope the NTA will now consider the revised arrangements with a view to integrating rural transport services for those who are going to be denied access to public transport....

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Motion (4 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I will not delay the House because my colleague, Senator Ó Domhnaill, has covered the position we have taken comprehensively. The Minister has also outlined the position in a comprehensive fashion, which is his modus operandi. I welcome the clarification on many of the important issues. I endorse all that has been said so far in wishing the Minister well. In particular in the agriculture...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Motion (4 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: When I examined the issue of greening ? I am sure the Minister is even more familiar with it than I ? I noted that farming organisations worry that the European Commission?s plans to make the CAP more environmentally friendly could leave producers drowning in paperwork. The Minister referred to the matter. For example, COPA, which represents European farmers and farm co-operatives says the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (9 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I support my colleague, Senator O'Neill, as he and I serve on the joint committee. At the meeting earlier today, Senator O'Neill raised this issue, which was unanimously agreed on by all members present from all parties and none. We discussed exactly what Senator O'Neill has outlined regarding the attitude towards discards. The issue has arisen in this House in the past few years. The...

Seanad: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Statements (9 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome my constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Perry and, as I have done in the past, wish him continued success in his very challenging position. It is not one that can always deliver on aspirations in these difficult times. I know the Minister of State's business background has prepared and equipped him very well for the job in hand. Two reports published in the past...

Seanad: Radical Seanad Reform Through Legislative Change: Statements (Resumed) (9 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I wish to make a number of brief points, one of which was raised in the report. Since the 1937 Constitution, there have been ten reports on reform of the Seanad - I emphasise the word "reform" - but none has proposed abolition. In the last significant report, the committee under the former Leader, Mrs. Mary O'Rourke, was pleasantly surprised that, of the 49 oral submissions and 161 written...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Business of Joint Committee (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Although I understand the frustration experienced while at a meeting, the transcripts are available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I am grateful to Mr. Ó hÓbáin and the officials of his Department. It is vital that the information provided for this committee is conveyed to the wider public because of the concerns expressed, particularly in the areas in which it is proposed to carry out hydraulic fracturing. One of my questions relates to a comment made earlier about the licence application option,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: If there is a requirement to formally second Deputy Colreavy's proposal, I am very happy to do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I am not attempting to gainsay Deputy Colreavy but what I would like to think he has in mind is that we would inform ourselves on the ground and also take the opportunity to engage with some of the local opinion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I ask Mr. Ó hÓbáin to elaborate on the issue of consent for any transfer. It is a matter of concern that this is a front organisation and that it would sell out to a larger multinational. What is the context in which that could happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Within the last couple of days the British Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced that he is going to reduce the royalty tax rate for hydraulic fracturing operations in Britain. That is a sinister development because activity is already under way in County Fermanagh, directly across the Border. This is the same operational area from which shale gas could be extracted and it affects both...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: There is a senior geologist present. Has the Department established any fact on the ground? The only facts and figures we are getting come from Tamboran Resources about what is to be found under the ground and what can be extracted. I know Mr. Ó hÓbáin touched briefly on this issue, but it is important to find out the Department's view because we have not heard anything from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Therefore, the figures being given by the company are questionable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I asked that question because there are wide variations between what is proposed to be taken out, what is supposed to be there and what can be taken out. I presume this is all being watched in the Department.