Results 241-260 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (16 Dec 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the ongoing saga of the Castletownbere sewerage scheme and treatment plant. I became a member of Cork County Council in 1985, which seems a long time ago, and it was already an issue at that time. It might be wrong to use the word "fudged", but it is one of the schemes in County Cork which has been kicked to touch. There have been more...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (16 Dec 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I eagerly anticipate his visit to our neck of the woods to launch the scheme officially in 2009. I appreciate his response, which I hope will bring some clarity to the issue.

Seanad: Gun Crime: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: This is a very important debate on the subject of gun crime. Crime of any description, especially murder, is deplorable. The catalyst for this debate was the unfortunate murder of Mr. O'Kane in East Wall. I live in a very peaceful location in the Mizen peninsula and at this time of Christmas I always ponder the appalling, high profile murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier which occurred half...

Seanad: Gun Crime: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: At 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I was speaking on that amendment. Does Senator Donohoe want to——

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: This goes back to the issue of consultation on which I spoke at some length in the previous debate. I concur with my colleague in that regard. I am deeply concerned that the consultation promised by several Governments in the past 30 years has not happened, particularly in regard to the port of Bantry. We can refer to various reports, including the KPMG report of June 1999, a...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Not entirely. I have some more letters to read into the record that I received since the last debate. I am merely making the point that there has not been consultation. If I were to go through all the material available to me it would take me a week. It is all about consultation. With all due respect, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, the issue of consultation is referred to in various reports. I...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: It feels as if someone is putting a gun to my head. This is unfair and brings to mind the argument that if one puts enough smoke into the beehive, one will smother the queen bee. I feel a little smothered. I will return to the issue of consultation but before doing so, I record my disappointment. A sos should have been provided for from 1.30 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. to allow us to have a cup of...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: The thrust of the amendment tabled by Senator Donohoe on the issue of consultation, consultants and related matters is connected to the issue of having consultation before a proposal is made to have a harbour board subsumed into or taken over by another port authority. I have spoken on this issue previously and will speak on it again. I refer to the report, A Review of the State Regional...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Yes. It is about consultation. It is critical to any proposed liaison or marriage, whether it is a shotgun wedding or something else, that the two parties meet. We are not going back to the old days of match-making, when the first time people met was on the day of the wedding.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: There was no consultation. There is some match-making going on here without any courtship, consultation or negotiation. Consultation is the important issue. A commitment was given on the amalgamation of Cork and Bantry. There was to be prior consultation. An operation for due diligence was set in place, which was never completed. I do not know why there is a rush. The simple solution,...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Certainly. I would be glad of a break.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: In one sense the Minister of State has agreed to accept the amendment tabled by Senator Donohoe. I will not dilly dally too long on this issue. I am glad Senator Donohoe was successful in respect of inserting the right to consult in this process. On 8 January we celebrated the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Betelgeuse disaster at Whiddy Island. I will not go into the history...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I move amendment No. 8: In page 17, to delete lines 23 and 24. The taking of amendments Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, will make life easier for someone. It is probably unusual in Parliament that a Government Senator would table amendments to legislation proposed by his or her own Government. I have been 15 years in the Oireachtas and this is my first endeavour. I do not do this lightly....

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I will refer to two more pages of this report and then I will hand over to the Minister of State. I will need a break because I am getting a bit tongue-tied. I appreciate the Cathaoirleach's efforts. People wonder about the financial viability of any port. In 2002, the board engaged a very professional group, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to look at the financial viability of Bantry. Obviously,...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: To resume on my amendments to section 18, especially concerning Bantry, I will continue with the quotation from the report. It states: These responsibilities require that the Port should have facilities of appropriate standard. Moreover, the terminal operators have a requirement for the loading and unloading of larger vessels of 320,000 DWT resulting in the most economic and full commercial...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: To deal with the issue of Government funding, the PricewaterhouseCoopers report states: The projections disclose a capacity to generate profits and cashflows over the ten years ended 31 December 2011 under review but also a requirement for an up front capital injection to finance the Port's proposed capital expenditure programme of EUR 6.3 million in relation to the New Pier Project. It goes...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: That is correct. There was no Labour Party Senator.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Not at the time in 1986 when the commitment to provide £5 million or £6 million was made. The report further states: The Commissioners aspire that the remaining state funding of EUR 2.8 million would be funded through a combination of allocations from the National Development Plan, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands and further allocations from the Department of the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Unfortunately, despite my best efforts I was unable to attend the Second Stage debate. Most of my amendments are, however, rolled in together which is an advantage. I have the right, if I were so inclined, to insist on each of my amendments being taken separately. In that case, it would probably take us until the summer recess to complete Committee Stage. I am trying to be kind to the...