Results 241-260 of 1,714 for speaker:John Dardis

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 May 2003)

John Dardis: That is a surprise.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 May 2003)

John Dardis: They are not just behind her.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

John Dardis: I welcome the Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, to the House. Coalition Government has been the norm in Ireland for two decades now. Over the past 22 years, single party Governments have been in power for only 36 months in total. If there was one clear message from the last general election, it was that voters wanted to see a continuation of coalition, a continuation of the...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

John Dardis: I am prepared to wait until the hot air subsides. The floating of proposals to reintroduce third level fees is not consistent with the tried and tested formula of coalition Government. I hope any Government decision on fees will not be a departure from the normal way in which this coalition has done business. I hope we will yet see the normal pattern of consultation. I hope there will be time...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

John Dardis: I can assure Senator O'Toole that I can stick my chest out with the best of them. There is a major decision to be made here about an important issue of public policy. That decision should be made after a full process of analysis and discussion, but that process should not be confined to one Department nor should it be confined to one party. Using our coalition processes, the Government has...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

John Dardis: Free second level education was the right decision then, a visionary decision taken by Donogh O'Malley. Free third level education is the right option now.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

John Dardis: Put that in the Westmeath Independent.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

John Dardis: Senator Ryan's endorsement is to be greatly welcomed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2003)

John Dardis: I also ask the Leader to make time available for a debate on the report which has emerged from the Convention on the Future of Europe, both yesterday and today. We have had very good discussion here in the Seanad with the members of the convention, and in that context and the context of the work of the National Forum on Europe and the Joint Committee on European Affairs, it is important for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 May 2003)

John Dardis: I referred yesterday to the need to debate the report of the Convention on the Future of Europe. While I do not disagree with what Senator Brian Hayes has said with regard to having the debate after the final report is drafted, it might be more useful to have it in the interim, before the final report is drafted. There would then still be an opportunity to have an input into the final outcome.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 May 2003)

John Dardis: It is a matter of some concern. The Leader has done a good job in having legislation initiated in this House. I note that today and tomorrow both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment have Bills on the Order Paper that will be initiated in the House. That is to be welcomed. If we want to have as many Bills as possible initiated...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 May 2003)

John Dardis: I share the view that it would be useful and appropriate to debate the OECD report, but the Government is not in need of a wake-up call. If anything, it is the Opposition which needs the wake-up call.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 May 2003)

John Dardis: It should be noted that the report is complimentary of the way in which the economy has been managed and, in particular, it acknowledges the success of low taxation rates. There are many positives in the report. Nobody on the Government side is complacent about the need to manage the economy well in the future, to keep inflation under control, to encourage competitiveness and to attract...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 May 2003)

John Dardis: There are more cars in County Kildare.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 May 2003)

John Dardis: The Monasterevin bypass accounts for the majority of the money.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 May 2003)

John Dardis: Unlike the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Seanad: Companies (Auditing and Accountancy) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (29 May 2003)

John Dardis: There is no reference to 43(4)(a).

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: I support the call for a debate on interest rates and banking. First, however, it is important for the House to welcome the decision of the Polish people to agree to accession to the European Union. In particular, we welcome the fact that the "Yes" vote was so overwhelming and that the 50% voter turnout threshold, required for a valid vote, was comfortably achieved. The House should...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (10 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House this afternoon. I find myself in broad agreement with the remarks that have been made by Senator McDowell.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: The Order of Business today is No. 1, statements on the humanitarian situation in post-war Iraq, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude not later than 2 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes, and on which Members may share time, the Minister to be called to reply not...