Results 2,661-2,680 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Many Members raised the question of the health service, including Senators Fitzgerald, Coghlan, Butler, Prendergast, Hanafin, Twomey, O'Sullivan, Burke, Bacik, Callely, Buttimer, O'Reilly, Doherty, Cummins and John Paul Phelan. A request has been made not to accept the Order of Business on the basis of discussing many of the items outlined by Senator Fitzgerald in her opening contribution....

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: I will not even go that far.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: I am not going that far especially. Senator Hannigan welcomed the Taoiseach's address today to the joint Houses of Congress. Everyone here will be happy to be associated with those remarks. He also referred to the need to address tourism issues and the role of Irish emigrants. I am sure these themes will be addressed. The Senator also asked about the recent ESRI report which fits in with...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: This is still a prosperous economy.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: It is far more prosperous than many of our neighbouring and competing economies.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Anyone who is involved in political debate should honestly admit that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Senator Ormonde mentioned the impending legislation on alcohol, which has been raised on the Order of Business before now, particularly the report of the alcohol advisory group. Senator Mullen referred to the recommendation of the Road Safety Authority concerning the blood-alcohol level. It has been widely accepted that a debate on this issue would be useful. I will discuss with the Leader...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: The issue of how boards are appointed and who appoints them is open to political debate. Members should be aware that the forthcoming broadcasting Bill will include a provision for the involvement of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in appointments to new State bodies in the broadcasting sector. The committee will be the vehicle for making those...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: As a former Opposition spokesperson who spoke strongly against the amendments in the 2003 legislation——

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: The debates on Second and Committee Stages have been read avidly since. Not much has changed in my attitude.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Beyond the ten-year moratorium, which contains some logic given multi-term and five-year Governments, the 2003 changes were not particularly politically inspired. The formation of the high-level Secretary Generals group provided as much of the impetus as anything else. The Secretary Generals involved were motivated by administrative convenience and a culture within the Civil Service,...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: A journalist's request for information on the amount of money received by every public representative or on who works for them should not need to be made. As a House of the Oireachtas, we should make that information available regardless——

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: ——and let people judge as they see fit. The more honest and open we are as a democracy and the more information we make available, the fewer the FOI requests or the calls for legislation of this type. I would like the political debate to move on this level. Since my party joined the Government, the issue of getting the balance right has been revised. There is a process of thinking out...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: The process of formulating policy involves large groups comprising a diversity of opinion, much of which is off the wall, before a consensus is reached on the making of a particular decision. Legislation must determine how to provide the public with access to information on the point at which a decision process has been finalised, where people have taken responsibility and how a decision has...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Ag 10.30, maidin amárach.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Dan Boyle: Today's business is No. 1, an all-party motion on Zimbabwe, No. 2, a message from the Dáil about the Criminal Justice Human (Trafficking Bill) 2007 and No. 3, the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill. It is proposed that the all-party motion on Zimbabwe will be taken without debate on at the conclusion of the Order of Business; that the message from the Dáil about the Criminal...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Dan Boyle: I agree with Senators Coghlan and Buttimer in respect of the dumping of Cork hospital patient files. As someone who represents Cork, I was appalled by today's news reports and the likelihood that I might know some of the people whose details may have been made public as a result of what happened. Issues obviously arise in the context of the prosecution of existing data protection...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Dan Boyle: ——and private rented accommodation. The House should debate those matters with the relevant Minister in attendance. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government intends to introduce a landlord and tenant Bill, whose provisions may cover some of the points raised by Senator McFadden. Senator Hannigan mentioned rendition flights. There is a provision in the programme...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Dan Boyle: Senator Ryan referred to St. Ita's Hospital and the situation that occurred last night in terms of cover. It is an unsatisfactory situation and his views will be made known to the Minister for Health and Children. However, this House cannot become involved directly in what is essentially a trade union dispute. The Senator's views are on the record and the Minister will be made aware of...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Dan Boyle: Senator Regan also referred to ministerial pay awards. He will be aware that the initial decision made by an independent body was deferred by the Cabinet, first to July and subsequently to September.