Results 2,721-2,740 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I join with other voices in the Chamber in making the case for lifting the guillotine on the Road Traffic Bill. The case is well made regarding the number of amendments tabled and the fact that clearly by 7 p.m. we will not have addressed the greater number of them. Therefore, scrutiny of the legislation will be imperfect. It is not appropriate that this is rushed through on the eve of the...

Order of Business (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Sinn Féin cannot agree to the proposal to guillotine all Stages of the Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006. This Bill will provide for the demutualisation of a number of building societies, including the Irish Nationwide Building Society. We are very cognisant of the concerns of many people who have had experience of the regime operated by the management of that building society...

Order of Business (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Extracts of the Carey report were leaked to the national media last week. What is the Government's position with regard to that report into the tragic death of Pat Joe Walsh at Monaghan General Hospital?

Order of Business (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: When will it happen?

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish to share time with Deputies McHugh, Connolly, Catherine Murphy, James Breen, Gregory, Gogarty and Cuffe.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Sinn Féin has no difficulty in supporting the points in the Fine Gael and Labour Party motion as tabled, but it clearly does not go far enough. Amendment No. 2 in the names of the Sinn Féin Deputies reads: After "May 2002;" in the sixth paragraph, to insert the following new paragraph: "—the failure to end the inequitable and inefficient two-tier system within our health services and the...

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The party was equally fearful of exposing too stark a difference between itself and its proposed Fine Gael partner in government. There are also such gaps between Fine Gael and the Labour Party in other key matters, such as the privatisation of Aer Lingus, which Fine Gael supports and Labour, quite correctly, opposes. That is not to say that Deputy Rabbitte and his company would not swallow...

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I propose to share time with Deputies Finian McGrath, Connolly and Cuffe. I wish to put on record Sinn Féin's opposition to the way this legislation is being rushed through the Dáil. This legislation is primarily designed to facilitate one building society, the Irish Nationwide Building Society, in giving up its mutuality and enabling it to be taken over immediately. While Irish Nationwide...

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: From the Seanad. (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: May I ask who is proposing the amendment on behalf of the Government? Will they outline to the House exactly the raison d'être behind each of the amendments presented?

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: From the Seanad. (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: With your indulgence, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, will colleagues agree to the procedure that applied to the previous legislation, which was very useful and mature? That is, that the Minister of State would address the composite number of amendments — there are six in total. He could give a short address outlining the background to each amendment. He could then allow each of the other Deputies...

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: From the Seanad. (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: As other Deputies have done, I indicate acceptance of the amendments as presented. I will not repeat any of the points already made. One would be tempted to ask who else might incur expenses other than the Taoiseach and the Administration etc. The only point of importance to make, especially this week, is to echo the Minister of State's commendation of the further scrutiny of the legislation...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (5 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 99: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement regarding his future plans of privatisation regarding An Post; and the percentage of the company the State will retain. [26505/06]

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I formally second Deputy Rabbitte's proposal that we have an extension of time today. It is the minimal request the Minister could expect in respect of addressing the Sullivan report. The hour indicated is hardly adequate to deal with the import of the issue. We should seriously consider reconvening in the morning to give it the full address it properly deserves. However, in anticipation of...

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: In line with the Taoiseach's oft-repeated commitment to establish a committee representative of all parties in the House, Sinn Féin nominated one of its number to serve on this committee but, like the Green Party, was denied that access and opportunity to play its part in what is a very important——

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is a serious issue and I find it bewildering that Members can find anything humorous within it. It is anything but humorous. The issue of all-party participation is crucial to the success of the committee's deliberations. Like the Green Party, we have been denied that opportunity and, as the Chief Whip can confirm, in repeated representations to secure the right of access to participate in...

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I do not agree. The motion proposes that the Dáil approves the disposal of shares in Aer Lingus by the Minister for Finance, in accordance with section 3(2) of the Aer Lingus Act 2003. It is not appropriate to put this motion before the House today. I vehemently oppose it, irrespective of how it presents and I object to the taking of it today. It is not appropriate for this House to approve...

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The people of Ireland have given no mandate for the disposal of Aer Lingus ——

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ——in any shape or form. I suggest the Minister should remove the motion from today's Order of Business.

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: While accepting the argument for a shorter summer recess, it is important to emphasise that Members will attend committee meetings during this month and in September. Rather than that being seen as a way of avoiding the responsibility of returning earlier we should look on it as an opportunity. Many Members will be here in any event. It is important for the democratic process that the truth...

Order of Business. (6 Jul 2006)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I join other colleagues in extending good wishes to yourself and to all the elected representatives of all parties and none for the summer period ahead. It will be a busy time for all of us, perhaps more so than in previous summer recesses with the looming general election. I wish the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas similar good wishes, those who serve us directly in the Chamber, those...