Results 261-280 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I second the motion. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House. I apologise that I have not read the amendment to the motion so I will not comment on it.

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (10 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: It is well to be up-front about it. As Senator Mansergh stated, the Fianna Fáil Party supports the concept of a low-tax economy, not to reduce revenue, but because it is the right way to achieve better quality public services and social inclusion. The irrefutable evidence to support such an approach is set out in the motion. When discussing low taxation, we are discussing one element of...

Seanad: Public Private Partnerships: Statements (Resumed). (17 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State and also welcome the positive note on which Senator McHugh ended his contribution. I too believe public private partnerships represent the way forward as they adhere to one of the fundamental principles, value for money. As we develop, refine, re-evaluate and constantly monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of PPPs, we will come to acknowledge that fact. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Could the Acting Leader arrange a debate as soon as possible on the OECD report on third level education? The report calls for parity of esteem in the State's dealings with the two components of third level education, the institutes of technology and the universities, but it stops short of calling for full university status for the institutes. A debate would be useful for us to examine the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2004)

Liam Fitzgerald: Is the Leader aware the Minister for Education and Science has set up a new body, Education Ireland, on which I congratulate her? The aim of the body is to make Ireland a centre of educational excellence for international students. Undoubtedly it will attract more overseas students to come and study here which will, inevitably, be of tremendous benefit to the economy and society generally. I...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: Bad roads.

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: This debate is an opportunity to consider how, where and why the Government spends taxpayers' money and to establish how effectively it is targeting areas of need nationally. We must assess whether spending is reaching areas of need or falling short. If it is falling short, we must establish to what extent. These issues have been teased out all evening with strong statements from Senator John...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: I take back my comments. Successive Governments have made significant advances in the manner in which spending is managed. I do not cite any particular Administration in that regard. As I listened to remarks about rates of spending, I cast my mind back to the 1980s when I had to chair a sub-committee on cost overruns in the public service. At the time, cost overruns involved multiples rather...

Seanad: Appropriation Act 2004: Statements. (8 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Government had the money to splurge had it chosen to do so. It did not. To have embarked on a spending splurge would have been irresponsible, highly inflationary and anathema to the Government's philosophy. A very short-sighted boom would have undermined our competitiveness and been followed by a bust. The Government has chosen not to adopt that approach to spending. We have spoken about...

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister whose contribution I found interesting. Some points were more interesting than others. She emphasised at the outset that this was a major report into third level education. While I agree with some of its conclusions I have reservations about others. Senator Ulick Burke referred to a number of issues about which he has concerns. I am sure the Minister will address those...

Seanad: Higher Education Review: Statements. (22 Feb 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: Very cogent arguments were made last year in support of the motion that was tabled, which were contrary to the one-liner that was thrown at us by the Opposition. Nevertheless, I put up my hands and accept the political realities. That is where we are at and we have to go forward from there. One of the other recommendations to address this issue was that of internationalisation. The Minister...

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the publication of the Bill. I am sure Senator Cummins has very honourable and sound reasons for bringing it forward and I commend him on the amount of time he has given to preparing it. It is worded very well and the principle he is seeking to apply is laudable. Like Senator Norris, I would not like to debate the principle in terms of money, jobs or anything else because the issue...

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: It happened in your county, a Chathaoirligh. On one of many occasions when we had fun, enjoyment and gaiety at the greyhound races rather than at Limerick Junction, we had just secured a dog called Feakle's Champion. His name still lingers on in my memory and nightmares. As I thought he was a real champion, I decided to pass on the word to my buddies that he was worth a little flutter. It so...

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: The other aspect is parental supervision. Over the years we have introduced a raft of legislation to try to deal with anti-social behaviour by juveniles and young adults. Is it working? No. Is it the fault of the Government? No.

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: Is it the Garda's fault? No. Who is at fault? Fundamentally, the parents are at fault. I would say the same if Senator McHugh was in Government. I remember saying this in the 1980s.

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am not blaming the voters. That was cynical. I know the Senator did not mean it that way. I am talking about what fundamentally makes law important when we are legislating for young people. We must have their parents on our side. If we do, we have some chance of success for our regulation or new law. In this case, however, I do not believe we would have the parents on our side which is why...

Seanad: Totalisator (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: We would never believe it of the Senator.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: I move: That Seanad Éireann: —notes the commitment of the Government to developing and extending special education facilities; —acknowledges real progress has been made in the area of special needs education including the significant legislative achievement of the Education for Persons with Special Needs Act 2004; —congratulates the Government on the significant additional resources...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion. (13 Apr 2005)

Liam Fitzgerald: I acknowledge that the notion was there at an embryonic stage at that time. Unfortunately, due to a lack of resources it did not come to fruition. That was not in any respect because of lack of goodwill, commitment or determination on Senator O'Rourke's part. Moving forward to 1997, the Government of the day decided to bring the questions of educational disadvantage and a special educational...