Results 261-280 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (8 Feb 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Save us.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (8 Feb 2006)

Tom Morrissey: We are back in this House tonight to discuss the vexed question of the M50. While I do not want to give a history lesson to some in this Chamber, it is important to note that when the M50 toll contract was signed, there was no monopoly because an outer ring road was planned for approximately two miles from the motorway. As people drive along the N7 today, they will see a large sign at...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Feb 2006)

Tom Morrissey: As part of Transport 21 our ports were transferred from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to the Department of Transport. We have an issue with port capacity for importers and exporters. There has been a 30-year debate on whether 52 acres should be reclaimed at Dublin Port. It has received little support. I would like the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, to...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (16 Feb 2006)

Tom Morrissey: It is on the Tipperary road.

Seanad: Dublin Port Tunnel. (16 Feb 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister of State for attending to reply to my motion on the Dublin Port tunnel. As we all know, the Dublin Port tunnel is a major infrastructure project for this country, and for this city in particular. Depending on what figures one reads, it is over budget or on budget, and it is either on time or over time. That is not what I want to raise today. I am raising the issue of the...

Seanad: Dublin Port Tunnel. (16 Feb 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I could not but notice the sentence that the recent leaks are part and parcel of the issues that arise on large engineering projects such as the tunnel. Dublin City Council is on record as saying this problem arose because a jackhammer went through a membrane. I would not consider that to be part and parcel of the issues. That was the basis of my...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Mar 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Now that we have received a final decision from the courts on the management of the lease for Campus Stadium Ireland's National Aquatic Centre, I ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to come before the House to inform us of his long-term plans for the management of the centre. Does he intend to keep responsibility for the management of the centre within Campus Stadium Ireland? What...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Mar 2006)

Tom Morrissey: More than 100,000 people, the majority of whom are young, are on a waiting list for the driving test. A number of them have been on the list for more than 12 months. The Minister for Transport has tried to implement a scheme over the past 12 months, which would have involved outsourcing driver testing, to reduce the backlog. However, two weeks ago, the Civil Service arbitrator shot it out of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Tom Morrissey: A few years ago, the Government very successfully gave a Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, responsibility for children. The Department of Health and Children has effectively tackled the issue of children by bringing together various strands from the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health and Children and Education and Science. We read every week about migrant workers...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Apr 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I support Senator Ryan's call for the Minister for Education and Science to give whatever support is required to ensure that St. Michael's CBS, Inchicore, is retained as a school in that severely disadvantaged area. In so doing, I wish to pay tribute to the Christian Brothers and to the staff who taught in that severely disadvantaged area for the past 70 years. It would be a pity to see that...

Seanad: State Airports: Motion. (26 Apr 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Like many other Senators, I was present for the debate on the relevant legislation. Members entered choppy waters in the early days of July 2003 when we tried to get the Bill through the Seanad and the Other House. I am familiar with the commitments entered into in the legislation. Senators have lauded the increase in traffic at our airports. When the Bill was introduced the Government was...

Seanad: State Airports: Motion. (26 Apr 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Yes, and we want to see it sold as quickly as possible. The authority also has interests in airports outside of the country. Do they need to be involved in those interests? If they were realised, would there be enough money available to pay the debts? How much would be available to provide a way forward? Dublin Airport Authority is a company with certain assets and these must be examined. I...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage. (10 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, to the House. We all know the terrible context in which we are discussing the legislation, namely the high number of people being killed on our roads. It is important for the Minister of State and his officials to hear our contributions. There are no experts guarding the secrets of success with regard to road carnage. If there were, we...

Seanad: School Enrolments. (11 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I apologise to the Minister of State for detaining him. This is the second year parents have queued overnight to seek enrolment for their daughters at Loreto College in Swords. This year the queue started 48 hours in advance of the allocation of places. We all know there have long been queues for housing in Dublin but when parents queue for school places we must do something about it. I hope...

Seanad: School Enrolments. (11 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Like other Senators, I condemn out of hand the wildcat strike that has taken place in the past 48 hours. My party has always said that reform should be part of the great investment in public transport, including in our railways. Only last week the interconnector for the DART in Dublin was being designed and spoken about. It is inappropriate for a strike such as this to spread across the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: On my way to the House today I witnessed a traffic jam stretching a mile from Clonee to Dublin Airport via the M50. That was not at peak time, morning or evening, but at 1 p.m. I mention this in the context of the opening of the Dublin Port tunnel and the ban on heavy goods vehicles being imposed within the city. I also mention it in the context of competitiveness. While much has been said...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: ——the previous chief executive said publicly that Aer Lingus had ripped-off its customers for decades. During his tenure he reduced the average fare by €30 per passenger, a total of €560 million in a space of two years.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: On his departure he said the same would have to be achieved. Are we really asking to return to that model, given that the State system ripped-off its customers, could not look after its pensioners and left a pension deficit, even at those exorbitant prices? How are the pensioners of that airline to be treated in the future?

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I would welcome a debate on the matter and the sooner the better.