Results 261-280 of 4,132 for speaker:Donie Cassidy

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I am giving that commitment to the House. Senators Hannigan and Boyle expressed serious concerns about pensions and yesterday I committed to a debate on the matter. In both Houses of Parliament we have given the great example as there is no retirement age for a Member of either House. The new committee to be charged with this responsibility can point to this leading by example. There was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: The phrase "common sense" must prevail and I ask Senator Ellis, if he wishes, to pursue this on the next possible Adjournment. It is an urgent matter as a service has been given satisfactorily in a particular area. Removing the service defies commonsense as there is no service in the area to which they are moving it. Senator Doherty also called for a debate on the Atlantic corridor and...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is Nos. 1, 2, 5, 15, 3 and 4. No. 1, motion on appointment of Members to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, and No. 2, motion on the establishment of the joint committees of the 23rd Seanad, will be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business. No. 5, statements on the Government's current suicide prevention strategy, will be taken on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Senators Fitzgerald, O'Donovan, O'Toole, Boyle, Regan, Harris and Norris expressed their horror at the two brutal murders, one in a taxi and one in a barn, that took place in recent days. Who would ever have thought a few years ago that we would be seeing Ireland in the position it is in today? The challenge of crime, and everything that goes with it, is a serious one for us democratic...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I will allow time for such a debate and I ask Senators to prepare their submissions so that we can have a meaningful open-ended debate with the Minister present in the next few weeks. Senators O'Toole and Hannigan expressed strong views on the position on passports under the Good Friday Agreement and the Government's policy in this regard. I will also allow time for a debate on this matter....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: This has been a model economy for the past ten years. Average annual growth rates have been at 7.25%. No other country has had such growth.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: We should give ourselves a pat on the back from time to time. There should be a half-hour good news slot in the Seanad and in the Dáil, and in all arms of the media, every day. We are a resilient people. Despite all the negativity we are still achieving much. Senators McCarthy and Ellis called for a debate on the constituencies. The hearts of everyone in the House go out to Senator Ellis...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: In my constituency of Meath West, I was one of the few who, with Senator Ellis, was disenfranchised in that we could not vote for ourselves, nor could our families or the people of the parish. When is the right time to do the right thing? The county of Meath has been split in three parts. What is the logic in being told the county boundary is sacrosanct? It is time to examine this matter...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Senator O'Donovan called for a commonsense proposal on road safety. I suggest the committee in charge of the issue should promote the use of protective armbands and other protective clothing. With all that is being done by various agencies to make roads safer, surely it is possible to find someone to sponsor 70,000 armbands or however many are needed.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: The Taoiseach is due to launch an initiative of the Road Safety Authority tomorrow. I welcome Senator O'Donovan's proposal. Senator Kelly called on the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to attend the House to discuss his portfolio. The Senator was most knowledgeable about the various areas to which he referred in his address to the House. I will have no difficulty in providing time for...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I move: That Seanad Éireann, in accordance with section 8(3)(b) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Acts 2003 and 2006, appoints the ordinary Members of the Commission as follows: Senators Paul Bradford, Cecilia Keaveney and Jim Walsh.

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I move: "(1) That a Select Committee consisting of 4 members of Seanad Éireann shall be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee of Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to consider— (i) such public affairs administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as it may select, including, in respect of Government policy, bodies...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007 — Second Stage, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes, those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and on which Senators may share time.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I was pleased with the massive response to the debate on suicide prevention that took place in the House yesterday. However, many speakers did not have time to make their contributions and I will revisit the issue and allocate time for it to be discussed again before the Christmas recess. I thank the Senators for their considered and meaningful contributions, which I am sure will be helpful...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: ——provided Senators keep their contributions to one and a quarter minutes? This is one of the two Houses of the Oireachtas and we are all proud to be Members of it. The level of our debate is worthy of being broadcast on television. Senator Doherty spoke about student fees. I will see what I can do in that regard. As the Senator will be aware, we have a big advantage in the South of...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Students in the Twenty-Six Counties have a considerable advantage but those in County Donegal who used to attend colleges in the North of Ireland may be at a relative disadvantage. We have to be consistent in these matters. I can allow time to debate the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I can accede to the request to invite the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to discuss immigration, and for the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Hoctor, to attend to discuss ageism. I will also attempt to meet Senator Norris's request for a debate on Cuba. Senator Ó Domhnaill wants the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Ireland does not end one mile outside Dublin.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I understood that Senator Buttimer was referring in particular to rural Ireland. I am pleased to inform the House that a debate will be arranged as a matter of urgency. The Senator also called for debates on aviation policy and incineration.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007 — Committee and Remaining Stages, to conclude no later than 2.30 p.m. if not previously concluded, with business to be interrupted from 2.30 p.m. to 3.15 p.m; No. 2, statements on developments in the housing market, to be taken from 3.15 p.m. and to conclude no later that 4.45 p.m, if not...