Results 2,881-2,900 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: I am putting the issues into context. It will certainly not happen tonight, as the Senator is aware. I do not want to go back too far into history, but I am conscious that when the Opposition presents arguments in this way, it completely revises history. One of my first experiences as an elected public representative, when I was a city councillor, was my encounter with a woman whose...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: The argument I am making is that we must talk about issues such as the educational rights of people with a disability in the context of ensuring we all share that responsibility. It is an issue beyond naked party political point-scoring. In moving this motion, I would have expected from the Opposition not merely criticism of the Government but also some type of critique which set forth how...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: I expected the Opposition parties to outline how they addressed these issues when they were in government and how they propose to deal with them in future if they return to government. I heard no acknowledgement of responsibility for previous actions. I heard no vision for future Government participation. On that level, motions of this type are entirely bogus because they do nothing to...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: I support Senator Quinn's call for ongoing debates on economic matters. We are facing serious economic times both nationally and globally. The example he gave of Finland is apposite. A green party participates in that country's Government and we can adopt many of the lessons learned from its experience. In recent local elections, despite being in government and changing economic times,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: I support the call for an ongoing debate on education matters. Recent Cabinet meetings and the budget have confirmed that education spending will be prioritised during the rest of the term of this Government. We have taken a step backwards and there must be an ongoing national debate on the best use of resources. I am confident there will be changes in how those resources are used but it...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: This is part of every representation I make in this House. Part of the debate that occurs in this Chamber is not only challenging the Government in what it has done but challenging the Opposition on what it could do and what it has done in government in the past.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: I make no apologies that the record of Members who have tabled motions on education and disabilities is open to scrutiny. These are the points made in the debate last night and I will make them in future debates.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: Senator Regan should not do himself down.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: That would be a cynical debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: When the Minister is available, which was not possible yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: Senator Bacik could talk about party affiliations.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: The Senator did not even know the Green Party was in government in Finland until a minute ago.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: That is hypocrisy.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: The gratitude of the House in respect of the work done by Mr. Justice Morris already has been marked. One must repeat the comments made by the Minister of State in his opening contribution to the effect that the entire purpose of the tribunal was to examine how one particular incident affected those who were accused and how they were subsequently treated in Garda custody. The main finding...

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Oct 2008)

Dan Boyle: The Green Party understands the circumstances surrounding the extraordinary introduction of this Bill and is supportive of it but with reservations. Our mental health legislation is under review and there is a need to complete that review and to introduce large-scale amendments to existing legislation. We have come a long way from the 19th century legislation which referred to people with...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on broadcasting standards.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: I apologise.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: Is the Senator going to assist me in that regard?

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: With regard to the statements on broadcasting standards, I propose that the contributions of spokespersons should be 12 minutes and those of other Senators be eight minutes. Many Members have called for a debate on education. The Leader's office endeavours to organise such debates as quickly as possible and to have the relevant Minister present to respond. To date, there has not been an...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2008)

Dan Boyle: I will respond to that.