Results 281-300 of 405 for speaker:John Ellis

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: In view of the fact that the Lisbon treaty has been dealt with once and for all and that all future legislation is to be referred to the national parliaments, this House could, as a starting point, create a major role for itself by having all proposed EU legislation debated in this Chamber. For too long we have heard that no meaningful work is done in the House. This is the sort of work...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: I would like to be associated with remarks concerning Fr. Sinnott. We have seen something very positive this morning and I have no doubt the Department of Foreign Affairs and everybody who lobbied and worked on his behalf are to be congratulated on a successful outcome. I asked previously for a debate on carbon tax prior to the budget. I hope we will be able to do this in the context of any...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: I say that for one simple reason. Who owns these cars? Do the students own them? Are they getting cars before accommodation? We have to be realists on this. I have no doubt Senator Buttimer will be able to report to us on Tuesday as to whether it is true or false.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: On a point of order, Senator Healy Eames raised her concern in regard to students who are unable to obtain accommodation and are sleeping in cars. I want Senator Buttimer to report back-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: ------on Tuesday if this is factual.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: I support those calling for a debate, prior to the budget, on the overall budgetary strategy. There were suggestions in this House last week that students were sleeping in cars. I understand Senator Buttimer undertook to investigate the veracity of these claims in Cork. Will he report to the House on his findings, as he said he would? I am sure he is diligent enough to have investigated...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: Senator Mullen is too young to remember that.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: On a point of order, I am delighted Senator Buttimer clarified that there were no students in cars.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: I congratulate Senator Carroll on his election to the House. Some of us might have arrived here at a similar age and I hope he remains a Member of the House as long as us. That is my only wish for him today. I compliment the staff who stayed at work yesterday, especially in my home county, Leitrim, where county council staff worked to alleviate the flooding problems in Carrick-on-Shannon,...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: It is doing nothing now but releasing more water on top of communities along the Shannon. I appeal to the ESB to examine whether it can release some of the flood water it is holding with its various dams up and down the country in a controlled manner, not as it has done over the past week. When we come to debate this we need to consider the wider problems being caused. The ESB is not the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: Local authorities have in many cases walked away from their responsibilities for maintaining drainage schemes. Some of their planning decisions forced people to build houses in hollows that are now flooded. What will happen if those people tackle the local authorities that forced them to build on unsuitable sites?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the sitting be suspended until 1.40 p.m.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: Like my colleagues, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, and in so doing acknowledge his actions and those of all the other Ministers involved, including the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, and the Taoiseach, in going to see immediately what the problems were on the ground. It was not a case of going when the floods had subsided....

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: The Senator's party is doing it for 20 years.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: The Senator's party controls them all now anyway.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: Senators Buttimer and Coffey are very passionate about this but local councillors are probably the most passionate about it because they are the ones who wanted certain areas rezoned. Some of them were of questionable intent, to put it mildly, in certain areas of the country. This is to be regretted. It is up to local authorities to decide how to implement the planning laws within certain...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: Senator Coffey should consider his own party's record.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: If Senator Coffey wants me to comment on that issue I could embarrass certain Members of both House.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: Only for the shoe was hurting them they would not open their mouths. Senator Coffey knows what I am talking about.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

John Ellis: It is up to local authority members who are in a position to do so to deal with everything in their own area. They must be vigilant. It does not matter what one sets the limit at, be it two or 2,000, it is up to local authority members and planners to ensure that what is decided is in the best interests of the communities, and not similar to decisions we have discussed where houses were...