Results 281-300 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: School Transport: Statements. (24 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We are holding these statements in the context of a bleak year in the safety of our school transport system. Recently there was a fire on a bus in County Meath and in another incident, a 13 year old boy fell from the emergency exit of a school bus in Monaghan. Last month, a school bus and a waste disposal lorry were involved in a collision near...

Seanad: Local Authority Operations: Motion. (24 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I will repeat what I said.

Seanad: Local Authority Operations: Motion. (24 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister and thank him for being here for this important debate. I support the motion moved by my colleague, Senator Dardis. He clearly set out the broad elements of the issues raised in my party's motion. The motion before us refers to public apprehension about the role of management companies in new housing estates and apartment blocks, and the charges imposed on residents....

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business in order that First Stage of No. 7 on the Order Paper may be moved. I seek the House's permission to have this Bill printed. The Bill is entitled Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006.

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: First Stage. (31 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide a full defence in criminal and civil law in cases where force is reasonably used by occupiers in dwellings to defend life or property against persons trespassing with criminal intent.

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: First Stage. (31 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Seanad: Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006: First Stage. (31 May 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Next week.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the coverage in today's newspapers of the report by the Competition Authority on certain IMO practices in regard to price-fixing for doctor services. I recently learned of a more disturbing aspect which I would like to put on record. Doctors receive a flat fee of, I understand, €700 or €800 per annum for visiting their patients in nursing homes. However, there is a practice, and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: That is a useful comment.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Second Stage. (8 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister and this legislation to the House. Law-abiding families and road users across the country will cry "Hallelujah" at tougher penalties for drink driving offences, a ban on hand-held mobile phones in cars and random breath testing. As for the law breakers, I hope the full force of this new legislation is brought to bear on them. All Members of the House agree on that. It...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I ask the Minister of State to give serious consideration to Senator Brian Hayes's amendment. As an urban representative, I believe this is more prevalent in cities than in rural areas. As an urban representative, however, as with Senator Brian Hayes, seeking to have these permits or bans put into local areas, the Garda seem to ignore the problem for some reason and local residents do not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I concur with the previous speakers on the conclusion of the partnership talks. I would like a discussion on the area of reform, which might have been included or excluded from those talks. This Government has an ambitious €34 billion transport plan yet the transport system in Dublin shuts down at 11.30 p.m. The Luas, which cost some €900 million, closes at 11.30 p.m., the bus service...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Dublin's public transport system is antiquated and I seek a discussion on the reforms sought between now and 2016 by the various interest groups in the partnership talks. Without the deregulation of the taxi system which has brought 13,000 taxis, rather than 3,000 previously, I wonder what kind of transport system would exist in Dublin at 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. The taxi system was meant to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Later today, the Railway Procurement Agency will publish its annual accounts which will show glowing figures for passenger numbers and revenue generation for the Luas. This proves that people will flock to public transport when it is reliable, efficient, clean and regular. We must acknowledge and applaud success where it occurs.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: Failure occurs too often in our public transport system. At a time when Dublin Bus and Iarnród Éireann receive considerable subsidies — €260 million this year — from the Exchequer, we must ask why people do not flock to use buses and why Dublin Bus probably operates at a 22% load factor when people flock to the Luas. We need a debate to tease out the reasons behind the success of the...

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Taoiseach for appearing before the House this evening and I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Treacy, to the House for this debate. This opportunity to discuss the recent proposals is a timely one and I commend Fianna Fáil for employing their Private Member's time for this purpose. There has been plenty of commentary in recent days, and...

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: The Progressive Democrats will call for reforms. While Senator Ryan referred to our public utilities, transport and what system might be in operation, if we are to invest considerable funds, we can no longer have wildcat strikes in public transport services, as recently occurred. Reforms must take place in that area. I welcome the Minister of State's comments in this regard.

Seanad: Port Development. (27 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport to the House. I raised this matter on the Adjournment almost 12 months ago when he was a Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Since then, the responsibility for our ports has been transferred to the Department of Transport under Transport 21 and I welcome that. It might bring...

Seanad: Port Development. (27 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Dublin Port Company sought permission for its foreshore licence in 1999 and no progress has been made yet. However, we are told of a huge capacity problem, as the port will reach full capacity by 2008. As the Department of Transport now has responsibility for ports, I hoped that it could throw some light on the status of this foreshore licence and...

Seanad: Port Development. (27 Jun 2006)

Tom Morrissey: The gateway to the port will be the limiting factor to the future growth of Dublin Port. The ships bring goods to the country in big containers. We need to resolve the matter. The wait since 1999 is too long. The Department of Transport, Dublin City Council or the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources must take the issue by the scruff of the neck and find a solution.