Results 3,021-3,040 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: There is no dignity in a dead Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I second Senator Darragh O'Brien's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I ask the Leader to facilitate, as early as possible in the next session of this House, while it still is in existence, a debate on the subject of rural Ireland and rural affairs. I am concerned there appear to be attempts, both historically and at an accelerated rate on the part of the present Administration,...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I am proposing an amendment regarding the withdrawal of the bus service to Ballinspittle, Garretstown and the Old Head of Kinsale.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Yes.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: The Minister of State only has one vote but he carries a lot of weight.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Quinn, to continue. I apologise for interrupting.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: The Minister of State will respond in two minutes. Does anybody wish to speak?

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Tá an t-am istigh.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: No.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: What I have to say on this legislation might as well be said on section 1 as any other section. I can assure the Cathaoirleach that I will not repeat on other sections what I propose to say now. The proposed abolition of the Seanad will cause structural damage to the democracy of this country. Democracy is like a three legged stool in that once one breaks off one of its legs it becomes...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: -----John A. Murphy, Justin Keating, Tom Fitzgerald, a long-standing Member of this House who recently passed away, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, and a group of Fianna Fáil Senators, among others. I do not wish to take away from the work done by Mary O'Rourke and others but this is probably the most significant report on the viability and future of the Seanad ever compiled. I wish to read a...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: In fairness to Senator Bacik-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: This will be my last-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: This report has barely been mentioned in the entire debate. The reason is that it was done by a different political Government made up of a coalition of Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Earlier, we referred to the report. It is important to show the view at the time of many people in Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I will conclude my little anecdote to show where we are with this guillotine. The Englishman survived. The second man was the Frenchman and something similar happened him. When the string was pulled, the blade stopped short of his neck and he was pardoned. However, the Irishman was rather like the people in the Seanad. This is the point I am trying to make. The man operating the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I will move on. I am close to finishing. As Senator Bacik is aware, I have respect for her and for the House, but it is important for me to put some of my concluding remarks on the record in this debate. Page 93, paragraph 5 reads:Comparative analysis has also drawn our attention to the unique right of the head of government to appoint members of the second chamber. In other countries,...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I have only three more paragraphs to read and then I will resume.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Page 94, paragraph 7 reads: The first major issue to be confronted, therefore, is the social and political basis of the composition of a new Seanad. We have already pointed to some of the peculiar features of this body. It is important, however, also to recall the history of Seanad Éireann. This body came into existence as part of a formal agreement in 1922 between the new Irish...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I made a commitment to make a contribution but I will not do so on the subsequent sections covering the same issues. I give the House a promise on that. This was a wonderful report prepared by many wonderful people. It was left to gather dust which is unfortunate.