Results 301-320 of 1,625 for speaker:Pat O'Neill

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome the Minister of State and the representatives of the business community to the Chamber for the debate on this Labour Party motion. We all recognise that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing more than 650,000 people in some 200,000 enterprises. We all welcomed the new jobs announced by various multinationals in recent months, but small businesses deserve to...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012: Order for Second Stage (18 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome this Bill and on behalf of Fine Gael Senators I commend the Minister on his dedication in introducing a range of legislative measures to enhance road safety in Ireland. I will deal with the parts of the Bill pertaining to roadworthiness of commercial vehicles and Senator Brennan will address the issue of driving licences. Introducing a new road safety measure is never a...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Bill 2012: Second Stage (18 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Tomorrow.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I think Senator Byrne was not addressing you, Senator Ó Clochartaigh. I ask Senator Byrne to continue.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I rule that Senator Byrne did not make a personal attack on you, Senator Ó Clochartaigh.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I ask Senator Byrne to continue. He has one minute remaining.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: It does. It controls Government spending.

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Apr 2012)

Pat O'Neill: It is not a banking treaty, nor was it meant to be one.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Does the Minister wish to comment?

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I remind Senators that this debate is scheduled to end at 1.30 p.m. and we still need to get through a considerable number of amendments.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Amendments Nos. 9 and 12 are related and may be discussed together.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I am sorry I forgot to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley. He is very welcome to the House.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome the Minister and am delighted he has initiated the Bill in the Seanad. As 11 of its Members were elected on the agricultural panel, there is deep interest in this Bill. The issues of food safety and food security are tied into the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012. Enactment of this Bill will help to enhance Ireland's excellent reputation around the world in terms of food...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The National Pensions Reserve Fund will not last forever.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I do not often agree with Senator Leyden but I agree with his views and his call for a debate in the House on cannabis use. A report by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland outlined the problems that the abuse of cannabis can cause in adolescence, including schizophrenia. A debate should be held in the House. During the week I saw a picture in a newspaper of a protest in Molesworth...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Recently, certain Members of the Lower House have proposed that people break the law in respect of the household charge. Now they are calling for the legalising of the use of cannabis. This is an important issue because it affects young people. The picture showed young people on the street in that protest. We are bringing forward the vehicle clamping Bill later this year but it should be...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I want to give an example because it is important. It cost her €480 to have the clamp removed, an extra €35 because it was after 10 p.m. and an additional €5 to use her credit card. She had to pay this money because the clamping company had nothing to do with the management company. There are cowboys operating in this regard. It is important, therefore, that the Bill be brought...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (22 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Will the Minister clarify whether wild animals are included in the definition of what constitutes an animal under this section? I refer, for example, to wild birds and fish. The Bill may be in conflict with certain aspects of the Wildlife Act on which hunters rely to validate their sports activities. I wish to suggest a wording which might be included in respect of wild animals, namely,...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (22 May 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Minister has clarified the position on the question I asked about wild animals. I meant to include a reference to "and includes (but is not limited to)" in page 9 at line 6. This is followed by a list of bovine and other animals. The Minister has clarified it but I presume it includes hounds, working dogs and sporting horses.