Results 301-320 of 1,714 for speaker:John Dardis

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: We do not frequent those kinds of restaurants, I am afraid.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: The Leader of the House was referring to a legal adviser.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to the House.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: The Bill represents a significant advance, notwithstanding some of the deficiencies about which I too am concerned and which I will address presently. It is important that we recognise the constitutional importance of this. Article 15 of the Constitution states: The Oireachtas may make provision by law for the payment of allowances to the members of each House thereof in respect of their...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: The Order of Business is No. 1, Taxi Regulation Bill 2003 – Second Stage, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 1.30 p.m., with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed ten minutes and on which Members may share time, the Minister to be called upon to reply not later than ten...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jun 2003)

John Dardis: Senator Ulick Burke raised the question of funding for the Irish Research Council. I am sure the Senator is aware that the Tánaiste has been very much involved in this area. However, it operates at two levels, the academic and industrial. By international standards, investment in research by companies in Ireland has been poor. I do not agree that this will cause a brain drain. We have a very...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: We could arrange that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: Senator Norris has now resigned as Whip.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements. (2 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Joe Walsh, to the House. In particular, I welcome the fact that he has responded so quickly to the requests made last week for a debate on this very important topic. I hope Senator Quinn will not be replacing all his good Irish carbohydrate potatoes with dairy products on his shelves because I think there is a place for both. I would not suggest that he would do...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements. (2 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: I do not want to stop the Senator, as he has more time, but there are two more Members offering. The Minister should conclude at 4.20 p.m.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: I would hate to be left out in finding a unanimous position in the House. Whether or not I should be prepared to follow the Leader out through the window is something I would have to consider carefully.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: I take a slightly different angle. I accept what has been said about the status of the House and the fact that it should be adequately represented, whatever the body happens to be. Apart from standing on ceremony and status, I believe it would actually improve the body. In relation to Bills at the end of a session, my experience tells me that frequently they can be defective. The defects are...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (2 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: I understand and I am not going to discuss that amendment, but it is a way of marrying two things, so to speak. The other point is that the Clerk of the Seanad would bring a different perspective from that of the Clerk of the Dáil. In general, the Clerk of the Seanad is closer to the Members than her counterpart is to the Members of the other House. We are all familiar with the Clerk and we...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (4 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: I join the other Senators in paying tribute to Liam Fitzgibbon, the Editor of Debates, and thank him for the enormous amount of work he has done for the Houses over 30 years. It is not readily appreciated how onerous a task it is for the editor and his staff to make sense of what we say. The point has been made about corrections to the record. Sometimes what we have to say is almost...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (4 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: Yes, but the way we pronounce words can cause difficulty. The editor and his staff must also be commended on the speed with which the debates now emerge. The length of time it took for debates to appear was a constant source of irritation and complaint some years ago. It is obviously important that they appear quickly. The editor has additional responsibilities now, with the Internet. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: I welcome the news that 10,000 affordable houses will be provided on land owned by the State. I have no difficulty with the fact that the announcement was made at a meeting of the social partners rather than in the Houses as there was no legislative aspect involved. I would be happy to have good news every day during the recess—

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: —and to welcome it when it comes. I am particularly pleased that a redundant site in Kildare, Magee Barracks which was closed down, will be used for one of these initiatives. By definition, if the land on which the houses will be built will cost nothing, the site cost thereby recovered will provide a major boost in terms of making the houses affordable. It is good news and I welcome it. I...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2003 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (4 Jul 2003)

John Dardis: We cannot reopen the debate.

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (7 Oct 2003)

John Dardis: On behalf of the Progressive Democrats Party, I join in the tribute to Lady Valerie Goulding. It is right that the House should mark her passing. It is extraordinary that somebody who came from a high Tory family and a position of privilege and whose father, Viscount Monckton, was a Minister in the British Government, was able to marry that privilege to a need. Her privileged background gave...

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (7 Oct 2003)

John Dardis: I was slightly acquainted with Bernard Markey. He was a man of conviction and could make one aware of his views in fairly positive and well-argued terms. It is obvious that he served the needs of his constituents in Louth and his party colleagues in Fine Gael loyally and well over a very extended period. His having served for 28 years on the county council is quite a noteworthy achievement....