Results 3,181-3,200 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: Bowel Cancer Awareness: Statements (7 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: I would never have guessed; the Senator looks far younger.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: Since we are due to make statements on the budget tomorrow, it will be an opportunity to lay out our stalls and to examine in detail the context of the Budget Statement made by the Minister for Finance in the other House yesterday. I hope that Senators, before they engage in the debate, will learn to be numerate. In recent days, I have heard much about middle income earners. The average...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: I will tell the House the extent to which it was.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: Every Member of this House was least affected by the tax burden through the 1% increase in the income levy. All of the other increases — the 4% and 6% bands, the lowering of the thresholds from €250,000 to €175,000 and from €100,000 to €75,000 and the raising of the PRSI ceiling and the health levy — affect people who earn incomes greater than ours. When Senators discuss a...

Seanad: Elder Abuse: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: The subject of elder abuse as a matter of debate in this country has not received sufficient airing for a number of reasons. As has been commented on in the Chamber, representative groups such as Age Action have noted the level of elder abuse is substantially under-reported. This is probably because the nature of the abuse means it often occurs in close familial relationship and there is a...

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: I move: That Seanad Éireann, acknowledging that an ongoing examination of State agencies and public bodies is occurring, recognising that those who are and have been appointed to such bodies have done so with the purpose of commitment and the following of principles of strong public service believes that the review should further examine how such appointments can best be made in the future....

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: He was resigning as leader of the Government.

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: I thank the Members who contributed and the Minister of State for his contribution. That 11 Members contributed to this debate in the limited time for Private Members' business shows the degree of interest in the subject. I and Senator de Búrca are grateful that such an interest is taken. Some contributions misunderstood the spirit in which the motion was tabled in pointing out our role as...

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: I ask that this be considered, particularly with the Seanad reform group due to report on recommendations of this type in the very near future. I was particularly disappointed with some of the other contributors who obviously did not hear my opening comments in this debate and the way I was trying to frame it. The spirit of most of the debate was welcoming to what was being achieved and I...

Seanad: Appointments to State Agencies and Public Bodies: Motion (8 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: That is the question which has been raised. One consideration that needs to be borne in mind is that, while involving people in State bodies and public agencies, we try to make the process as diverse as possible. This is one of the reasons there is, unfortunately, specification regarding local authority members. Just as there was an ongoing debate concerning dual membership of the Houses...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: The budget was an exercise entered into reluctantly because of the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves. Nationally, it is meant to explain where we are going as a country under the leadership of the Government. Much of the uncertainty which has existed from recent interventions has passed because of the action taken by the Government this week. Prior to discussing individual...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: ——but about the asset management agency. However reluctantly they are prepared to admit it, the Opposition parties are now moving away from the budget. There is a grudging acceptance that the measures taken needed to be taken. The two options being offered by the main Opposition parties are the Fine Gael approach that we should have greater cuts in public expenditure which means less...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: ——is preparing to rely on catchphrases and knee-jerk politics about bail outs without promising anything towards a better and hopeful future. This plan can and will work, despite the carping of the Opposition.

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: On behalf of the Green Party — An Comhaontas Glas I offer sincere sympathy to the family of Senator Tony Kett, his wife Noreen, his son and two daughters, and to his colleagues in the Fianna Fáil group. I note also his loss to the House. Like Senator Alex White, as a Member of this Seanad only and given the nature of Senator Kett's illness in recent months, my meetings with him were...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: This House does not lack opportunities to discuss the economy. I accept what other Senators have said about the need to have regular and constant structured debate on the economy. I would be willing to debate recent reports and to put such debates in the necessary context. The global situation is obviously an overriding factor in the economic situation in which Ireland and other countries...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: The scale of the social welfare system can be measured by the fact that its current budget is some €21 billion, two thirds of the money we will collect in all taxes next year. The decisions we make, therefore, will have serious consequences. There is no doubt the scale of that budget is justified because many of those relying on social welfare do so on the basis of income maintenance....

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re European asylum support office, referral to committee, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; and No. 2, statements on gangland crime, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1, to conclude not later than 1.45 p.m., with spokespersons having 15 minutes' speaking time, all other Senators ten minutes, on which Senators may...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: It is Fine Gael Senators who are laughing.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: Senator Twomey and Senator Buttimer asked about statements made in this House and their accuracy. I am not in a position to answer their requests but there are mechanisms in the House which they can follow if they wish to pursue the matter. Both Senators went on to discuss the communications strategy of the HSE. Senator Coghlan and Senator Daly also raised this matter. Undoubtedly, there...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Apr 2009)

Dan Boyle: Senator Twomey, Senator Hannigan and Senator O'Toole spoke about procurement issues. Senator Hannigan and Senator O'Toole raised the difficulties that exist with EU legislation. We are obviously constrained by that. However, the Government is committed, both in the programme for Government and in the framework document on a smart economy, to pursuing the concept of green procurement. The...