Results 3,201-3,220 of 4,908 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----then it is not worth the effort. That is my firm belief. As has been pointed out by some colleagues, it is necessary to hold a referendum to roll out full voting rights.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I accept that this House has no power in that regard.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is not that long ago since the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years. It was in 1973 after a referendum was conducted in 1972. The proposal was passed by over 300,000 votes. In May 2015, a proposal was put, by way of referendum, to reduce the age of persons deemed eligible to stand for a presidential election from 35 to 21 years of age. The proposal was overwhelmingly defeated by...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I thank the Senator for being consistent. When he hears something that is not to his liking, he interrupts.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Senator had an opportunity to speak. With respect, through the Chair, I have been afforded this time to make my point on behalf of my party and myself. We need to take time out and deal with voting rights correctly. We need to treat 16 and 17 year olds with respect.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: We must give them full voting rights-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----by way of putting this matter to a referendum at a time when we feel we have a chance of winning it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: If we held one at the moment, I do not believe that a referendum would pass, based on the result of the vote to reduce the age at which people are eligible to stand for presidential elections. We need to give this matter time. I will go along with this proposal even though I cannot give it my full support because it does not go far enough as far as I am concerned. We should give this...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Deputy Paul Murphy will vouch for that.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Like my colleagues, I welcome the fact that we will soon, hopefully, have clarity on water charges. I welcome the fact that Sinn Féin got clarity on water charges as a result of losing a by-election to Paul Murphy. I welcome its conversion as a result of that.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I wish to point out the following to Senator Gavan and his colleagues. Sinn Féin quite rightly claims to be a 32-county party but it seems to have different proposals on various things, including water charges.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Sinn Féin has been in government in Northern Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Sinn Féin has been in government in the North, most recently with the Democratic Unionist Party. There are regional and district rates in the North. The regional rate is set by the Assembly and the district rate is set by the councils. Sinn Féin, along with other parties, has presided over double taxation. It has set a district rate to cover items such as education and health,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Let us get clarity on where exactly Sinn Féin stands on water charges.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Let us get clarity on where exactly Sinn Féin stands on general taxation.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Clarity is all I have asked for. As one of the slow learners that Senator Gavan referred to, all I want is clarity on something that seems incoherent to me.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I live quite close to the North and visit it daily.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join Senator Ned O'Sullivan in welcoming the introduction in the Lower House of the Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017 by our colleague, Deputy Shane Cassells. Town councils should never have been abolished. The so-called Putting People First document which led to our councils being decimated, particularly in rural Ireland, does not contribute to...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: On a point of information, let us be realistic about this-----

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I have just introduced it into the vocabulary of the House. The matter is the responsibility of the Minister of State at the Department of Defence.