Results 321-340 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: Absolutely not.
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: It is 1,000 miles off the mark.
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: The Senator is being mischievous.
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: That is not a parallel.
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: Not at all. The Senator should act responsibly.
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: No. Nobody has suggested that.
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: I did not say that.
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: This provision is included for practical reasons and for those of efficiency. Rather than be obliged under the legislation to convene a full meeting of the agency the consultative group can liaise directly with the chairperson. That is standard procedure in most large organisations where, as in this case, there are a number of stakeholders in the overall aggregate group. To seek to oblige the...
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: Most of the ground has been covered on this issue. To ask the consultative group to elect a chairperson at its first meeting is to expect nigh on the impossible. The Minister made a perfectly reasonable suggestion that the chief executive of the agency and the chairperson of the consultative group should be extremely focused and they should have the competence to take on the process of...
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: The Senators have a point. We are fortunate that Deputy Hanafin is the Minister piloting this Bill because of the detailed knowledge she has of the DIT. She has a broad outlook and depth of experience and knowledge of its workings. Conversely, however, while we all expressed the wish today that this Minister would retain her portfolio in perpetuity, if she chose no longer to be Minister for...
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: It is fitting and appropriate that Deputy Mary Hanafin should be the Minister to bring this Bill before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Perhaps I might indulge in some brief reminiscences. I was honoured to serve on the VEC-DIT with Deputy Mary Hanafin. I do not know if I am allowed to talk about someone not present, but perhaps Senator Tuffy might give me permission through the Chair to...
- Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: I apologise to the House for being remiss in not acknowledging the phenomenal amount of work done by the Minister's staff in dealing with the significant challenge that is before us in regard to this legislation.
- Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for outlining developments, improvements and the establishment of structures at departmental and sub-departmental level over the past seven or eight years to address the crucial issue of the welfare and education of children. While I found I came close to agreeing with Senator Ulick Burke on some of the last sentiments he expressed, I...
- Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: I accept and acknowledge that some of the pre-school pilot projects were set up by Senator Ulick Burke's party when in Government.
- Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: They were very limited and have made a limited contribution.
- Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: There was a failure to acknowledge that the need existed and was growing. The demand became spectacular with the turn of the new century. There have been a number of Government initiatives in this area over the past seven or eight years to target the phenomenal growth and to acknowledge that the problem exists and is growing. First, there was the establishment of a Cabinet committee on...
- Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: I am telling you.
- Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements. (28 Sep 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: I do not.
- Seanad: Ferns Report: Statements (Resumed). (17 Nov 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: Exactly.
- Seanad: Ferns Report: Statements (Resumed). (17 Nov 2005)
Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister of State and compliment him on the time he has given to this debate both here and in the Lower House. I note that he has attended this House since the debate began. I agree with a number of matters raised by my Opposition colleagues. This is not the first time references have been made in a report to child sex abuse by members of the clergy. We have already seen the...