Results 3,421-3,440 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: EU Council Decision: Motion (26 Nov 2009)

Dan Boyle: This is a measure that will draw strong support because there is a need for European and international co-operation to deal with the scourge of smuggling. There is an obligation on us as a member state of the European Union to act appropriately. The Minister of State's speech highlights some of the additional measures we are taking through the use of information technology. Those moves are...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: The pre-budget position is ominous and requires difficult decisions to be made not only by the Government but also by the political system. Our room for manouevre is painfully small and we are led by circumstances not entirely within our control. We may not be doing this to the same extent as other countries. However, we have some advantages such as a high level of exports. We have also...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: People think of the value of a shilling in today's terms, but a shilling represented 10% of the old age pension at the time. We cannot imagine the Government coming up with a proposal to slash social welfare payments by 10%, especially pension payments.

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: That is even higher again. Very difficult decisions will have to be made. The Minister has said that his room for manoeuvre on tax rates is very small. We increased taxes in the April budget, especially through the levy system, and this has improved the effective rate of taxation paid by higher earners and the level of money paid through income tax. Our scope might not be as large this...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: Most Senators will welcome the agreement with the social partners on how we can address the immediate budgetary position. It is an agreement to help us meet the €4 billion adjustment the Minister for Finance will address in the other House next week and which we in this House will have another opportunity to debate. I agree with Senator Alex White in his contention that it is an interim...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: Section 1 refers to section 58 of the Mental Health Act 2001 which relates to the practise of psychosurgery. In consultations which took place since the previous occasion on which the legislation was debated, the other sponsors of the Bill and I agreed that it needed to be more focused and should concentrate solely on the involuntary use of electroconvulsive therapy. However, we are still...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: The Senator is just making a point.

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: I thank Members for their contributions. It is important to note we are talking about a limiting of the practice of electroconvulsive therapy. The debate relates to those subjected to the treatment, and whether a majority have been affected in a negative way, rather than helped. The existing law is failing in many respects. The safeguards for patients implemented by the Mental Health...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: I have heard the comments of the Minister of State and my colleague and I have some sympathy with what he is trying to achieve. He mentioned hospital consultants and has already noted the contact he has had with the college of psychiatrists. It is important that any consultation process defined to end by March will have all the actors involved. The Minister of State mentioned organisations...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: I thank the Minister of State for the confirmation and clarification of his proposals which give some hope that there will be progress in the immediate future. I thank the Members who have participated in the debate to date. Their contributions show the value of and the necessity for the Seanad as a Chamber which is capable of acting independently. If we have raised an issue which will be...

Seanad: Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: Ag leath-uair tar éis a deich maidin amárach.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: The legislation is technical in nature and is the third such allocation of a triennial budget to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission since it came into being with the 2003 Act. The House needs to be run and there is an onus on us to ensure the appropriate budget is given. It being frozen for the period 2010 to 2012, as opposed to the three-year period just passed, on the surface seems...

Seanad: Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin: Statements (3 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: In the last decade of the last century and in the first decade of this century, the totems of power and respectability in this country have crumbled. We have seen it happen in regard to our political and financial systems. In terms of religious structures, this report and others have undermined public confidence in those who portrayed themselves as being at the head of our society. As to...

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Eligible Liabilities Guarantee) Scheme 2009: Motion (3 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: The introduction of the guarantee scheme in 2008 was immediately followed by criticisms that we would incur €400 billion of debt. We have not and we are unlikely to do so. However, the imposition of the guarantee scheme was the right thing to do and it was necessary. The continuation of the guarantee scheme is a key component of policy, mainly because other countries have adopted the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: In support of the calls made by other Senators, I ask the Leader to renew his efforts to arrange a special debate or series of debates on social partnership. This might require the assistance of the Cathaoirleach in his role as a member of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges with regard to how the House might interact with representatives of the various social partnership bodies. It...

Seanad: Interim Report on Flooding on River Shannon, November 2000: Statements (4 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: I refer to the Doherty reports of 2000 and 2002 which are the central documents for this debate and which deal with flooding events and flood management in the River Shannon area. The debate is also informed by the country-wide flooding experienced in recent weeks and the flooding of the Shannon and its tributaries has been the slowest to abate. I welcome the statement by Cork City Council...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: The House should at the earliest possible opportunity discuss the Budget Statement to be made tomorrow in the other House. It is important that the timing of the debate be such that it will allow this House to be heard to maximum effect. The tradition has been to speak on the budget on a Wednesday evening at a time which clashed with the speeches of Opposition speakers in the other House....

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: I begin by thanking the Labour Party first for accommodating Private Members' Time in the past fortnight and second for introducing this Bill. It is timely in the sense that it addresses an important consumer issue that has a particular poignancy at this time of the year. I admit I have occasionally indulged in the art of present giving through vouchers. However, it must be accepted that...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: We will have an opportunity later today to discuss the budget, as well as discussing the social welfare provisions next week. There is an air of predictability that whatever was decided yesterday would provoke a reaction. Indeed, it is the Opposition's job and responsibility to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Dan Boyle: It is important that we have a proper context, however. In accepting an adjustment of €4 billion and that public sector costs should be reduced by €1.3 billion, there is also an onus on the Opposition to say how that can be done without making the type of changes that were done yesterday.