Results 381-400 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I indicated that I wished to speak but on reflection I will defer to the next speaker and speak in detail on section 5.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: In my humble and non-legal way, I understood that Senator Cox moved an amendment in respect of section 5. We then referred to section 3. May I deal with the generality of section 5 because it relates to issues raised by Senators Cox, Walsh and Mooney?

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am aware of that. I stand corrected and will wait until we reach section 5.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I received an assurance.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I put a question to the Leader while she was in the Chamber and she stated that I would have the opportunity to speak on section 5. With the deepest respect, I challenge the ruling of the Leas-Chathaoirleach and his authority to put this question.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I propose a deferral until the Leader can return to the Chamber.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages. (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: This is relevant to the section and, in particular, to section 5. In the interests of a sensible approach to legislation and taking account of all the concerns articulated by the Minister and Minister of State, we should withdraw section 5 from the Bill or seriously consider deferring it until a much more comprehensive approach might be taken in respect of what goes to the very roots of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages. (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I am aware of that, and time is running out. The totality of section 3 has clear implications for section 5 and vice versa.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages. (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: Age is a complex issue and if the primary justification for exclusion of females under 17 from guilt of an offence under sections 1 and 2 is their becoming pregnant, it will fail in a fundamental manner. It represents bad law and should be withdrawn. It would be better if it were left out of the Bill. I am sorry that we are running out of time and that, consequently, I am not developing this...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages. (2 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: Section 5. I am not developing my argument properly because I am running out of time.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: Like Senator Minihan, I wish to refer to the horrific murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe and the implications of the murder and subsequent events for our democracy and for the entire island. I first wish to acknowledge the great work of the Taoiseach on his ongoing efforts to bring lasting peace to our island. He sees it as his bounden duty to future generations that we hand over a legacy...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: My republican credentials are deeply rooted in the mountains of counties Limerick and Tipperary. I visited the Diplock courts, including the trials in the Harry Kirkpatrick case, the last of the supergrass trials to collapse. I witnessed at first hand the alienation of the people of west Belfast on visits to Ballymurphy, Divis flats and the Whiterock Road and viewed the peaceline at Belfast...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: ——and objectives are not, I regret to note, in the best interests of this democracy and the people of this island. These armalite democrats such as Deputy Ferris and Mr. Adams must be immediately and finally called to account because democracy and democrats demand no less.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: That is a cheap shot.

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: That is no longer the case.

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I request that I be given two minutes notice to conclude. Senator Ulick Burke is operating in reverse. Our journey is to bring adult education to the centre of the lifelong education experience.

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: That Senator Ulick Burke suggests the Minister of State should establish an approach outside the education system and segregate it is missing the point. Partnership has been a recurring theme of late and is a good topic on which to start my contribution. Partnership, vision and education are one and the same issue. Sylda Langford recently defined partnership, in a tongue in cheek and off the...

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I will not refer to further education today, as every time I speak in the Chamber I seem to refer to further education. I will restrain myself today on that score. Adult education today is not seen as a separate and fragmented silo. Everything in education is geared to see it as a partnership of equals and not the separate entities referred to by Senator Ulick Burke. Everybody contributes...

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: We cannot speak of the provision of adult education without speaking about supports. We must facilitate people in getting true access by providing such supports. One of the main supports is child care. The Minister of State has spoken on this in detail. This Government acts and funds child care mainly through the back to education initiative, the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2006)

Liam Fitzgerald: I join Senator Terry in a call for a debate on the postal service, which is appalling. As a member of a trade union, it grieves me to admit that despite repeated efforts on my part and on the part of many people in my community, there is a totally inefficient and even absent postal service. I was told by senior members of the trade union involved to fire the relevant postmen myself. I had to...