Results 381-400 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: We only received them now.

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: That is presumptuous.

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (9 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: This is legislation we cannot be accused of guillotining and rushing through the House. It was initiated in the Seanad on 7 June 2006 when I was a Member of the Lower House, so it has taken a long time. I know the Leas-Chathaoirleach was deeply involved in the legislation at that stage. I concur with my colleague, Senator Regan, that it is excellent legislation. I compliment the Law Reform...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (9 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I concur with those remarks. Reflecting on my first year as a law student, I had to do Roman law, jurisprudence, legal history going back to the Magna Carta and so on. Perhaps we are giving today's law students too much of a soft option in that they do not have to do so much research. I should be worried lest they get lazy, because they will not have to put in the effort we had to in our...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I congratulate the Garda Síochána on a very important issue. Strict and simple enforcement of our public house licensing laws has thrown up an important and interesting statistic. In the town of Drogheda in recent months, arising out of Garda enforcement of the licensing laws, there was a 42% drop in street violence and anti-social behaviour in the early hours of the morning. If that...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (14 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the House and I welcome the Bill. I compliment him on the manner in which the Bill was presented to the House. His presentation was inspiring and his hands-on approach to the issue gives us confidence that he is well briefed on the issue. The Bill is not being introduced on the Minister's whim. It follows advice from top level gardaí, particularly the Garda...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I do not want to labour the point; the arguments have been made on both sides and the Minister has responded. The Bill mentions a garda of any rank and does not exclude a superintendent or a chief superintendent. I am not disputing what my colleague, Senator Donohoe, stated, particularly given the area in which he lives. However, one must also consider the area in which I live. Senator...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I want to make this point in support of what the Minister is trying to do and not to denigrate. We are dealing with a very serious situation and what the Minister is trying to do is to broaden the definition of a gang. I have no doubt that people of lesser rank than a chief superintendent or a superintendent have more hands-on knowledge of what is happening in a part of a city or a remote...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Now.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Is it intended to table amendments on Report Stage? Were that the case I would be inclined to have a reasonable sos to facilitate that. The position is that it has been ordered that all Stages be dealt with tonight.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank my colleagues for quite a robust debate. Despite the assertion that amendments could not be taken because the Dáil is not sitting, there were several votes on Committee Stage, some of them quite tight. Defeating the Government in a vote is one way of sorting out amendments. The necessity for this Bill was brought home to me by a headline in today's Evening Herald . As a result of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I am pleased to note that some Members of the Opposition are concerned about the Green strategy and supported the Government. To continue in the poetic vein of my good colleague, Senator Ned O'Sullivan, there are 40 shades of green.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: On a serious note, I am disappointed that we have had no debate on the fishing industry despite the four requests I have made since Easter. I am acutely aware that the Minister was ill for some time. I accept that situation but he should attend a debate on the fishing industry as a matter of priority when we return from the recess. I also wish to support my colleague who sought a debate on...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I reiterate my request for a debate on the fishing industry. This is a particularly important issue given that we are renegotiating the Common Fisheries Policy. I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate in early October in view of these negotiations. Despite the desperately bad deal that fishermen received when we joined the EEC in 1973, I acknowledge, as should this House, the magnanimous...

Seanad: Water Pollution (23 Sep 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: In 1985 a public consultation was carried out in Bantry, my home town, on a new regional water scheme. In 1989 the council had carried out significant works for that scheme in terms of acquiring land and was about to carry out damming in Drumbro, but an underwater lily was discovered by environmentalists and the then Minister of State, Deputy Mary Harney, decided not to proceed with the...

Seanad: Water Pollution (23 Sep 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Minister of State for explaining the position. As someone with a legal background, I am concerned about the proposed court case that is causing delays to the scheme and may last for three or four years. I acknowledge, however, that the issue is beyond the control of the Minister and Department. It is a pity that after 24 years the scheme is being held up. If it had proceeded,...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Second Stage (24 Sep 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank Senator O'Malley for sharing time and I welcome the Minister. I broadly accept the thrust and principle of the legislation, which is forward thinking. I appreciate the Minister's effort in bringing it forward at this time. I come from a rural area and I urge him to be kind to the rural transport system. While it is not covered directly by the legislation, the rural transport scheme...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I support the call for an open and transparent debate on the issue of expenses. Senator Twomey is broadly correct in asking for such a debate. It might clear some of the fog and cloud which surround issues such as this. When I was a Deputy and ran a constituency office, my office running costs in 2003 were €23,500, which were vouched. I received an allowance of less than €9,000. My...

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Next Wednesday.

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Oct 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Next Tuesday, 13 Oct 2009.