Results 381-400 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan
- Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I speak on behalf of Senator Terry, who cannot be here today. When she found out what was included she told me she was grateful to the Minister for having examined the amendment she put forward on Committee Stage.
- Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I second the amendment.
- Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I second the amendment.
- Seanad: Equality Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (24 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I thank the Minister of State for his comments. However, he is a little too harsh on us because he accepted some amendments. I thank him and his officials for the time and effort put in during the passage of the Bill. I do not quite understand how the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform encompasses the area of equality. However, I know it is not specific to this Bill and not the...
- Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I thank my constituency colleague for his generosity in sharing his time. I am delighted to have an opportunity to support the motion tabled jointly by the Fine Gael and Labour parties on the dormant accounts fund. I noted a number of excellent contributions to the debate, particularly from the Opposition side. I was struck, in particular, by the comments of Senator Ross when he affirmed his...
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: That is a stupid point.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I withdraw the remark, unreservedly.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I support Senator O'Toole. He has spoken very eloquently about these two amendments. They go to the nub of the Bill, which is obviously about increasing the age at which one is entitled to a pension. The Bill reflects the attitude that one size fits all. Having been a teacher for a while, I note that this approach will not work in all circumstances. Senator O'Toole has outlined how exceptions...
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: The Fine Gael Party opposes section 11 of the Bill because of the overlap with section 10. I note from some of the amendments tabled that there is widespread agreement among all Senators that the position of politicians is different from all public servants. I am conscious of Senator O'Toole's remarks and am thinking of myself and other Senators. I am 25 and 65 is a long way off but I hope to...
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I hope I will be here. The Leader has been involved in politics for many years.
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: Did the Leader not win "the House of Love" from the TV programme in which she was a panellist?
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: Raising the pensions age will not encourage good new people into politics. Reports of corruption and tribunals of inquiry deter many people my age and younger from involvement in politics. If we put another obstacle in the way of people who may want to take a career break and go into politics, knowing the risks involved it will be a negative step from the point of view of public service....
- Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (26 Feb 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I too thank the Minister of State and his officials. While I do not agree with large parts of the Bill I compliment the officials on the work they put into it. I have no doubt there will be considerable discussion in the other House before it is passed.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2004)
John Paul Phelan: I agree with the previous speakers who spoke about Ballinamore, County Leitrim. I express my regret that the situation has reached this point. There are similar centres throughout the country which are threatened with closure and we should have a debate as soon as possible on those closures and on the general downgrading of rural Ireland, as outlined by Senator Ryan. I raise the issue of...
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
John Paul Phelan: Empty waffle.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
John Paul Phelan: This is not addressing the planning situation.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
John Paul Phelan: There is nothing in this.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
John Paul Phelan: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
John Paul Phelan: That already covers almost every county development.
- Seanad: Draft Guidelines on Rural Housing: Statements. (10 Mar 2004)
John Paul Phelan: He is a dictator.