Results 4,281-4,300 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: I am of the view that it was appropriate for me to make a point about a very special individual.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I do not like it when Members on the other side of the House ask him to deprive me of the opportunity to make my points.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: I welcome the Minister. I was not a postman but I was Minister of State at the Department of Post and Telegraphs in 1982, although I never delivered a letter when I became Minister of State, which is neither here nor there.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: We introduced the Postal and Telecommunications Services Bill in 1982 and I was in Opposition when it became reality. The Minister will probably be in the same position himself by the time we see this Bill go through and be finalised as we will be in Opposition. I have a general question. Is there a deadline of 1 January for transposing this legislation? The Minister has much flexibility....

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: The postmen are represented by the CWU. With regard to the transposition of regulations, we are in a unique position. Ireland is an island off an island off mainland Europe. Whatever position the Minister decides upon in the interests of the Irish people to guarantee the continuation of a universal postal service must be adopted. The European Union is not checking every line in this...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: Had Senator Hannigan a licence?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: The points being made are very good. The Minister has declared that he is in favour of a universal postal service and that this is his motivation. The aim of everything being said is to strengthen this position. Frankly, he would have been better off if he had introduced the Bill six months ago because I see eight candidates in the Chamber and he has seen nothing yet. Representatives of...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: I will finish my point. I said to some employees that it was very strange that they had a bar where they worked and was told that there were two where I worked.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: In that regard, the wording is careless and reckless. The Bill reads, "on every working day, except in such circumstances or geographical conditions as the Commission considers to be exceptional". I would prefer if the reference was to the Minister. I have no faith in any commission which does not have political responsibilities or is not under political control.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: This provides a way out; one could state the Aran Islands are a long way off and that as there is no boat service, deliveries cannot be made and they will be excluded from the contract. Those who will cream off this business will go for major towns and cities and to hell with rural areas. That is why the union is very concerned and why I ask the Minister and his officials to look at the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: It may decide it is not really necessary to deliver in rural areas at all because they cannot be reached. It may decide to charge 75 cent per stamp for any letter to be delivered outside Dublin, Waterford, Cork or Kerry.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: That is what this is all about. We have to make sure we protect the service. Whatever action needs to be taken by the Seanad, let it be taken. If it is not taken here, it will be taken in the Dáil. I tell the Minister that he will be lucky to get this through before he completes his term of office.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: Not very successfully.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: I was tempted by it.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: I did not apologise.

Seanad: Tributes to Member of Staff (2 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: I pay tribute to Shay Byrne and Liam Lynch on their retirement from the Houses and hope both of them will continue to perform other duties. As one of the longest serving Members, I met Shay in 1977 when he was a very young usher. I recall that he used to take at least two holidays in the sun every year. This might have changed when he got married, settled down and had children. Few of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: Last night "Prime Time Investigates" presented a sad, serious and hopeless situation in certain estates in Limerick. Will the Leader arrange a debate on the Limerick regeneration project? Judging from last night's programme, it seems all of the investment has been made in vain. No one gave the other side of the argument. The Minister responsible must explain the position on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: The Minister for Finance said during yesterday's Budget Statement that, "Any reform proposals, whether they relate to the Dáil electoral system, the future of the Seanad, the composition of Government Departments or the size of Government, must have as their objective, the pursuit of the common good". When is the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government expected to bring...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: It will be either one or the other.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2010)

Terry Leyden: The gun is to our head and I urge the Leader to request the Minister to bring the proposals before the House for adoption before the election campaign. Under the Lisbon-----