Results 421-440 of 1,677 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I want more than that. The hearts and souls of most of the Senators around me who came through local government are with me on the issue. Is the Leader not concerned that what is there, namely, representational democracy, will be exchanged for rule by, in many cases, the unelected authorities and quangos which continue? Considerable amounts of both European and State money are invested in...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Obviously we cannot have it today but there must be such a debate. I ask Members on the Government side to look into their hearts and not to allow the Government to go any further in diluting democracy in this country.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Business of Joint Committee (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I add my voice in support of the complaints expressed by the two previous speakers. It is appalling we had to hear of it in this way. This appeared in the newspapers yesterday and the radio stations had the story this morning. Town councillors in our constituencies, many of whom have served for 25 and 30 years, telephoned members from all parties wanting to know what was happening. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Comprehensive Action Programme for the Reform of Local Government: Discussion (23 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: The Chairman took me a little by surprise there. I welcome the delegation and thank Mr. Dowling for his presentation. Is it fair to say that this policy, as enunciated by Mr. Dowling, has been in the process of being developed for the past ten or more years and that the officials' predecessors in the Department have been generally working towards this outcome? Is that one of the reasons we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Comprehensive Action Programme for the Reform of Local Government: Discussion (23 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank the Chairman because I was in first and had not developed a few of my ideas at the time. In respect of a point made by Deputy Flanagan about lack of trust in councillors, I return to my opening remark. No matter what configuration one has in local government and there are many good ideas in the document, none of them seem to be predicated on reducing the number of councillors so why...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Comprehensive Action Programme for the Reform of Local Government: Discussion (23 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I failed to get an answer to my question on the large reduction in the number of councillors. Like the Minister, the Department is clearly sanguine about a reduction in democracy.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Alcohol has been available either as a product or a commodity for as long as people have been on the planet. These statements are on alcohol consumption as opposed to alcohol abuse. I would, therefore, like to consider some of the positive aspects of alcohol before I focus on the downsides. I am partial to a drink. When consumed properly by adults, alcohol can be of benefit both socially...

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: They made me feel rather guilty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Preservation of Historic Buildings: Discussion (8 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Everyone will understand why a building should be preserved, in so far as it can be, if it has unique architectural features or because of its antiquity. What is the professor's position on retaining a building that, in itself, has no architectural merit whatsoever but because of something that occurred in it? Is it as important to retain such a building as the Acropolis, for example?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I was disappointed to notice on my way to work this morning that the Government Publications Sales office on Molesworth Street is to close. Senators know this is an important repository of Government publications such as Bills, tribunal reports and election results. Will the Leader ascertain what proposals are in place to find an alternative outlet for such important publications? It was...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I am addressing it to the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Nobody in the Chamber has higher respect for the returning officer than I do, but it strange that it has not been published, if I am allowed to say so.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome this because all Members would like to be able to verify they were elected and look at it at their leisure.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Thank you very much.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Many local authority members would welcome a copy of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I know this and look at it occasionally to cheer myself up.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Yesterday, Senator Landy raised his concerns about the tardiness of bringing forward the electoral boundary review. I was glad to hear the Leader state the commission has been appointed. I still have serious concerns because such a review will take time and a rushed job is a botched job. Is the Leader aware of a fallback in the event the commission will not be able to report in time? What...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I strongly support my colleague, Senator Ó Domhnaill, in his remarks about "The Frontline" programme and the report on RTE. Any reasonable person would have to agree that programme and the warped way in which it was conducted changed the entire course of the presidential election and, more than likely, the outcome as well.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: In fairness to the incumbent, President Higgins, more luck to him and he is above reproach. However, there is a man who it appeared likely was going to be President who probably will feel very sore every time he reads these reports.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Clearly RTE has serious questions to answer at the very top.