Results 441-460 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I ask for a clarification regarding the Minister of State's reply which states, "It is anticipated that the schools will be ready for occupation in summer 2013". Is this a reference to the school at Doughiska or does it also refer to the proposed school at Claregalway?

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There is an urgent need for a school. The local people who have children in very difficult situations need clarity on when the proposed school will be available. I ask the Minister of State to clarify what will be the earliest possible date for the opening of the school.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I also join other Members in expressing my sympathies and condolences to all concerned with the tragic events in counties Cork and Limerick. I am very concerned about these events because two obviously similar events happened in close proximity to each other. I recognise there is great stress and strain on families at present and Members must take heed of what has happened. While I hope...

Seanad: National Paediatric Hospital: Statements (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We were listening very carefully.

Seanad: National Paediatric Hospital: Statements (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There was a Minister's speech.

Seanad: National Paediatric Hospital: Statements (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney. I thought I was taking part in a debate on the national paediatric hospital only to find I am taking part in a debate on metro north and the transport situation in Dublin. I always find it quite amusing that when people talk about access to national facilities, such as the proposed national paediatric hospital, they talk about it very much in...

Seanad: National Paediatric Hospital: Statements (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Senator Mary White spoke of her embarrassment about some of the facilities currently available. That is a sad state of affairs.

Seanad: National Paediatric Hospital: Statements (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I listened carefully to the Minister's speech. She quoted what parents have said to her. She said they do not care where the hospital is located and that she should just make it happen. That is a crucial point. I do not know the ins and outs of whether people can park beside the Mater hospital or whether they will not be able to park there in the future when this hospital is built. The...

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I was elected to this House in a by-election in 2009. I was a new Green Senator and was green in every sense of the word. Kieran sat behind me and I got to chat with him. I got to know him quite well. He took me under his wing and explained to me what the hell was going on in this place because I did not really know. Most Members were elected in 2007. Kieran helped me more than almost...

Seanad: Prohibition of Depleted Uranium Weapons Bill 2009: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I will be brief. I commend all Senators on their positive approach to this important landmark legislation. I particularly commend the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, for his positive contribution. He took the trouble to sit down with the Green Party Senators on a number of occasions to discuss the issue. It is obvious that we want to move forward on a Europe-wide basis also. We need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I share the concerns that many Senators have raised today, but the most important for question for debate was raised by Senator Quinn. He was very responsible. Many in this country are fearful and he is talking about having a proper debate on the way forward for this country, and that is the correct approach to take right now. He pointed out that in Denmark there are 23,000 employed in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: What is Senator Buttimer's plan?

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I note the comments this morning of the leaders of the main Opposition parties which were extremely responsible. I very much welcome this. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on systemic change to our political system which does not cope well in a time of crisis and leads to barracking and pettiness on the part of the Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is a time for calm and cool heads. As Senators on the other side said, we are in the final days of the Government and it is important that we do not play politics such that we add to the mess in the difficult situation in which we find ourselves. There is now clarity, but we must look forward. We had enormous difficulties in the 1980s with which our system did not cope. It was because...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We need a new style of politics in a time of major national crisis.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to the House. I note that he tends to listen to people and to take views onboard. He generally gets his Bills through with the minimum of opposition as a result. This has been a good debate. It is great to take part in a relatively normal debate given all that is going on around us. It was great to hear Senator Quinn's anecdotes about the postal...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Second Stage (24 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Yes, I still have them but I do not collect them any longer. I remember when I got my first Penny Black. It was a major event to get my hands on the first stamp in the world. It was extraordinary to see it. I also collected Penny Reds and other British stamps. The first Irish stamps were overprints. It is quite interesting that instead of printing our own stamps we put an overprint on...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: They are running scared.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I commend the comments of Independent Members, in particular, as I would like the Leader to arrange a debate on the need to stimulate the economy. There is a great deal of doom and gloom, but we also need to remember the positive aspects. I have in my hand a report that presents many issues in a positive light and there are still many good developments occurring. For example, eight of the...