Results 4,621-4,640 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: The Senator is trying to flood the Minister of State.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: He is not accepting the recommendation.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: That is later in the week.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: I have a couple of queries for the Minister. We are talking about the registration of merchant ships. Does that exclude fishing vessels, such as fishing trawlers?

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: Yes.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: The Minister said that certain ships - those that are small enough - will be excluded from the requirement to produce a bill of sale. Is there a size limit? I have often been involved in the sale of fishing vessels from 30 ft. to over 100 ft. I have never concluded any sale without the bill of sale being available.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: Okay.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: In 2002 my party introduced the notion of penalty points which by and large have worked well to make our roads safer. I have a few issues with the Bill, in particular the three penalty points for a driver taking a car on the road without completion of an NCT. I will give a practical example, which I raised on the Order of Business here last week or the previous week. My old jalopy of a car...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: I wish to correct a point on the record in case I mislead the Minister, his officials or the RSA. Since I raised my case on the Order of Business, I got a date in January and am, therefore, off the hook. When I first contacted the NCT authorities using the general set-up, they said my test date would be in the middle of March, meaning my certificate would expire. I acknowledge that the...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: Is it imperative that we take Committee Stage this evening? It is a short matter.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: The points raised by Senator O'Brien, other Senators and me are very genuine. It would be a pity if somebody said in six months that we rushed this through.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: I share the concerns that Senator Byrne articulated. I do not wish to delay the Bill or the Minister. I take a different view from that of Senator Byrne in that I believe that although we are trying to pass this legislation, which I acknowledge is very well-intended on the part of the Government-----

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: There are concerns about the section being constitutionally tested. I sure that, as day follows night, it will be. I understand that the error is one of administration rather than one involving the introduction of new legislation. Since it is so serious, it is important that we test this. When the time comes, I will press this to a vote. Not doing so would leave me, Senator Byrne and...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: I was quite reassured by what the Minister said on this point earlier when I raised the matter first. He should reiterate his commitment that nobody will wait more than 28 days for a test. Unfortunately, people have had to wait for longer. As mentioned, it is crazy set up that people whose NCTs are lapsed since 2013 are looking for tests. When I applied for my test I thought I was doing...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: That is definitely an Adjournment matter.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: I started off by saying we would not put this amendment to a vote but we will if we hear more of Senator O'Neill's ill advised comments even though the Minister reassured me. We will put this to a vote because what Senator O'Neill has said, with all due respect, is nonsense. I outlined a situation which applied to myself. My NCT is not due until 1 March. When I telephoned my local centre...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: Did the Senator get a free test?

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: Did Senator O'Neill drive without an NCT?

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Minister for his openness in this regard. It is a helpful debate. With regard to Senator O'Neill, I wish him well, as he knows. He is not quite ready yet to fill the Minister's shoes.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Minister for having the patience to deal with the issues today. We were prudent on the issue concerned and put it to a vote. We said at the outset that we support the general thrust of the legislation. The days of penalty points are here to stay. Regrettably, too many people are still dying on our roads and I wish everyone safe driving from here to the new year. It is very sad...