Results 461-480 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I want to be clear that I understand this. It is important how we distribute the surpluses when it comes to the election. Section 16 states: The Local Elections Regulations are amended by substituting the following sub-article for sub-article (8) of article 83: "(8) The returning officer shall not transfer the surplus of a candidate deemed to be elected whenever that surplus, together with...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I am sure he knows exactly to what I am refer. I would be concerned that this is not clear. We have some very bright returning officers and no doubt they will make it their job to understand this, but I am concerned more about how the councillor who feels very much under pressure at the eighth or ninth count of the day or the candidate who thinks he or she is about to get elected will react...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: One does not.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: We did not have an opportunity to debate certain sections of the Bill. We should have returned to it.

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: On a point of order, I object strongly. We did not finish the last debate until after 4 p.m. I know the Minister of State was here on time and was delayed in starting to speak. I watched the debate from my office and noted that he could not finish his contribution until 4.30 p.m. This makes a mockery——

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: It makes a mockery——

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: If we are to go away to prepare our contributions and come along to find out that we have half an hour of debate——

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: We have had half an hour of debate. I object in the strongest terms. I am very disappointed.

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: This shows no respect to people in this House who work to prepare their contributions.

Seanad: Middle East: Statements (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Let us debate the roof cladding issue now, because that is vital.

Seanad: National Insulation Programme: Motion (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, to the House. I also welcome this sensible cost-effective creative scheme, which nobody in this House should oppose. Beyond that, this motion is a waste of time. As Senator O'Toole mentioned, we have been talking about this for a long time. Indeed, we have probably debated this matter to death, not just in this House but in the other...

Seanad: Garda Investigations (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State. I wish to raise the issue of the failure of the Garda Síochána to return the personal effects of a gentleman who was murdered in Gorey in 1994. I supplied the name of the gentleman to the Seanad Office. In the years since the murder, the Garda held on to the personal effects of the victim, specifically items of clothing and a wristwatch. The...

Seanad: Garda Investigations (18 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I appreciate the Minister of State's response, including his offering of condolences. I think he said at the end that an apology will be made for the mistakes that were made in this case. That would go a long way. I would like to clarify one aspect of the response. I agree totally that evidence needs to be retained when a murder investigation is under way. In this instance, however, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I join Senator Leyden in calling for action on the whole issue of electricity prices and the ESB. Prices can be reduced. Last year the ESB made hundreds of millions of euro in profits. People desperately need cuts in their monthly bills and they would certainly welcome it. The fact that electronic billing has been introduced will obviously cut ESB costs so it can afford to reduce prices....

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: It must be done now.

Seanad: Development of the West: Statements (24 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend Senator Doherty for the significant amount of work and commitment that has gone into the recent report on awakening the west. It is clear, concise, realistic and full of recommendations that would make a considerable impact if enacted. I am pleased to be able to debate some of the issues. Rather than dealing with all of the issues, many of...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: This issue is about fairness and not about public versus private sector workers, as has been stated by Senators McCarthy, Norris and O'Reilly. It is about whether people are paying their fair share and the workers outside Leinster House are representative of the least well-off sectors of our society. It is vital that we take them along with us but we will not do so in the current strife...

Seanad: Middle East Conflict: Motion (26 Feb 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: As we discuss this topic here, talks are continuing on the formation of a new government in Israel. This comes just weeks after one of the worst series of atrocities carried out against the Palestinian people in the past 40 years. We in the Labour Party have consistently condemned the actions taken, which are contrary to the principles of international law. Anyone who has read our party...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Senators spoke about the job losses we are experiencing. Last night, 30 apprentices from SR Technics, a firm in north County Dublin which is under threat of closure, visited the House. These apprentices are halfway through their courses, which they will not be able to complete if the company decides to pull out of the country. I am aware that many apprentices throughout the country face a...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I support Senators' calls for a debate in advance of the forthcoming mini-budget. The House must have a detailed discussion on tax rates. Many people are calling for a widening of the tax band. As my colleague in the other House, Deputy Burton, has discovered, many people can afford to pay a little more. They should be asked to come forward to the table. For instance, the 30,000 people...