Results 461-480 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Statements. (25 May 2005)

Joe McHugh: I am transferring, through the political process, the opinion of others.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Statements. (25 May 2005)

Joe McHugh: Does the Chair wish me to withdraw the reference?

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Statements. (25 May 2005)

Joe McHugh: The Chair has much more experience than I.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Statements. (25 May 2005)

Joe McHugh: I will withdraw it.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Statements. (25 May 2005)

Joe McHugh: I was simply passing on the message from people I have met who would be of a Democratic Party disposition.

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Statements. (25 May 2005)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Acting Chairman for his intervention. I appreciate that he has much more experience than I in this regard. The situation in Iraq is serious, as is that in Northern Ireland. We have tried everything and are faced with a grave problem in Iraq. A solution will not be found overnight or in the short or medium term. We must weigh up every aspect and angle, including UN intervention. At...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I am prepared to defer the motion on placenames tonight although I know my colleagues, including Senator Ó Murchú, will have done much preparation. On the issue of the Irish language we have a set a non-political precedent in this House because both sides believe it is too important to be used as a political football. This debate is not just about placenames, it is about the Irish people's...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I welcome this opportunity to contribute to this important Bill. I wish to refer to 1997, although I will not use the example of that year as a watershed for a political debate, or 1996 when I became involved in debates on the issue of disabilities through my involvement in the community development sector. People with disabilities were targeted as an category in respect of which there was a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I agree with Senators who have spoken about Irish being finally recognised at EU level. We can join together in a proud manner in this House because we have set the precedent of not turning the Irish language into a political football. I commend Senator Brian Hayes on facilitating the joint debate and also Senator ÓMurchú. One of the commercial reasons for having Irish recognised as an...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I endorse the calls by Senator Finucane and Senator Minihan for a debate on Northern Ireland. It is both timely and necessary. We must look at this in a positive light. We have moved on since 1997. I do not wish to underestimate the experience of Senator Leyden and Senator John Paul Phelan in Palestine where they had guns pointed at them. However, guns were pointed at people on a daily basis...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: A hospital in Altnagelvin, which is five miles across the border from Donegal, offers breast screening but this service is not available in Donegal. The proposed gas pipeline between Derry and Letterkenny has proved to be economically unviable. If it is economically unviable it has been established in deference to the political will on both sides of the Border. The debate that we need in this...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal Reports: Motion. (15 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister of State and I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion tabled by the Labour Party. This is a most complex and difficult subject to speak on tonight both as a politician and as a Donegal man. Before dealing with the detail of the motion and the findings of the Morris tribunal, I wish to mention some of the personal human tragedies that were the outcome of what...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I concur with the Leader of the House in regard to the grouping of the amendments which make the legislation straightforward. Other Ministers could do likewise because it makes it easier to work with legislation. Many small fishermen who operate one or two person boats have called for changes in the red tape and the constant bureaucratic...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: These amendments have been discussed in the Dáil and most found a general acceptance. The main concern of Members of my party when the Bill was debated in this House was that the enforcement of these laws will require substantial resources in terms of co-ordinating efforts between the Garda, harbour authorities and county councils. The latter may introduce by-laws and so on in this area. I...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: Will the Minister of State clarify whether the provisions regarding vessels less than 15 m refer also to jet skis? Are all mechanically propelled vehicles of less than 15m covered by these regulations?

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: The Minister of State alluded to this during the previous debate in the House and I welcome his commitment in this regard. Most of those who own jet skis are dedicated to partaking of the sport they enjoy in a safe and responsible manner. There does not seem to be an affiliated grouping for the sport but many experienced jet skiers have called for strict regulation in terms of the purchase...

Seanad: Maritime Safety Bill 2004: Motion for Earlier Signature. (28 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I am happy to support the earlier signature motion. Each local authority will be different, even those in Sligo and Donegal that have the same type of coastal zones. If there must be a consultation process between the Department and local authorities, an attempt should be made to liaise with jet ski users as they are the people who see the risks. I do not know if they have a network or...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (28 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: Without mentioning the name of the child involved, I raise this matter in light of an individual case at Ballyheerin national school, County Donegal, of which details have been supplied. This child has been receiving one-to-one support through the facilitation of a resource teacher on an ongoing basis. The work that has been achieved to date, according to his parents and the school principal,...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (28 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. While I am not able to give forensic detail on whether the school applied to the SENO, as far as I am aware it did. If the case is not documented on the system this may be the opportunity for the school to do so. I will advise the board of management of the school accordingly.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Joe McHugh: I ask for the agreement of the House to share time with Senator Brian Hayes.