Results 481-500 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: As a graduate of the faculty of engineering and architecture at UCD, I am well aware of the problems facing many graduates in the construction industry. They are borne out in today's figures for CAO applications, which show a considerable decrease in the number of people applying to study architecture and engineering in college. Last week, I called for a debate on the issue of apprentices in...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission: Motion (10 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank Senator Bacik for sharing time. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan. I am pleased to have an opportunity to discuss this issue, if for no other reason than to recognise the distinguished work of Mr. Justice Kevin Haugh whose untimely death led to the vacancy on the board of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. As the first person to chair the commission...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an díospóireacht a bheidh ar súil tráthnóna. Níl a lán ama againn ach beidh seans againn oráid a dhéanamh. Like Senator Butler, I also seek a review of the national development plan and wish to see job creation schemes put first. However, it is important not to simply end up with a series of white elephants and to avoid going down the famine road....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: While not dwelling on that point, my question is serious. In many of the new towns and villages that have sprung up and have been developed over the past ten years, there are no facilities for young people. They are moved on from dwelling to dwelling or from street to street with nowhere to go and nowhere to hang out in the absence of cafés and youth centres. This issue must be addressed,...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I seek a review and a debate on that issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: On a point of order, the Electoral (Amendment) Bill was also guillotined.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: It is not just one Bill, that is the point.

Seanad: Irish Language: Statements (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl faoi láthair. Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht atá ar siúl sa Teach inniu. Tugann an ócáid seo deis dom mo obair bhaile a dhéanamh. Téann mé go dtí rang Gaeilge gach seachtain sa Teach seo. An tseachtain seo caite, d'iarr an múinteoir orainn Gaeilge a labhairt sa Seanad. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I would like to share time with Senator Kelly, with the permission of the House. I welcome the Minister. Like many Senators before me, I welcome the opportunity to debate this motion and commend Senator O'Toole for bringing it forward. Senator Ormonde spoke about the need for a longer debate on this issue. We have been debating it for the last 60 years, so we need to see some finality.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I am not sure whether another day or another report would help. I spoke about Seanad reform here in November 2007, and while the world outside has changed a great deal since, very little has changed as regards the way we do our business. My opinion remains the same as it was then. During the week Senator O'Toole praised the work we do here and mentioned legislation such as the Charities...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I join Senator Alex White in welcoming the announcement of a merger of research facilities. It is an excellent initiative that could lead to 30,000 new jobs. I also agree with Senator MacSharry, who stated that the initiative should be extended. We are talking about a four-mile enterprise corridor between the two universities, but that is merely a pathway. We should consider extending it...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Was it by one candidate?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss again the issue of electoral reform. My party has been campaigning for limits on election expenditure for a long time. We are glad, therefore, to see this legislation before the House. It is important but it is only one of the electoral reforms we would like to see. It is not before time. There are obvious disappointments, which are...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: It might not happen in Cork but I can guarantee it happens in my constituency. It happens to most candidates but we do not know who is responsible. It certainly was not my team and, to be fair, I do not believe it was any of the teams of the major players in this House.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: The posters go missing from the poles and reappear six weeks after the election down culverts, in rivers, on roads and all over the place. Luckily we have a very good working relationship with the local litter authorities which are aware of the problem. Any time a poster goes missing from one of our poles, we inform the local authority and, in this way, it recognises we are doing our best...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: Will the Minister of State clarify whether this spend will be included in the overall cost? I urge the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, to broaden and hasten local government reform and I respect his desire to change the status quo and compliment him on some of the work he has done on this. Reform of local government is long needed as it does not...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: I join with other Senators in welcoming the developments with regard to the strike. I am glad to hear Senator Ó Murchú recognise that there is unanimous agreement in the House that a strike would be a retrograde step. This point does not seem to have been picked up by all Senators. We welcome the developments and it is good news. Will the Leader help with regard to the recent issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: While we welcome the new-found interest——

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: ——of certain Senators in the issue of gender balance, I respectfully suggest that they need to start somewhere else.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2009)

Dominic Hannigan: The next two weeks will be a critical time for the future of our country. In London next week a meeting of the G20 nations will be held to discuss a stimulus package for the world economy. After that, the Government will introduce its mini-budget. All Members of the House wish both events well and hope for successful outcomes for both. In advance of both, however, it is important that we...