Results 481-500 of 891 for speaker:John Minihan

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 May 2005)

John Minihan: I endorse Senator Ryan's comments regarding the events that took place in Cork two days ago. I know the couple in question well and know that the family has suffered extreme trauma as a result of this crime. I am also tired of expressing my views in this House regarding the activities of the so-called republican movement. If this crime is its version of democracy and advancing its case, we...

Seanad: Immigrant Workers: Motion. (4 May 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am pleased to contribute to the debate this evening because it is imperative that we have a balanced and accurate discussion on the rights of migrant workers. We must recognise the significant contribution made by migrant workers and deplore any exploitative or unfair practices. We must also recognise and commend actions taken by the Government and...

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: The coalition is gone before it starts.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: I demand that comment be withdrawn.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: I also heard it. I want that comment to be withdrawn.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: I am pleased to contribute to this evening's debate. Growing concerns exist about the incidence of anti-social behaviour. The most worrying aspect is that the vulnerable are at the receiving end. I am particularly concerned for the elderly. Communities can be subjected to serious harassment, which can cause distress despite its not involving criminal offences. Standing up to offenders can be...

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: If the Senator had been listening ——

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: What about the 70% who do not go into the criminal system?

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: Some people have claimed that the introduction of ASBOs will mean that those guilty of anti-social behaviour will always end up in the criminal system. I restate my point that a certain percentage of people will end up in the criminal system but that same percentage would have done so anyway. We must take account of those people who will benefit from an ABSO and not end up in the criminal...

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

John Minihan: It is interesting that the only two parties who do not support the ABSO measures are Sinn Féin and the Green Party. Consensus on the seriousness of the problem and the measures to deal with it will not stop some groups attempting to make political gain from anti-social behaviour. I hope that this will not be the case in this House because we must move forward to address this blight on Irish...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

John Minihan: Twice.

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. It is with a certain amount of trepidation that I enter this debate in the House this afternoon. It is not that I do not welcome the contributions of the Members. Rather, I am concerned about two aspects. First, I am mindful of an article published over the weekend in the national press that was entitled "Keep Suicide out of...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

John Minihan: The article states: Suicide is an emotive subject on which it is all too easy to stir up public indignation... Whenever someone, especially a young person, takes their own life, there will always be a willing market for a politician or pundit who demands that something must be done... The State cannot stop your relationships ending, or your loved ones dying; they cannot stop people failing...

Seanad: Suicide Incidence: Statements. (19 May 2005)

John Minihan: Perhaps the most important guiding principle is to consider the readers, listeners or viewers, who may be in crisis when they read, hear or see a report. The consideration must be whether this piece makes it more likely such people will attempt suicide or more likely they will seek help. The media have a major responsibility in this regard. Organisations such as the IAS, the Samaritans, the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

John Minihan: I join previous speakers in extending my sympathy and that of my party to the families who were bereaved by yesterday's horrific accident in County Meath, and to those in the wider community who must be feeling a great deal of pain today. All parents see their children off to school and all parents expect their children to come home. Such an incident must have a terrible impact on them, the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 May 2005)

John Minihan: No, it is not.

Seanad: Report of National Task Force on Obesity: Statements. (24 May 2005)

John Minihan: I begin by adding my voice to the expressions of congratulations to the task force for producing this timely and valuable report. Since the Government established the task force in March 2004, it has engaged in a detailed process to develop a strategy to halt the rise and reverse the prevalence of obesity in Ireland. This is a most worthwhile pursuit. Under the excellent chairmanship of Mr....

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

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister and his officials. In comparison to three or six months ago, Iraq has drifted out of the headlines. Much of the news reporting now is of daily death tolls — 30 people were reported killed on Monday and 35 on Tuesday of this week. This is reminiscent of newscasts about Northern Ireland in the past. I welcome this discussion as an effort to ensure the same numbness does...

Seanad: Nursing Homes: Statements. (1 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for coming at such short notice to respond to these statements. I appreciate the chance to make some points arising from the exposé aired on television on Monday last. There is no doubting the strength of the reaction among the public, the media and in both Houses of the Oireachtas. I wish to add my voice to the expressions of shock,...

Seanad: Grangegorman Development Agency Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister to the House and I also welcome the Bill, the aim of which is to provide for the development of the Grangegorman site in Dublin as a modern campus for the Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT, and to provide the former Eastern Regional Health Authority with upgraded facilities. When the Government decided in December, 1999, that the Department of Education would purchase...