Results 481-500 of 1,625 for speaker:Pat O'Neill

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Banking Sector Remuneration (15 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Is it agreed that the Senators will share time? Agreed.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Banking Sector Remuneration (15 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Senator should allow the Minister to continue.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Banking Sector Remuneration (15 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Please, Senator Walsh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome Mr. McKenna and wish him the best in his position as chairman of Coillte. I come from Kilkenny and I am aware of Smartply in south Kilkenny, which employs approximately 350 people, and Medite in Clonmel. They are two innovative companies and I have seen the new products they are hoping to produce. Smartply is looking for investment of nearly €80 million for a new plant,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I forgot to ask Mr. McKenna another question related to the selling of rights. Coillte forests are used for many activities, such as mountain biking, walking, hiking and so on. If the harvesting rights are sold, will the public continue to have access to the forests?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I have a supplementary question about the SmartPly operation in south Kilkenny at Bellview port. The chairman has stated that if the investment is not made in SmartPly, the plant will close within three to four years because it will not be viable and the product it produces will not be needed. If the investment is not made, the plant will be obsolete. If the investment is made, what will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The investment of €85 million will be on Coillte's books, not those of whoever buys the harvesting rights. That is a clarification.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: On behalf of Fine Gael I welcome the Minister of State to the Upper House. I have a Leap card, although it may need a top-up. The Minister of State asked whether Senators use them. All of us should carry Leap cards because they are part of a great system. In regard to the transport for Ireland website, I have seen people use smart phone applications to find out when their buses were...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: It is Fianna Fáil admitting a mistake 60 years later. I hope that the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly will pursue the matters I raised and I wish him continued success in his work.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Cathaoirleach will carry out a survey.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Next week.

Seanad: Sexual Violence in Conflict: Motion (27 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: We have five minutes to conclude the debate. As I must call Senator Norris at 4.42 p.m., Senators Reilly and Keane will have one and a half minutes and 30 seconds, respectively.

Seanad: Sexual Violence in Conflict: Motion (27 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: The Senator's time has expired.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I call on the Leader to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come to the House to make a statement on the Control of Horses Act 1996. Many horses are not microchipped even though it has been a requirement since 2009. I will give an example of the mayhem they are causing. In Kilkenny over the weekend horses broke from wherever they were being held, went up a country road...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I support the Minister of State and we will be opposing the amendments. I understand Senator Barrett's concerns that this money may be used to subsidise routes but we must remember the emphasis in terms of this Bill. Twenty-five years ago CIE's borrowing limit was IR£107 million and its borrowing limit now has been increased to ¤300 million. It is important to remember also that the...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: Government Members will oppose this amendment. I understand Senator Barrett's sentiments in suggesting an independent investment appraisal of capital expenditure be published but I have the utmost confidence in the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. If CIE and the board want to invest in capital projects, the proposal passes through two Departments. A third body...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: On the amendments, I understand Senator Barrett's concerns. However, we must oppose the amendments. CIE is really three companies - Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Iarnród Éireann. The Minister cannot micromanage these companies. We must have confidence in the board that is appointed. If it believes it must lend money to any of the CIE subsidiaries, we must accept its judgment in the...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: That is three now.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. He has always been proactive in bringing legislation to the Seanad. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport under the guidance of the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kelly, is in good hands. We have seen how proactive they are in introducing legislation to make public transport and all transport...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020: Discussion with Irish Farm Managers Association (4 Dec 2012)

Pat O'Neill: I thank the members of the Irish Farm Managers' Association for coming in. It was a very interesting presentation that was concise and precise. The next few years will define farming in this country. We have seen changes through various CAP negotiations but hopefully when there is a new CAP in place in 2014, and in 2015 when quotas are abolished in dairying, we will see major changes in...