Results 501-520 of 602 for speaker:Fiach MacConghail

Seanad: Budget 2015: Statements (14 Oct 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I thank the Senator for sharing her time with me. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Harris. I also welcome my colleague, Senator Craughwell, to the House, for what will be quite an interesting year and a half ahead. It is ironic that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, ended his speech with a poem, using the arts yet again as a buttress-----

Seanad: Budget 2015: Statements (14 Oct 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: -----in making a symbolic, vacuous statement, yet I am here, on behalf of the arts community, trying to see if there is any good news story in the increase of €4 million in funding for the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht. It might sound churlish but I cannot welcome this €4 million increase as an indication of the Government's support for the arts. In fact, this...

Seanad: Budget 2015: Statements (14 Oct 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: -----is in paralysis around how to approach the commemoration. Despite this, €4 million has been aside for it with no increase in funding for the Arts Council, Culture Ireland or the national cultural institutions. The arts have been savagely and disproportionately cut over the past seven years to the tune of 37%, yet we have been told to wait our turn. We are waiting. Artists of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I support Senator Bacik's proposal to have a debate on commemorations at the appropriate time. We have had four or five debates on the commemoration, however, with no real, actual detail on the Government's plans. We want to avoid the debacle of the Limerick city of culture when funding was given very late in the day. The arts budget announced yesterday appears to be a stand-still budget...

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: It is my first time in the Seanad since the death of Brian Farrell, whose passing I acknowledge. He is someone we grew up with as a nation. Talking about commemoration and solemn occasions, Brian's voice on radio and television is an important one we remember. I knew him personally as he and my father soldiered together in the early days of "7 Days" many years ago. I extend my condolences...

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Sinn Féin was not at the GPO.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister. She and I have exchanged ideas in the Seanad in the last while. I will repeat some but not all of them. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Joe McHugh, chomh maith. Is iontach an comhartha é de athnuachan a chuid Gaeilge go bhfuil sé in ann é seo a dhéanamh agus molaim go mór é as ucht an dul chuige atá aige...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: We will expect the Minister to return to us on them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Will the Minister give a commitment to revert to the joint committee within a reasonable period on the data and research recommendations? That is all I am seeking.

Seanad: Situation in Middle East and Ukraine: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister to the Seanad and appreciate his constant willingness to come before this House for debates. He has integrity and I congratulate him on his article yesterday. It is refreshing that he is not flimsy and is open to other opinions. He articulates his thinking process publicly, which is refreshing because he does not feel the need to be deterministic on either side. As...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I move: That Seanad Éireann, noting that: - the agreed Programme for Government 2011-2016 promises the establishment of an electoral commission as an integral part of political reform; - the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 reaffirms this commitment and further commits to the establishment of an electoral commission with ‘a view to bringing forward legislation for the...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Our group decided to put this before the Seanad to debate today because we are concerned about whether this is part of the Government’s agenda or whether there is any sense of its moving to legislation. Establishing an independent electoral commission will advance and enhance our democratic process, particularly as we look to the several upcoming elections and referenda due to take...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: From the Minister.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Both dead and alive.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: In the bold corner.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Self-praise is no praise.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes, it is ad hoc.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, to the Seanad. I thank my colleagues across all parties and none on the excellent debate. In a way, it is very simple. We need to modernise our electoral system. We need to drive up electoral turnout. We need to play a proactive role in encouraging voters and in providing education and research. We need to manage voter registration in...