Results 501-520 of 1,714 for speaker:John Dardis

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

John Dardis: It may have originated elsewhere.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

John Dardis: I agree with the Minister of State but I raise a small point regarding the clarity of the language in the instructions given to presiding officers and returning officers, which officials might bear in mind. At a polling station at a European Parliament election, I saw a lady arguing with the presiding officer. When she left I asked the presiding officer what was the problem and I was told...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

John Dardis: I do not see a need for the Ombudsman because the commission is qualitatively different from the other bodies which have been mentioned. However, cognisance should be taken of the additional duties which are falling to the Clerk of the Seanad. Since I came to the House, the functions and role of the Clerk have become a burden. She is a member of the Boundary Commission and the Referendum...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)

John Dardis: Leave us bask in the reflected glory.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)

John Dardis: Of course, the Opposition never tables condemnatory motions.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)

John Dardis: I thought Senator Norris was a teacher.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)

John Dardis: The Senator spoke for too long.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)

John Dardis: There was an expectation that the introduction of e-mail, lap-top computers and so on would lead to the use of less paper. It is a curious fact that the opposite has happened. We seem to be felling forests by the new time in verifying what is on a computer screen in front of us. I am not convinced of the need for what Senator Bannon proposes. Many of the points being made in this debate could...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2004)

John Dardis: Everybody shares the view that this is an extremely important issue. Everybody agrees it is essential we do nothing that would be prejudicial. We are entering uncharted waters, as has been stated, and we need guidance and advice on how to sail through them. If this matter was discussed on the floor of the House, someone could inadvertently say something prejudicial. It is essential we do not...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)

John Dardis: The Senator should remember that the enemy is behind him.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)

John Dardis: The House should acknowledge the work done by Commissioner Byrne and wish him well in his retirement from the EU Commission. When he was nominated to the office, there was much criticism about it in that it would be a lame duck job and that it was not a position of stature within the Commission, but he has proved otherwise in the way he managed the BSE crisis, foot and mouth disease and so...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)

John Dardis: Flattery will get the Senator nowhere.

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)

John Dardis: Led by one particular association.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 May 2004)

John Dardis: The train was on the tracks.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

John Dardis: It was the Minister for Finance.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

John Dardis: It was the Minister for Finance. While I am sure the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would love to address the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, fortunately he was not invited.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: Did the Senator say "in modesty" or "immodestly"?

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, and thank him for attending to listen to the debate. It is a privilege to be a Member of the House and the national Parliament. We should be conscious of that privilege and the responsibilities it carries with it. I am fortunate to have been the first member of the Progressive Democrats to be elected to the House and to be nominated on...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: Given the vocational system that emerged, it was understandable it would become a political instrument and that the political parties would take it over because the electorate was political. There is no difficulty about that; the House is political. I do not see anything wrong with a House of Parliament being a political House. If the intention was to have vocational representation, it was...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: My party's position is that it would have been preferable to have universal suffrage for the whole of the Seanad, in other words, that there would not even be a university panel and everybody would be directly elected. The conclusions of the report represent a reasonable balance. However, the universities, as a separate constituency, still present a difficulty. The only defence for university...