Results 521-540 of 891 for speaker:John Minihan

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: My colleague Senator Dardis has outlined the views of the Progressive Democrats so I will avoid duplication. I extend congratulations to the Taoiseach on his statement in the House today and on the role he has played in bringing the process to its present stage. The announcement of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning that it has overseen the completion of IRA...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: That is a jaded line from Senator Bannon.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on domestic violence, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude no later than 1 p.m., with contributions of spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of other Senators not to exceed seven minuteiis — Senators may share time and the Minister will be called on to reply no later than five minutes before the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: More than most.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: Senator Brian Hayes and a number of other Members raised the issue of the recent court awards to Frank Shortt. We all acknowledge and recognise that awards are a matter for the courts. Senator Brian Hayes asked that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform be requested to come before the House to debate legislation on this issue. We will ask the Minister to do so but court awards are...

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Statements. (13 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: There are times topics come before us when it is difficult to know where to start. This topic is so disturbing that I reflect on it and wonder how to make a valuable contribution on the task facing us. I spoke here on the issue in January of last year and referred to the physical and psychological marks and scars which domestic violence leaves and which one person can inflict on another. I...

Seanad: European Union: Statements. (13 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I appreciate the few minutes I have been allowed to speak on this topic and I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. Like many of the other speakers, I will refer to Turkey's proposed membership of the European Union, the constitution, the role of parliaments and the issue of subsidiarity. After a campaign of some 40 years, Turkey has officially entered membership talks with the European Union....

Seanad: Home Help Service: Motion. (19 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State and am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The Opposition's claim, in the introductory sentence of this motion, that a contribution to society such as that made by home help services could go "unrecognised" is beyond comprehension. Home help provides aid to older people, families in stress and difficulty, those with disabilities, other...

Seanad: Home Help Service: Motion. (19 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I mentioned earlier that international research suggests the life of a person can be extended by up to two years if care is delivered in the home. There is another, perhaps more critical, element to this. It is the Government's policy to provide community-based supports to enable people to live in dignity in their own homes and communities, in accordance with their wishes, for as long as...

Seanad: Home Help Service: Motion. (19 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: That is two hours more than my father receives.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I join with Senator McCarthy in seeking a debate on immigration policy. It would serve the House well if the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform came here to discuss this issue and progress in policy on asylum seekers. We all acknowledge the emotional side of the case referred to by Senator McCarthy. However, we should be fair and present the facts of this case as they are. The...

Seanad: Suicide Prevention Strategy: Statements. (26 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State. The last time I spoke about suicide in the House was May of this year and one of my primary concerns at that time was that statements would be reduced to a web of words and spun around numbers, namely, statistics, numbers of deaths and levels of investment. I tried to concentrate on the heart of the issue and completed my contribution without referring to a...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: In recent weeks, it is true.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and welcome the Minister to the House. We debated the issue of child care in the House several months ago and less than a month ago we debated the equally important issue of early childhood education. That we are debating it again so soon is testimony to the gravity of the issue and how it is viewed by all parties. Since the debate some months...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: The Government amendment of 9 March 2005 included the following quote, "the use of child benefit as the most equitable way of giving support to parents towards the cost of rearing and caring for their children, irrespective of the family's employment status".

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I cannot say for certain what caused this volte-face.

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I presume it was not a cynical attempt to garner votes because such an attempt would, presumably, be beneath the Labour Party. This debate is far too important to concentrate solely on political point scoring. I would prefer to attribute Labour's Pauline conversion to the power of debate and the persuasiveness of the arguments put forward by this side of the House on 9 March 2005. We all...

Seanad: Child Care Services: Motion. (26 Oct 2005)

John Minihan: I would challenge any Senator who felt this way to cross the floor.

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (2 Nov 2005)

John Minihan: I am delighted to second this motion but would like to expand on a few specific points. The motion, which is concerned primarily with taxation policy and issues of fairness, gives us an opportunity to inject some reality into the debates about our choices for society and sustaining our recent progress. There is no doubt that a dose of reality is required. For example, the Opposition recently...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (2 Nov 2005)

John Minihan: If the Labour Party wants to join it in respect of that proposal, that is fine. To return to the real world, the schemes to incentivise economic and social development were introduced at a time when promoting such activity was a national imperative. Governments of all make-ups devised, operated and expanded these schemes. However, this fact does not suit the Opposition. Policy point-scoring...