Results 521-540 of 1,637 for speaker:Labhrás Ó Murchú

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I thank Senator Paddy Burke for sharing time with me and I am aware most of the relevant points have already been made. Statistics on road safety speak for themselves and consequently road safety must remain a top priority, not just for the Government and Road Safety Authority but for us all. We must all take responsibility, not just for our own actions but also for actions that would...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Nov 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support Senator O'Toole's comments on the Saudi Arabian episode. I have always held the opinion that if one adopts an À la carte approach to human rights and democracy, one diminishes one's principles and vision for humanity. The deafening silence in this instance is symptomatic of the golden circle of nations, those which support the major powers and are beyond criticism. It has often...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support the call for a comprehensive debate on planning, particularly with regard to rural housing. The former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, brought in guidelines which were generally welcomed at the time. We found the implementation of those guidelines to be very diverse, as in some counties the spirit has been very much acknowledged and in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It is seldom that good news stories are raised on the Order of Business. Senator O'Toole brought a significant good news story to our notice this morning, namely, the decrease in women travelling abroad for abortions. This is significant because people are contemplating the consequences of abortion for those unfortunate women. There is a sense of guilt and psychological problems. Those...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I wish to take up Senator Fitzgerald's point on the abuse of drugs. There is no doubt about it being a malignancy, having reached serious proportions. Young lives are lost or harmed, in many instances beyond repair. It is important that the State focuses on this issue. When the State was under threat in previous years, the Government called in sections of the media, for example, and...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It is a worrying situation for parents at home. They are at their wits' end and communities are under siege. The media must demonstrate responsibility. One of the reasons there is none is our lack of a focused approach. I request that there be discussions with the media at Government level to point out how vulnerable and easily influenced by celebrities young people are. If the...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I compliment Senators Frances Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Bacik and others on bringing to our notice the case of Íngrid Betancourt to which many of us were oblivious. It is worrying to know that the case has existed for five years because there was a brave person who was prepared to speak out against terrorism — as we should all do at all times. Senator Fitzgerald said that often a small act by...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I salute Deputy Jimmy Deenihan who, with his committee and by his own efforts, established a literary centre in that town. Perhaps Dublin could follow that example.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I join Senator Harris in complimenting RTE not just on last night's programme but on being a quality station generally. It has done excellent work and it is not long since it screened an exposé of alcohol abuse, which is linked with the abuse of drugs. What we saw last night may have come as a surprise to some but in the main we are aware this is taking place. An ordered society always...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Christmas is a particularly joyous occasion for most people. However, for those who have lost loved ones it can be a very sad and lonely occasion. It is a particularly difficult time for one group of people, the families of missing persons. Those families are in limbo. They obviously hope for the best but perhaps fear the worst. In the main, they have had to carry out their own inquiries...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support the call for a debate on the new monopoly which is creeping in to local radio because this runs counter to the rationale which underpinned the setting up of these stations originally. The idea was to give an independent opportunity to local communities to reflect their talents, ethos and aspirations. Prior to the advent of these stations, RTE sent an outside broadcasting unit...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I join with the tributes paid to the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey. His performance on "The Late Late Show" was a watershed in the changing of attitudes to drug abuse. He could easily have succumbed to the flippancy of the occasion, striking a deadly blow for the national drugs strategy in the process. Instead, he adopted a measured approach of both horror and hope. Both words must...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I endorse Senator Fitzgerald's comments on the sentencing yesterday of the rapist of Ms Mary Shannon from County Clare. That she had to go public in such a manner to get justice is an indictment, not only of the inconsistency of sentencing of the courts, but in many ways of us as a society as well. One can only imagine the trauma that she and her family have gone through in recent months....

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I understand RTE intends to cease its medium wave transmission service on RTE Radio 1 as and from March. I have received correspondence from Britain and I am told that if this service is withdrawn it will impact severely on the Irish community in Britain, especially on the older members of the community. These people had to leave Ireland before the Celtic tiger was born and at the same time...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Would it not be very sad at this time when the Celtic tiger is alive and well——

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: He will not be interrupted when he speaks.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: He will not. It would be very sad, at this time when the Celtic tiger is alive and well, if this particular service were to be withdrawn from the Irish community in Britain. I ask RTE to revisit this decision. Whatever the cost, it is the one thing we owe the Irish community in Britain. I hope that from this House we can take a stand for them because I have heard people here bemoaning the...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2008)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Yesterday I raised the issue of RTE's intention to cease its medium wave service on RTE Radio 1. The point I made was that it will affect in particular older members of the Irish community in Britain. I appreciate the comments made by Senator O'Toole on the issue that has now arisen. I know he is an optimist but he knows full well that a big box of long wave radios will not be sent over to...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Tá an-díomá orm a chlois go bhfuil Aer Lingus tar éis cosc a chuir ar fógraí as Gaeilge ar an seirbhís as Béal Feirste. Tá sé deacair a thuiscint cad ina thaobh go bhfuil sé seo amhlaidh. Tá súil agam go ndéanfaidh Aer Lingus athmhachnamh ar an gcinneadh seo. Tá dea-thoil ann don Ghaeilge i láthair na huaire. Beidh sé an-deacair do dhaoine, go mórmhór daoine óga, a...