Results 5,541-5,560 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Amendments Nos. 30, 32, 34 to 42, inclusive, and 44 to 49, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I call for a debate on the funding of local authorities from the central Exchequer and on the road we are taking in this respect. I concur with Senators Mooney and O'Sullivan about the demise of local government and the abolition of town councils. It appears that many local authorities, particularly rural counties, are being starved of funding. My advice to councillors in the Munster area,...

Seanad: Tributes to Former Senator Jack Fitzsimons (18 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: We will now pay tribute to the late Jack Fitzsimons who was an honourable Member of this Chamber.

Seanad: Tributes to Former Senator Jack Fitzsimons (18 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: As Leas-Chathaoirleach, I also pay tribute to the late Jack Fitzsimons who was a Member of this House. Although I did not serve with him, I became a Senator, in October 1989, in the same year that he lost his seat in the Seanad. It is a great honour and privilege for anybody, irrespective of party politics, who gets elected to the local authority, town council or local county council, and...

Seanad: Services for People with Asthma: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State and call on Senator Mary Ann O'Brien to move the motion. The Senator has ten minutes. I understand Senator Averil Power will second the motion.

Seanad: Services for People with Asthma: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I will call Senator Mullins next, if that is okay with Senator Eamonn Coghlan, because Senator Mullins will be taking the Chair. I welcome to the Gallery Mike and Winnie Barbour, who are visitors to the country. Winnie is an aunt of our good colleague, Senator Comiskey. They are welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit.

Seanad: Services for People with Asthma: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I had not planned to speak today but it is important that I put on record my appreciation for the motion moved by Senator Mary Ann O'Brien. Sometimes we get so bogged down in our own little circles. I was in the Chair for some time and I was not sure what the motion was about. The motion is worthwhile and I thank her for tabling it. Thankfully, I have never smoked in my life and I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I second the amendment proposed by my colleague, Senator Wilson. I will comment on what my good colleague, Senator Barrett, has said regarding the legal services Bill. This Bill was mooted four years ago. If we are being honest in this House, it was basically set aside until the Law Society, of which, I confess, I am a paid-up member, and the Bar Council in one sense bullied their way with...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I second the proposal.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the House.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: Just to let Members know, we are just dealing with Committee Stage today. Report Stage is not being taken.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the House. We had some brief discussion on this matter this morning during the Order of Business. If we are being totally honest, the Bill that we see before the House now has changed from that presented by Deputy Shatter four years ago. Then it was like a two year old male tiger, full of teeth, steam and gusto and now we end up with a little lamb with little...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: It is not universal.

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: It is hard to be brief on a very long Bill. The first grouping encapsulates amendments Nos. 154 to 157, inclusive. Amendment No. 1 is fairly technical and I do not have a problem with it. There are 80 pages of amendments and the original Bill is 130 pages. To say the legislation before us is not close to being a new Bill is not exactly correct. Amendment No. 156 is to substitute a new...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: It is difficult for us to say we agree to this and to pass this amendment, which is technical, only for an issue to arise in the discussion on section 5 and we cannot go back to amendment No. 156 on Committee Stage. I am not being difficult, but this is a most important Bill. It has changed substantially since it was first published. It is important for us, as Members of the Seanad, to...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I accept that.

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I understand that all these powers are necessary, but will the Minister indicate whether there is any mechanism within the authority that could conduct preliminary investigations? Sometimes vexatious or frivolous complaints can be made for inappropriate reasons with the motive of targeting a particular solicitor or office. A sledgehammer does not have to be used to crack a nut. Is there a...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Minister for her clear response, which clarifies the worries I had in that regard.

Seanad: Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2015)

Denis O'Donovan: I have an observation. I agree there should be compulsory insurance cover for professional indemnity. I remember when I returned from England in 1981 that I opened my little practice and was probably one of the first to volunteer for professional indemnity. It cost me £750 at the time and it was a lot of money then. My concern is whether the professional indemnity cover would take...