Results 561-580 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I ask Members to speak to the amendment. I call Senator Walsh.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Walsh should stick to discussing amendment No. 7.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: We are dealing with the amendment.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I remind Senator Walsh, who is a long-standing Member, that it is most inappropriate to mention any of the officers of the House. I wish to put that on the record.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: That is not a point of order. It is most inappropriate. On a further point, the last three speakers have wandered all over the place. Senator Byrne has tabled an amendment but most Members are not speaking to the amendment and are wandering over different avenues. I ask Senators to concentrate on the amendment, not make a Second Stage speech. I am being most tolerant. I call Senator...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: You did a fair bit yesterday but we will see how you get on today.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: We will resume business.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: That is irrelevant to the workings of the House.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: The Senator should speak to amendment No. 7.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: Is the Senator pressing the amendment?

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: Unfortunately we cannot give that guarantee, although we hope he can be present.

Seanad: Whistleblower Legislation: Motion (29 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I support the principle behind the motion. Having served on the Government side of the House also, I know it is not unusual to receive cross-party support for a motion, although an amendment may be tabled. When I was on the Government benches, I was often perplexed that we were inevitably instructed to table an amendment to good, non-controversial motions, even though the principle was...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the House. We on this side of the House are broadly in favour of this Bill, although we may table some amendments on Committee Stage. We welcome the Bill. Its nuts and bolts are probably taken from the 2010 Bill introduced by the then Minister Dermot Ahern, with some changes as the Minister has pointed out. It would be very disingenuous for somebody on this side...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Jun 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: And court cases.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I support my colleagues on this issue. The Minister would do well to note the concerns expressed by the Free Legal Aid Centres. There are vulnerable people in society who may have language difficulties or living in the most appalling circumstances. I am sure the Minister will take account of the points made by Senators Quinn and Cullinane. I add my voice of concern to the points they made.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "(d) the purpose of benefiting the community;". This is a simple and straightforward amendment. By and large, I support the thrust of the Bill. The section states: "voluntary work" means any work or other activity that is carried out for any of the following purposes: (a) a charitable purpose within the...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister's response but it is not patently obvious that my concern is addressed in other legislation and that it is so obvious as not to require the inclusion of the amendment. I refer to the Latin maxim of interpretation, inclusio unius est exclusio alterius. In that regard it would be safer to include the proposed paragraph as it would act in the manner of a belt and braces...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: I move amendment No. 19: In page 19, line 27, to delete "12th anniversary" and substitute "3rd anniversary". I raised this matter on Second Stage, have reflected on it and believe strongly in it. As the Minister will be acutely aware, we are in the most difficult financial circumstances ever envisaged by the State since its foundation. The only comparable situation, internationally, goes...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 2011)

Denis O'Donovan: The Minister of State is having an easy evening because I have no intention of speaking for four minutes when discussing this issue which perhaps somewhat parochial. A school in a village called Kealkill, approximately six miles from Bantry, has experienced many difficulties with prefabricated buildings falling down, etc. The local community, school principal and board of management have...