Results 41-60 of 468 for speaker:Liam Fitzgerald

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: On a point of order—

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: Can the Senator read faster?

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: I welcome the Minister once again and commend him for his commitment to the passage of this important Bill. Senators appreciate the time and commitment he is giving to our deliberations on it. Certain cynics have put it about that this is a minor step compared with what was flagged but we know to the contrary. The Bill is a significant step in the process of local government reform. However,...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: It is better than the stuff Senator Bannon produces.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: It strikes me that the kind of sentiment I hear in Dublin City Council in relation to the powers of councillors is being perpetuated here. Senator O'Meara has confirmed that North Tipperary County Council is no different from Dublin City Council. I fully support the Minister for the Environment and Local Government's plans for local government reform. Councillors have to be constantly...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: It is a sad reflection on the Labour Party that its councillors on Dublin City Council and North Tipperary County Council want more and more powers but without an accompanying increase in responsibility.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: The Labour Party leadership on Dublin City Council has had only one ambition in relation to the council since 1999 – to bring it down on the issue of charges. The councillors in question do not want to accept responsibility. I welcome more power and more responsibility for councillors as part of meaningful reform.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: The power of councillors which has been discussed is at the heart of the issue. I encourage the Minister who does not need much encouragement to continue to reform the local authorities. I acknowledge the need, mentioned in this section of the Bill, to separate powers while retaining strong links and I am confident that the Minister will do so by virtue of the assurances he has given.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: I remind the House that the opinions of the Commission on the Status of Women were kept in mind when plans to separate powers were being drawn up. The commission's second report strongly recommended the abolition of the dual mandate on the basis that it would facilitate the entry into politics of more women. It seems Senator O'Meara is showing scant regard, respect or acknowledgement for the...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: I hope they were not looking for more powers.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: Senator Tuffy should be cautioned by the unfortunate experience of one of her predecessors, Deputy Tully, whose proposal on fixing boundaries was popularly referred to as the "Tullymander". The issue of boundaries is very sensitive—

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: —for all parties and politicians. There is merit in part of what Senator Tuffy stated. I cannot remember exactly what she said on Second Stage, but if I interpreted her correctly she referred to what appeared to be an anomaly, namely, that a sitting councillor can contest an Oireachtas election without having to resign although the reverse cannot occur. If that is the intention of the...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: I referred to two aspects of this issue yesterday. First, I said I was opposed to the idea of a directly elected mayor and did not see evidence at any level of politics or community justifying it. Second, I said I was supportive of continuity for the chair. Senator Browne legitimately asked whether there was a conflict in what I had said. I suggest to him, through his colleague, that I do not...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: I humbly suggest to the Minister, as he has the opportunity to do so, that we could achieve the objective of continuity for our chairs, to which all councils aspire, for reasons of effectiveness and efficiency and proper representation for councillors on the floor of the council chamber and at the same time retain the present system. In the event of any fears people may have about a chair...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: Let them be the guinea pigs.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: Did it start with Longford?

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (6 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: I deeply resent the suggestion that the councillors of Dublin be used as guinea pigs by the Member from Longford. This amendment is extremely divisive. That Dublin and Cork should be used as guinea pigs for a pilot system is unacceptable. There are huge implications for democracy and for our councillors. Our councillors in Dublin are being told that they have to take a step back and that the...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (12 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: Deputy John Bruton's frankness today is most refreshing. I compliment the Leader on her initiative in inviting the Deputy, Mr. De Rossa and the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, to come before the Seanad. If Senators are to address the problem of the democratic deficit, this is one of the ways of doing it. When the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, came before the House, I highlighted the fact...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: Senator Quinn made reference to Mr. Dorgan of the IDA. Does the Leader agree that the Department has responded in great detail by way of consideration of the report referred to by the Senator? In a sense it might have welcomed Mr. Dorgan's remarks. There is an acknowledgement in the Department that some cages need to be rattled, including some professional bodies, when it comes to the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Mar 2003)

Liam Fitzgerald: There still seems to be rampant amnesia on the Opposition benches about the phenomenal contribution of the Government over the last five or six years to promoting educational opportunity among the disadvantaged. I join others in calling for a debate on the issue in order that we can remind Members of the huge initiatives taken over the past five and a half years to promote educational...