Results 41-60 of 190 for speaker:Mark Dearey

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on nuclear power. "The Frontline" on RTE on Monday night did an assessment of the best options for Ireland in terms of its energy future. It was very interesting and rigorous. However, I detected an underlying subtext that it was time for Ireland to grow up and go nuclear. I challenge the notion that the maturity of a nation can be judged on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I am outlining the issues a debate should contain. I call for an urgent debate to allow all parties to engage honestly on this issue which is problematic in the extreme. Strategically, it is not in Ireland's interests to go down the nuclear road.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I thank the Cathaoirleach for affording me the opportunity to raise the issue of the recent elections in Sudan. Last January, on a bitterly cold day in Dundalk, I was proud to witness the departing troops on their final inspection by the then Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, before they took up their role in Chad, which primarily was to deal with the humanitarian crisis that has been...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I thank the Minister of State for that detailed response, some of which alludes to what I and my party would like to see happen post the referendum in southern Sudan next year, which is the development of new scenarios to help stabilise the Darfur region in particular and develop democracy in the country. This may sound cynical but I urge the Minister for Foreign Affairs to use the leverage...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I ask for a debate on economic recovery because there are indications that we can begin to hope that the extreme pain the contraction of the economy has caused to those in the public sector in terms of wages and pensions and to those in the private sector in terms of job losses and pay cuts and the process we all have experienced and suffered looks like it could be coming to a close. I do...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I agree, in some respects, with Senator Fitzgerald that a debate is necessary on the implications of the measures to protect Economic and Monetary Union which were announced at the weekend. One of the assurances provided during the second referendum campaign on the Lisbon treaty was that it would not pave the way for European Union interference in Ireland's tax affairs. Another such...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: A wide-ranging debate is commencing on the decisions taken by EU Finance Ministers at the weekend. This matter must be addressed by the House at an early stage, but I do not necessarily believe we should discuss it today. I agree with Senator Quinn on the issue of competitiveness. All of the innovation reports and stand-alone initiatives in the world will not do any good unless the cost of...

Seanad: Code of Conduct for Civil Servants: Motion (12 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I second the motion. I want to address the issue of a cooling off period from the perspective of local government, which has been my touchstone since I arrived in this House for reasons which Members will appreciate. There are particular problems when people are moving from the public service to the private sector without any cooling off period, as is currently the case. It is possible...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: On behalf of the Green Party, I wish the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Paterson, MP, the very best in his new role. He will have a particularly tricky task at a time when the deficit in the United Kingdom is about to be addressed. We understand details will be announced within 50 days of the formation of the new government. It seems inevitable that the block grant will...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I was very struck some months ago when I heard the French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, on the Sunday news programme on RTE radio speaking about what she perceived to be the solidarity that existed within Irish life. She said it was our defining characteristic which spared us the kind of pain and turmoil the Greeks were experiencing. I was taken aback by this because at that stage my...

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: -----nomad for the past month, since my arrival. I was enjoying my new surroundings when I noticed a sticker on a window across the courtyard saying: "Don't blame me - I voted Labour". That bumper sticker was clearly a back reference to the local elections or the last general election. The Labour Party should be aware there will be the father and mother of a blame game if this deal is not...

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services (13 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I thank the Minister of State for taking this question - it a is double question - on the new emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda which, although it is standing and ready to go, has been lying idle for many months now. We are several months past the anticipated opening date, which was last March. The emergency department has been featured many times on...

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services (13 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: It is interesting that the Department of Health and Children states it is not aware of any proposals from the HSE to deviate from its service plan, but it did not give any assurance that that would not happen. The ongoing failure of the two entities to communicate is the reason there is so much confusion in terms of the public's understanding of the health service. It is a pattern which is...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: Senator Ross wondered about the Green Party view on this matter. Any semi-State body in receipt of public funds must be amenable to examination, questioning and oversight by the committees of the Houses. That applies in this case also. The issue of whistleblower protection warrants debate. I, therefore, ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to...

Seanad: Women's Participation in Politics: Statements (Resumed) (19 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: The Minister of State, Deputy White, is welcome back to the House. I found the story Senator McDonald's told on the previous occasion riveting. It was about her progress through her own party and how her view had changed because she did not want women to go through what she had gone through to achieve what she had achieved. There is much in this debate on which individual parties should...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I join Senator Hannigan in asking the Leader to call the Minister to the House to deal in a forthright and final way with the redress that these 35 women deserve. They were savagely treated by Michael Neary. It is incumbent on us to address the issue, even at this late stage. I was in contact with one woman who was three days outside the deadline for the scheme and has been denied justice...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jun 2010)

Mark Dearey: I welcome the fact that we are holding a debate tomorrow night on the piracy on the high seas which occurred yesterday. I refer to some time-sensitive items with regard to the Rachel Corrie which continues to make its way toward Gaza with several Irish citizens on board. It is critically important that the Israelis heed the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, and others in their...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2010)

Mark Dearey: Will the Leader contact the Minister for Foreign Affairs at his earliest convenience regarding a report on the BBC news website that the Turkish Government is considering sending a gunboat to accompany the Rachel Corrie as it moves towards the blockade off the coast of Gaza? As this report is on a website, I cannot confirm it to be absolutely the case. It deserves the immediate attention of...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Mark Dearey: I welcome the Minister of State. I was slightly distracted from the main theme of the debate by Senator Quinn's comments on the carbon tax, to which I may return in a few minutes. The Bill, which amends the Competition Act 2002, has been forced on us by circumstances, some of which were mentioned by Senator Quinn. There is difficulty in maintaining a board in these times when scrutiny is...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (2 Jun 2010)

Mark Dearey: It is kind of the Minister to say so. Given the requirement for the highest level of public trust and transparency, it is wise that the new programme for Government envisages an examination of the process of appointment to all of these boards. This is an important commitment which was agreed between the Government parties and which ought to proceed even as we move to have the Bill, which...