Results 601-620 of 1,677 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I have referred on one or two previous occasions to the plight of abandoned horses. We have all read the horror stories about and seen the terrible pictures of animals in distress. I was disappointed when I learned at the weekend that the Government has withdrawn grant support for one of the voluntary agencies which is responsible for most of the great work done in this area. Will the...

Seanad: An Appreciation of the Life and Work of Seamus Heaney: Statements (3 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: It might have a calming effect.

Seanad: An Appreciation of the Life and Work of Seamus Heaney: Statements (3 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Unfortunately, I had a medical appointment that I had to keep but I will not delay proceedings. I first encountered Seamus Heaney when I was in college in Dublin. I became an immediate admirer of his work and subsequently a teacher of English literature in Kerry. In those days, the mandarins in the Department were very cautious and slow-moving and those who set the curriculum for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Saturday's result was a great victory for democracy, the Seanad and the Constitution. I commend all those who voted, especially those who succeeded in persuading the majority to vote "No". Many of them are present in this Chamber. I will not name anybody as we all know who they are. There are some, but not too many, in the other House. I commend my leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, on...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Let us for one moment step back from this matter. We have had a hard, bruising bout. We were under fierce attack for the past six months and terrible things were said about this institution and us. I am not prepared to rush headlong into any specific talks on the reform of this House on its own. I do not believe anybody who thinks seriously about the matter would want to do so either....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Would it be possible for the Leader to receive an update from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, on the local government legislation? There has been some disquieting reporting on difficulties in this regard at Cabinet level. This was referred to yesterday by Senator Denis Landy. One article indicated that the Minister had tried to get the...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Is that the Labour Party position?

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Statements (23 Oct 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: We know who gets the work done.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: During the recess, our party lost two former Members of the Oireachtas, the late Denis Foley and the late Noel Davern. Mr. Foley was a Member of the Oireachtas for 21 years, including a term in this House. Mr. Daven was a former Deputy, Minister and MEP. I wish to extend my sympathy to their families. Denis Foley was a very good friend of mine and we were colleagues on Kerry County...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: The Leader probably thinks I have a bee in my bonnet about Charleville railway station as I have raised it in the House a few times, especially the lack of facilities for elderly people to cross the tracks. Another issue that arose recently is the steep increase in the charges for car parking there. I am sure the situation in Charleville is replicated throughout the country. When I was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Reform of Local Government: Discussion
Association of County and City Councils (7 Nov 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I apologise for being late to the committee; I was trying to cover two meetings. I welcome the delegation. Fianna Fáil has serious problems with this Local Government Bill and it will be rigorously tested as it proceeds through both Houses. We are totally opposed to the abolition of town councils, which is a serious error on the part of the Minister. A system of local government that...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: The Senator is referring to the Central Bank.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Nov 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Last year, 24,000 horses were destroyed in our meat factories. The number this year has reduced to 6,000 because of the tightening up of regulations since the horsemeat scandal. This means we are effectively left with up to 20,000 unwanted horses. We all know the evidence of this because we have seen it ourselves. In addition, there is anecdotal evidence that many of these unwanted horses...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I totally support the well made arguments of Senator Jim D'Arcy on the changes in the junior cycle curriculum, particularly his comments on the teaching of English and History, as I taught both these subjects. One day's in-service training for teachers to come to terms with the whole new system will not be adequate. The success of the system is predicated entirely on the full co-operation...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: We are all tremendously proud of the Garda Síochána for the service its members have given since the foundation of the State and the bravery shown by individual gardaí over the years.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Today, however, is a very black day for the force as the Smithwick tribunal report shows there was foul collusion in the murder of two members of another police force. I accept what Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said regarding the institutionalised collusion by the British Government through the agency of the SAS and so on. That collusion was starkly outlined in a recent book by Anne...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I read in yesterday's newspapers that people involved in the horse racing industry in Kildare and Meath are concerned about the proliferation of wind farms in that area, which is starting to impact negatively on the racing business. No less an authority than Ruby Walsh has said it is impossible to ride horses out and train them in the shadow of the turbines. We must take seriously the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: A Chathaoirligh, the Leader and members will have heard me refer time and again to ongoing problems with the Shannon LNG project whereby liquid gas is imported into the country and is reliquified in a station built particularly for that purpose. This project was mooted in 2004 when I was Mayor of Kerry and director of Shannon-Foynes Port Company on the same occasion. Every support, goodwill...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2014)

Ned O'Sullivan: The media today are covering an interesting story regarding the use of poor boxes in lieu of fines in the courts. This practice has no basis in law and appears to be an inherited tradition. More than €2 million was collected in this way for various charities this year, with Oxfam being the biggest beneficiary of poor box funds. For some reason, my home county of Kerry accounts for...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (21 Jan 2014)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister back to the House. My party broadly supports the Bill. Every Government measure and all efforts aimed at reducing the number of tragedies on our public roads should be supported as they do not belong in the domain of party political debate. To be fair to the Minister, he engaged in the Lower House with Members from all sides and showed a willingness to accept...