Results 61-80 of 447 for speaker:Brendan Kenneally

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: I wish to share my time with Senator Ormonde. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this subject. I am a supporter of the spatial strategy and I am an advocate of the Government's policy in that regard. I am a long-time supporter of the decentralisation process, going back to before I entered the Oireachtas in 1989. I have always...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Second Stage. (2 Mar 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: No one in the Oireachtas will not welcome the introduction of this Bill, which is long overdue, and I congratulate the Minister on taking the initiative and for being so positive in his approach to what will be seen for decades as a very important piece of legislation. Society in Ireland has changed immeasurably over the past decade or two and many of the cornerstones on which our society has...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: The Cathaoirleach will be glad to know that I do not intend to raise the Croke Park issue as he would rule me out of order.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: Perhaps we might invite the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to the House. His brief is so wide that he could be here on a raft of different subjects, particularly regarding the communications end of his portfolio. I say that for two reasons, the first being the weekend reports on the state of this country's fixed-line infrastructure. Apparently...

Seanad: Maritime Security Bill 2004: Order for Second Stage. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: I move "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Maritime Security Bill 2004: Second Stage. (31 Mar 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome this legislation which gives effect to the United Nations convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation 1988 and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf 1988 signed in Rome on 10 March of that year. One could wonder...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (1 Apr 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: It is timely to have an update on the broadband issue. I ask for a debate on the matter because the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources last week launched its report on broadband. One section of the report deals with future proofing of broadband. It states that when infrastructural projects are going ahead the ducting and casing should be put in. It has come to my...

Seanad: Maritime Security Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (6 Apr 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: Although I have some sympathy with the amendment, I must agree with the Minister. We should take any action we can to speed up cases. It is happening too often not only in this area, but the normal judicial system. We are constantly hearing complaints about cases taking far too long to come to court. Perhaps we might all be better served by much of the other legislation on our Statute Book if...

Seanad: Maritime Security Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (6 Apr 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: I thank the Minister of State and his official, Mr. Tobin, for attending, and for their attention to this legislation. I also thank the Opposition spokespersons. When we spoke on this Bill previously, we were all in broad agreement with what it contained, and wanted to get the best possible piece of legislation on the Statute Book. That spirit was reflected here today, with certain amendments...

Seanad: Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (6 May 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: The purpose of this Bill is to provide, inter alia, for the raising of the statutory borrowing limit of the ESB from £1.6 billion to €6 billion as set out in section 1. It is necessary to amend the legislation where the borrowing limit is stipulated, something which has not been done for 22 years. This revision is necessary so that the ESB can fully, and in accordance with its statutory...

Seanad: Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (6 May 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: It is proposed to take it now. Agreed to take remaining Stages today.

Seanad: Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 May 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: I thank the Minister and his officials for coming here today. I thank Senators Finucane, Daly and others who contributed to the debate and for allowing this Bill to be passed so expeditiously.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon. I thank the Progressive Democrats for tabling this motion, which is an important one. I am always delighted to speak on decentralisation. Since I first became a public representative as a member of the then Waterford Corporation in 1985, it is a subject I have addressed on many occasions. It has always been close to my heart because I am aware...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: The party appears to be against anything that affects civil servants.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: At least Fine Gael is consistent in one thing——

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: ——namely, opposition to decentralisation. I heard Senators Browne and Bannon——

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: ——state they support decentralisation and then they complained about the 10,000 civil servants we want to displace around the country. I remind Fine Gael that Fianna Fáil was the first party to promote decentralisation towards the end of the 1970s. Decentralisation was then held up for a number of years. After the three elections in 1981 and 1982, we had a Fine Gael and Labour coalition...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: Senator Browne should go back and check the policy of that Government; it was against decentralisation. It scrapped the decentralisation programme. The party is against it again on this occasion.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: How can Fine Gael Members tell me they are pro-decentralisation when they opposed it then and now? That is nonsense.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

Brendan Kenneally: When Senators and Deputies go back to their constituencies and local areas they will tell people they are totally for it.