Results 61-80 of 602 for speaker:Fiach MacConghail

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I, too, would welcome a debate on No. 1 on the Order of Business. It may be due to my own lack of experience, but I do not know what it is about. The Independent group of Senators are not represented on the Joint Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions. I would welcome debate and an information briefing for the Seanad on that. I support Senator O'Brien's amendment to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I attended the debate but did not speak. However, as the Seanad can do, it taught me an enormous amount about the issues facing a rights based approach to disability and Government policy. The debate was rich and informative, as was the quality of the contributions from all parties and all sides. There was no political point scoring either and the debate showed how the Seanad can deal with...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes, I have two questions, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, and thank you for reminding me. They relate to this issue. Before I ask the questions I will mention the proposal for Oberstown. The programme for Government includes a proposal to build a detention centre there but there has been no final decision on it. I know funding for the project is being investigated. My two questions are these....

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: Fáilte isteach, Minister, go dtí an Seanad. Unlike previous speakers I have no mandate in that I was nominated by the Taoiseach but this debate offers me an opportunity to learn about and understand the idea of local government reform. I have some experience in that I am a political scientist by training and have spent some time on a series of citizens' projects. The Minister made a very...

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: That is not to say I am in favour of not amalgamating them but we should investigate it further. According to the research paper I cited, bigger is not necessarily better and it is often sometimes worse. There is a weak relationship between population size and costs and service levels and efficiency. We cannot take it for granted, therefore, that by becoming larger, local authorities in...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I presume I have five minutes to make my contribution, as my colleague and I were sharing time equally in this timeslot.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: A quota has been broken. I thank my colleague, Senator van Turnhout, for sharing time with me. First, I congratulate the Minister on introducing the Bill, and particularly on introducing it in the Seanad. The Bill is historic and is a profound opportunity to enhance the political culture and the participation of citizens in our republic. Yesterday, the Minister carried out a consultation...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Second Stage (2 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: On a point of information, that was the movie and not the play.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: How many have Fianna Fáil got?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: Some do not even have ties.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I, too, welcome the clarification on the Order of Business procedures. As a relatively new Senator who, unlike Senator O'Brien, will not be joining Fine Gael, or reading its website, I welcome that. I have a small point that may concern the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. This may be the showbiz director in me. There is a rule that Members should not walk into the Chamber while a...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: They are allowed and I invite them, as I do asides.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: It is a point of procedure we should adhere to and I am aware of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I thank the Cathaoirleach for that. Without pre-empting the passage through the House of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, a very important Bill in regard to donations and gender quotas, no matter which way it goes, will the Leader say whether it is possible that the final passage of that Bill might coincide with International Women's Day on March 8? I do not wish to pre-empt the debate or...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: On a point of order, I support the motions but for different reasons.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I want to move it so that he can apologise.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I appreciate the amendment has been ruled out of order. In speaking to the section, it would be good if the Minister would review the amendment in light of the loophole which exists regarding the leader's allowance. Originally we made this proposal with regard to the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act 2001, which refers to the Electoral Act. I understand what...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I move amendment No. 3: In page 7, to delete lines 11 to 41, to delete page 8 and in page 9, to delete lines 1 to 15 and substitute the following: "shall directly or through any intermediary accept any corporate donations.". I apologise for forgetting to welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I am just getting used to this.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: I reiterate what Senator Power said. The opportunity to discuss this Bill in the Seanad behoves well for the level of debate that takes place in this Chamber. It has been a great discussion. A good deal of exposure was rightly given on Second Stage to the gender quotas but these sections are fundamentally important also in terms of building trust in the future politics of the Republic, and...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Fiach MacConghail: The Bill is balanced. All the debate which is valuable is around trying to finesse the Bill. Should I not have spoken?