Results 781-800 of 23,109 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: The Minister will not accept it.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: They can see around corners in that bank.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: I agree with everything Senator O'Toole stated. Enough thought has not been invested in this Bill which is being rushed through. It appears that a time limit is not being imposed in terms of the transition period.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Will the Minister of State indicate the time limit involved? It is important to know where we are going and when the finishing line will be reached.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: The Senator is a consumer.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: The old health boards had five members from each local authority within the health board area who could ask questions of the chief executive officer of the health board. That has been removed by the Minister. This amendment, therefore, should be accepted. A situation similar to that regarding a nursing home last week cannot arise again. People must get answers if they require them and it is...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Having listened to the Minister of State, I assume there will not be any change from the existing practice. Deputies who submit parliamentary questions on health issues are often told in response that the Minister has no involvement in the matter and that it should be taken up with the health board. We know what they get then. There is a fundamental difference between the existing...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: No such avenue will be open to the public under the new arrangements. Deputies, Senators and councillors used to be able to refer people who approached them to members of the health boards who, as public representatives, were not afraid to ask questions. Under the proposed arrangements, however, nobody will know the members of the executive. That will be a substantial change. Senator Browne's...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: To the extent that the legislation is necessary to address the problem to which Senator Brady has just referred, I welcome it. How did the Minister of State compile the statistics that indicate there is a five-year supply of serviced land remaining nationally and an eight-year supply of such land in the Dublin region? What do the figures mean? We are now building approximately 70,000 houses...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: There are about five years left. If we are building an average of——

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: If no more services are being provided, there are only five years left before the supply runs out. I am delighted that the Minister of State clarified that supply and demand will dictate house prices. It took two Bacon reports to tell us how to reduce house prices. The Minister of State outlined how to do so in a few lines and stated that the Central Bank has predicted that an increase in...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Amendments Nos. 102 and 103 are related and both may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Amendment No. 105 is in the name of Senator Tuffy. The Government has also submitted this amendment. It has already been discussed with amendment No. 84.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Government amendment No. 105: In page 47, subsection (4)(a)(x), line 36, to delete "necessary for" and substitute "relevant to".

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Amendment No. 108 is an alternative to amendment No. 107 and both may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Amendment No. 117 is consequential on amendment No. 118 and they may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Have we discussed section 106?

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: We are discussing section 105.

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: Does this section not seem to politicise the Garda Síochána? This section and the amendment proposed to it gives power to the Minister to play a hands-on role in the operation of the Garda Síochána. Subsection (1)(a) provides that the Minister will have a say, after consulting with the Garda Commissioner and the Government, on the different ranks into which the members of the Garda...

Seanad: Garda Síochána Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Dec 2004)

Paddy Burke: It is difficult to see how it will ensure greater transparency because I do not believe the Minister of the day had any say in the promotion of members of the Garda Síochána to the rank of Garda sergeant or superintendent. However, this section and the proposed amendment to it provides that the Minister, after consultation with the Commissioner, could have a say in the promotion of a member...