Results 821-840 of 1,637 for speaker:Labhrás Ó Murchú

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I thank Senator Butler for sharing his time with me. I want to reflect on some of the comments he made. He made some exceptionally good and pragmatic suggestions, which is what we need. We can foresee circumstances where flooding may recur and if it is possible to treat a house to ensure flood waters would not get in, the matter should be looked at in the context of the provision of grant...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support Senator Quinn's comments on finding a solution to the current economic crisis. He basically said we must come off the fence and stop the blame game. Instead, we must look to ourselves and see what we can do as people with experience. For some months the debate has not been helpful; it has been more like talk outside a public house. It is public sector versus private sector,...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The Leader has allocated time for a debate later this week on the Murphy report. It will give us an opportunity to deal with the matter in more detail. It is evident that there is a great deal of anger and confusion. As a Roman Catholic, I must state this is not the church I know. My experience has been that it is a compassionate institution. We must focus on the victims and survivors....

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Tá áthas orm go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo ar siúl. Gach lá sa Seanad, bíonn cúpla nóiméad againn chun labhairt faoi chúrsaí eacnamaíochta. Ní chabhraíonn sin dáiríre, mar tá muid ag caint ar rud atá uileghabhálach ar fad. Bheadh sé tábhachtach go bhféadfaimís ár dtuairimí a nochtú agus féachaint an mbeadh aon chomhthuiscint eadrainn. Tá súil agam go mbeidh...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I salute the trade union movement because it has demonstrated the maturity and responsibility we have come to associate with it through the years. In the bad old days, it was the trade union movement that stood up on behalf of the most vulnerable sections of society. As a result, we had the Celtic tiger period. Without the trade union movement, that would not have happened. I see what is...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I compliment Senator Hannigan on the comments he made. It is important that we should always consider those who find themselves in even more difficult circumstances than the most vulnerable in this country. Even though it might not always be politically correct to do so, it is important that this matter should continue to be highlighted. I admire the Senator for putting himself forward in...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2009: Order for Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (3 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille. Tá sé tráthúil go mbeadh reachtaíocht den saghas seo ag teacht os comhair an tSeanaid. Tá obair agus freagracht uile ghabháileach ar an gcoimisiún agus mar sin, tá sé tábhachtach ó am go chéile athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar sin. I welcome the Minister of State. In 2003 when we embarked on the legislation...

Seanad: Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin: Statements (3 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I would like to acknowledge the steadying influence the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, has had in turbulent times. Never has a semblance of stability been more necessary than now.

Seanad: Report by Commission of Investigation into Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin: Statements (3 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: All of us serving in public life are used to challenges and in many debates in this Chamber, we have almost been exhilarated that we have had a challenge because we have a particular belief or vision that we like to put forward. Anybody who reads this report would have to admit that it weighs very heavily on the human spirit. One reaches a stage as a public representative where we must go...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The Garda Síochána is one of the finest police forces in the world, as I have said here on many occasions when we have had tragedies in which members of the force lost their lives. The Garda stood by the State from the day of its inception. Its members have put their lives on the line and their families have been threatened on many occasions. In the new order and with the excesses of...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I commend Senator Norris on his balanced contribution. I genuinely believe we should all be speaking in that tone given the difficult times we are experiencing in this country. We have all spoken in this House about vulnerable people and the need to help them. While they may not have been assisted in the budget there are many other ways vulnerable people can be helped. I ask the Leader to...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The two are different situations.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Currently there are waiting lists for places on training schemes. The question has been asked what we are doing for young people. FÁS can help young people by retraining them and assisting them in getting back into the workplace. FÁS is assisting the most vulnerable too. There are many people who will never enter mainstream employment and for whom FÁS services are vital. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Is mian liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir nua-thofa, Niall Ó Brolcháin. Fáiltím roimhe mar Sheanadóir. Níl aon amhras faoi ná gur duine cumasach agus díograiseach é. Chruthaigh sé go maith mar Mhéara Chathair na Gaillimhe - thaispeáin sé a chuid misnigh nuair ba ghá. Tá mé cinnte go mbeidh na tréithe sin chun tosaigh chomh fada is a bheidh an Seanadóir anseo linn. Is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: In six years we will commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising, one of the most significant events in Irish history. Already, plans are being put together which I am glad are progressing favourably. When we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Rising we saw the great outpouring of sentiment among the public and the great sense of pride as well. It is evident in the new plan that many...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: One hopes that the extension of time which has been granted to the Northern talks augurs well for a possible solution. The mere fact that the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister are attending alongside representatives of the various parties is an indication of how far we have come. We have overcome many historical and political obstacles to reach our current position. If the current...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I concur with the views of Senator Cannon on one-off housing. He referred to a conference he attended and the view expressed that one-off housing did not contribute to community life and community spirit, which is at variance with the facts as we know them. In Britain the village concept involves congested housing but in Ireland the traditional village community was always understood to...

Seanad: Haiti Disaster: Motion (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I wish to share time with Senator Daly, by agreement.