Results 841-860 of 1,021,130 for in 'Dáil debates' OR speaker:Marian Harkin in 'Committee meetings'

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Eamon Gilmore: He was a member of the Progressive Democrats who did his job.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Ciarán Cuffe: The entire Opposition has expressed concern about this matter. In summary, we have concerns and are considering a challenge to the system. We do not consider ourselves to be Luddites, but we hope we will not rush into adopting a completely radical system.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Arthur Morgan: The proposals of the constituency commission encompassed in the European Parliament Election (Amendment) Bill 2003 are not in the best interest of the electorate. It is unfortunate that this Bill is before the House. Sinn Féin opposed the Nice treaty which brought about a reduction in the number of MEPs representing the State and necessitated the introduction of the amendments to the...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Marian Harkin: I recently received a document entitled Bunreacht an hEoraip, the Irish translation of the proposed constitution for Europe. This document is still under negotiation yet seeing its title, instead of the more familiar title Bunreacht na hÉireann, brings home how important the European dimension is and how much it impinges on our lives, even if it is an unseen hand. Nonetheless, the work of...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pat Carey: I welcome the opportunity to make a short contribution on the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003. This arises from the findings of the commission set up to draw the appropriate boundaries to provide the necessary representation to the European Parliament. I have great respect for Deputy Harkin's views, but it is unworthy to cast aspersions, even inadvertently, on the working...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pádraic McCormack: I wish to share my time with Deputy Hayes.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Séamus Pattison: Is that agreed? Agreed.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pádraic McCormack: The purpose of this Bill is to implement the recommendations of the Constituency Commission Report 2003 on changes to European Parliament constituencies and to give effect to the Council decisions of 25 June and 23 December 2002 concerning the election of Members to the European Parliament. I regret that after the redrawing of the constituencies Ireland will lose two seats. We are holding our...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Tom Hayes: I wish to share time with Deputy Ring.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Séamus Pattison: Is that agreed? Agreed.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Tom Hayes: I am delighted to have the opportunity to say a few words on this important Bill, the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003. Many of us do not realise the benefits that EC membership has given us. I remember when there were campaigns around the country on the benefits of what Europe would do for us. The country has come a long way. When we look at any section of the community or...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Michael Ring: I am delighted at the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Regarding the new constituency of the North-West, Clare is now coming into Connacht-Ulster. The Minister across from me at one time represented it as an MEP. It is a big area. I was reading an article yesterday by Paddy Harte. He was talking about the times when there were six or seven-seat constituencies in Donegal. In Mayo at one time...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputies who contributed to the debate on the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003. As I said at the outset, this is a short Bill to implement the Constituencies Commission Report 2003 and to give effect to the European Union's Council decision of June and September 2002. I wish to focus on the Bill and to thank Deputies from all sides for their general welcome for it....

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Bernard Allen: Will the Minister of State answer a question?

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Yes.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Bernard Allen: As regards the 40 questions put to——

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I will address that matter. I was present for most of the debate. As personal computers will not be connected to a network or the Internet during elections, hacking will not be possible. I will briefly address the circumstances which arose in north County Dublin with regard to former Deputy Nora Owen. No one can condone what happened at that count, which was unfortunate and a costly lesson...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pádraic McCormack: That is akin to closing the door when the horse has bolted.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Opposition Deputies stated that electronic voting would be rolled out nationwide as if we had no experience of the process. We are not starting from a greenfield position. We have gathered experience from three constituencies in the 2002 general election and seven constituencies during the second Nice treaty referendum when the system worked extremely well. It is not, therefore, being rolled...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Bernard Allen: Will the Minister of State yield for a question?