Results 901-920 of 4,132 for speaker:Donie Cassidy

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: It is my opinion and that of a large number of those I speak to in the business fraternity that a four-bedroom semi-detached house for €190,000——

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: A site could not be bought for that price two years ago, in the midlands, Mullingar——

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——the beautiful lake district of Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: It is our duty to bring to the attention of the electorate and to our constituents that while all the doom and gloom may come from one side of the House, this morning the sun is shining on the Government side

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: We must give the truth in the news. Members who are only here a short time will learn. They should not give the House the benefit of their inexperience on a daily basis. Senator O'Toole, Senator Kelly, Senator Glynn, Senator Walsh, Senator Buttimer and Senator McCarthy——

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——called for an urgent debate on the public service. I have no difficulty with allocating time for that. There is much merit in having such a debate at the earliest opportunity and I will facilitate the Senators' request. Senator Hannigan and Senator Ó Domhnaill expressed their views on the Lisbon treaty, with Senator Hannigan correctly pointing out that the referendum will be held on...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Where is the one who does not love the land where they are born? The Senator, along with his friend, Deputy Healy-Rae, will be pleased to hear who will be looking after them for the next four years. Senator Keaveney spoke about the problem being experienced in County Donegal. It is not possible to indicate at this stage when the animal health Bill, to update the animal diseases legislation,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, Statements on the Burma tragedy. It is proposed that No. 1 will be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and conclude not later than 5.20 p.m. with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed 12 minutes, those of other Senators not to exceed eight minutes, Senators may share time with the agreement of the House, and the Minister to be called...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Senators Fitzgerald, Alex White, Boyle, Leyden, Healy-Eames, Ormonde, Norris, MacSharry, Bradford, Phelan and Donohoe all called for an urgent debate on the challenges facing the local authorities in Ireland regarding housing stock. I congratulate the new Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for housing, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: There are more places in Ireland than Dublin. I am as au fait with the north inner city as any other Senator, with the exception of Senator Norris. I look forward to arranging for the new Minister of State with responsibility for housing to come to the House to hear the serious concerns Senators outlined today. However, this could not be happening at a better time in terms of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: I advise Senator Donohoe that I am very close friends with the people in Sheridan Court, as Senator Norris will know——

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——and with the people in Gardiner Street and in Summerhill. I am a neighbour to them. The Senator should not think he is infallible in coming in here and——

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: The value for money that can be obtained by local authorities in regard to the building of houses and the number of contractors and top class tradespersons available is better than at any time during the past ten years. I am sure this issue will be addressed head on and successfully by the Government and the Minister of the day.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: I support the concerns about this matter expressed by Senators on all sides of the House. I also want to congratulate RTE on last night's "Prime Time Investigates" programme, as outlined by Senator Leyden. The content of its investigation is a matter of serious concern to Members, be they Members of the Dáil or the Seanad. It highlighted the challenges that face our younger generation. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: The new Minister asked the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, to bring forward a report on this matter and the publication of such a report will present an opportunity for such a debate. Senators O'Toole and Hanafin called for a debate on the up-to-date position on stem cell research, for which I have no difficulty in setting aside time. Senator McFadden, my constituency colleague,...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——and they may have available to them, without any interference, their perches and areas of turf for future generations. Senator Leyden called for a debate on the HSE in regard to the services provided by Roscommon hospital. I will allow time for a debate on the serious concerns he raised regarding that hospital. The Senator was chairman of the former Western Health Board and brings to...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: I look forward to the new Minister, Deputy Smith, coming to the House tomorrow for a debate on this matter.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: He is not always wrong. The Minister, Deputy Smith, will come to the House for the first time in his new role to clarify this issue in minute detail for the people of Ireland and they can then adjudicate on it. I refer in particular to the hard-pressed and hardworking families, generations of whom have devoted their lives to agriculture. Members of the farming community are the backbone of...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——and to determine how we can assist the Department and the new Minister in this challenge and task which has been taken in hand by the Government. Senator Prendergast called for a debate as a matter of urgency on the awarding of contracts by the HSE and outlined examples to the House. I will arrange for such a debate to take place at the earliest possible time. Senator Norris called for...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 May 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Senators Coghlan and Ó Murchú raised the matter of the new Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, and the new Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, our former Seanad colleague. As Senator Ó Murchú said, there is no more experienced person than former Senator, Deputy Mansergh, to take on this role. I had the pleasure of being in Adare last Friday when the Minister of State...