Results 81-100 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Defamation Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: Next week.

Seanad: Defamation Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I wish to raise a number of matters. First, I would like to issue an SOS call. I have asked the Leader on three or four occasions about the long awaited Cork-Swansea ferry service and I am seriously concerned that the route may not materialise this year. We were without a ferry last year and the service is of critical importance to the local economy in Cork and Kerry and the tourism...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: That is my reading of the judgment if the decision on costs is appealed to the Supreme Court. I fully empathise with the family who have my full compassion. Third, I refer to an issue close to my heart. I wish the negotiators and the mediator in the Cork GAA dispute every success. It would be a travesty of justice for the county that has won most All-Ireland medals that it will be unable...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The Cathaoirleach's heart is close to the matter I raise. It would be serious if Cork was out of the fray in the forthcoming league or championship. It would be a travesty of justice and the All-Ireland series would not be complete without the team.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (13 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome to the House the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brendan Smith. This is the first occasion on which I, as my party's spokesperson on justice, have had the pleasure to be present when he has addressed the House. I compliment him on the excellent job he has done on his brief to date. Even though I have known the Minister of State for many years, he has...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I endorse and echo the sentiments expressed by my colleague, Senator Paul Coghlan, and will say no more on the matter as I have raised it before in the House. It is ludicrous that the likes of Valentia and Malin Coast Guard stations will be closed purely for the purpose of centralisation. If it not broken, do not fix it. Having these stations where they are gives confidence to coastal...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: One might ask why such fundraising is necessary but it put a spotlight on a remote hospital that is hugely important to me. It forced the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the Minister for Health and Children, who subsequently had to visit the hospital to launch the CT scanner, to examine the importance of such hospitals in Ireland, including areas like Letterkenny. Approximately...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I support previous speakers and the call for a united motion by both Houses of the Oireachtas to advance the cause of this tragic situation. I grew up in an era when hostilities in the North began to evolve, initiating with the civil rights movement. At that time Catholics were treated as second class citizens in the North and they showed their anger through a kind of uprising, using the...

Seanad: Forestry Issues: Statements (20 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: "Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmaid? Tá deireadh na gcoillte ar lár." This is true in contemporary Ireland. Our philosophy in the 1930s was one more cow, one more sow and one more acre under the plough but that has changed over the decades. This is a different Ireland under the EU. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, with whom I had many dealings in her former...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I rise again to ask the Leader if we could have an urgent debate on the future of the fishing industry vis-À-vis the restructuring plan announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Food yesterday. I accept that under the Cawley report, which was the plan for fishing going forward, the fishing industry has, by and large, agreed to the decommissioning of its vessels. However, in this...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I wish to briefly raise two issues. I ask the Leader to stimulate a debate on an environmental issue concerning the serviced sites initiative, an important measure introduced by local authorities. A problem in this area arose in the past and was partly resolved by local authorities providing serviced sites to young people, sometimes at approximately 10% of their market value, a wonderful...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The same applies to the building societies. Their approach is similar to that of the subprime lenders in pointing out that they are not prepared to give a mortgage, which creates a practical difficulty. I request the Leader to arrange for a debate on this matter. I am sure this problem is encountered by people in many counties and not only by people in County Cork. I also request a debate...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: It is like the line written by the great poet, Anois teacht an earraigh beidh an lá dul chun síneadh. It is now spring and we should recognise the potential of such activity that is unique to this country. There are cultural aspects to such tourism and the Heritage Council is involved. We should promote and embrace our beautiful amenities and sites instead of jetting off on sun holidays...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the amendment proposed by the Minister of State on behalf of the Government. It goes a long way to allaying my fears regarding concerns that unfortunate women are trafficked and led into a life of prostitution or sexual exploitation. It may not necessarily be prostitution as the exploitation could take the form of other services. There is the view that those who use such people,...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I can see clearly where my colleagues, Senators Mullen and Alex White, are coming from. The Labour Party amendment and Senator Mullen's amendment are almost identical in their drafting. I fully concur with the sentiments expressed. I made the point forcefully on Second Stage that people who are trafficked here, particularly for sexual or other exploitation which is akin to slavery, must be...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I am unclear in my mind about this issue. The amendments tabled by the Labour Party and by Senator Mullen suggest a charter of rights for victims of human trafficking. While the concept is laudable, I am not sure whether it can be dealt with practically within our domestic legislation as opposed to dealing with it as a whole within the European Convention on Human Rights. While not wishing...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I am a little unclear about the amendment in that the purpose of the Bill is to deal with those who trafficks and exploit people, primarily women. It is agreed that between 90% and 95% of those who are trafficked for sexual exploitation are women. The thrust of the legislation is to deal with traffickers who are the principal culprits. The women, unfortunately, are victims and they deserve...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I raised this issue when I spoke on Second Stage of the Bill. We should learn from international law, including developments in Europe, Great Britain, Canada and Australia, not to take the easy option. This problem does not arise in respect of the enlarged EU, despite what Senator Mullen said about difficulties for Bulgarians and Romanians, because EU citizens have rights. However,...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Committee Stage. (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The Minister of State earlier outlined the position in respect of amendment No. 8 which everyone welcomed as a step in the right direction. The new section 6 proposed in the amendment relates to "Soliciting or importuning for purposes of prostitution of trafficked person." Perhaps the Minister of State might bring clarity to the situation, if not now then on Report Stage. As I understand...