Results 1,121-1,140 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: There are currently almost 2,000 English language resource teachers working in our primary and post primary schools at an annual cost of some €120 million. This has risen from 262 teachers in 2001/2002. The arrangements for enhanced provision of English language resource teachers were set out in a circular from my Department which issued to schools in May 2007. The previous restriction of...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: These are matters for the Seanad and how it organises its business, not the Government.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Naturally, I will observe the parliamentary and political proprieties. I am here to listen——

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: ——and be persuaded that the amendments are meritorious. If they are, I will accept those amendments. There is a process to be observed called democracy. We must go through these amendments seriatim and decide if they are appropriate. I will give the replies as the amendments arise. Some of the amendments are extremely good and their substance will be incorporated in future legislation...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Just because the Senator has a good idea from time to time does not mean I am enacting bad law. The Government has not framed any particular amendments to this Bill and as Senator O'Donovan stated earlier, some fairly significant concessions from the Government side have already been made with regard to two issues. These are the matters of early houses and separation of alcohol products,...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I am at the guidance of the Leas-Chathaoirleach in this matter. As I understand it, with committee meetings dealing with Committee Stage of legislation in committee rooms as distinct from the full Chamber, Ministers remain seated. I am open to persuasion from the Leas-Chathaoirleach as to whether I should stand or sit.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will first address Senator Alex White's amendment No. 1. I understand the purpose of the amendment is to create a new collective citation for the Courts Acts, which would incorporate the Courts of Justice Acts and the Courts (Supplementary Provisions) Acts. Irrespective of the merits of having a new collective citation for all courts legislation on the lines proposed in the amendment, the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will do so. Every time a Government has tried to address this issue and challenge vested interests in the alcohol industry, efforts have been made to thwart it. We have reached a key juncture and if we do not introduce legislation, we will not get to grips with our national alcohol problem. Speedy legislation is required to put down a definite marker. A range of vested interests,...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I will adhere to the Leas-Chathaoirleach's instruction to comment only on the amendment tabled by Senator Alex White. I assure the Senator that the matter to which he refers is being dealt with under the joint codification project in which the Department is engaged with the Law Reform Commission. When that project is complete, there will be a unified corpus of law relating to this area. I...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I acknowledge Senator Quinn's renowned expertise in the area of retailing. It is important to understand what the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said in respect of this section. He clearly stated that he will not be commencing this aspect of the separation in respect of mixed trading environments where alcohol, food items and other products are sold together if the vested...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I do not want to get into a lengthy reply on the matter. I accept the principle behind Senator Quinn's suggestion. However, impact assessments of the kind he suggests should be done before legislation is introduced rather than, as he proposes, afterwards. I put my hands in the air to a certain extent with regard to the rushed nature of the legislation. As a Minister of State in the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I thank Senator Regan for tabling this amendment. I reiterate the point that the Minister has indicated his intention to provide in the autumn a licensing permit system for nightclubs. The detail of the proposal, which contains some good ideas, could be incorporated into that legislation. It is important to state that the Government cannot accept amendments that would have the effect of...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The current situation in England and Wales provides a salutary lesson to those who would liberalise the licensing laws in the hope of reducing anti-social behaviour and public disorder on the streets. In late 2005, when longer opening hours were introduced in the UK, British Ministers argued that the aim of this was to reduce the disorder caused when everyone emerged from licensed premises...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I do not want to get in the way of Senators or other people having a good time. I am not a frequent visitor to nightclubs due to my age and lifestyle.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: However, I did go to a nightclub recently in the company of some young models who enticed me to go. It was a well-known nightclub here in Dublin. One thing that struck me was that there was not much dancing going on but there was a lot of drinking.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: There is a profound lesson for all of us here. Much drinking is done in Irish nightclubs and not much dancing.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The dancing area is generally quite small compared to the area in which people are drinking.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: It is also important to remember that many people in Ireland go out drinking not just to have a good time but to get drunk. This is the difference between the continental environment for alcohol and the environment in Britain and Ireland. Senator White tried to suggest that the example I cited from Britain is neutral but it is anything but. The view of the British Home Office on this is...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: If the Senator sees it as his business in politics not to achieve and to allow unacceptable levels of alcohol abuse and late night violence——

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I am sticking to the point.