Results 1,381-1,400 of 4,908 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----on a property tax. However, as a result of that, 53 of our colleagues are sitting at home today rather than sitting in the other House.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Since the tax was agreed in principle with the troika by the previous Government people have got into severe difficulties with mortgage arrears. Our party now believes that this is not the right time to bring in a property tax.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: That is my understanding of the situation in layman?s terms.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I agree with Senators Conway and Brennan about hotels and other places providing accommodation increasing their rates dramatically. As Senator Conway said, in some cases it is by six or seven times the rate because we are coming up to the bank holiday weekend. I pay tribute to them for raising this matter concerning what is happening not only in this city, but in the towns around the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----to try to encourage people to come to this country this year in particular for The Gathering.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: That was only a draft.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Section 2 provides that the number of Members of Dáil Éireann will be 158 on the next dissolution of the Dáil following the enactment of this Bill. I seek clarification from the Minister, Deputy Hogan, on this. Fine Gael committed prior to the last general election to reducing the number of Deputies by 20. In a previous debate in this House, the Minister stated the reason for the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is in the Fine Gael manifesto.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: With regard to section 2, is the Minister saying the reason the reduction of 20 Deputies is not in the programme for Government is that Fine Gael was not serious about reducing the number of Deputies by 20, as it stated in its manifesto prior to the last general election?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I will give the Minister the benefit of the doubt.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Section 3 provides for the reduction of the number of constituencies from 43 to 40. It also means that County Cavan is being carved up. West and south Cavan are being put into the newly-formed Sligo-Leitrim constituency, disenfranchising over 13,000 people in County Cavan. South Donegal will be cut off from the rest of County Donegal and put into the same new Sligo-Leitrim constituency....

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: The terms of reference set down for the Constituency Commission stated that it should, in observing the relevant provisions of the Constitution on Dáil constituencies, have regard to the total number of Members of the Dáil and the need to avoid, as far as practicable, the breach of county boundaries. It obviously did not adhere to this. Of the 40 constituencies which will come into...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: It would be appropriate.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: That is the case.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: They will hardly be around after the next election.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I thank the Minister for his reply. In the unlikely event that the three Deputies mentioned are re-elected following the next general election-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----they will have a difficulty.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I refer to three Deputies and I apologise to Senator Cullinane, as I did not realise. Some excellent candidates have been proposed for the constituency, no less than ourselves.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: A number of colleagues from the Minister's party here will offer themselves to the electorate in the constituency. I am sure they will have something to say about his comment.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Mar 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I will deal with the matter again. During the Second Stage debate I made a point about the carving up of the Cavan and Donegal electoral region. I reiterate that whoever is lucky to represent the people of the constituency will have to deal with four county councils and at least three HSE areas. The point has been well made by Senator Barrett that a 25% reduction in the number of seats...