Results 1,541-1,560 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: The proposal must come from the Acting Leader.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: To confirm, it is proposed that all non-spokespersons will have eight minutes rather than the original five minutes to contribute on Second Stage. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: That is not a point of order, although I am sure the Minister is flattered that you are helping his case.

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I am afraid that I am one of those people who is betwixt and between. I hate being in such a position because the arguments put forward by both sides contain considerable merit. I was in the House when the Abbeylara inquiry was brought to a sudden halt, literally overnight. I remember the late Seán Doherty chaired the committee investigating the telephony elements of a tender that was...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Fair enough, but in that explanation it outlines the upside and the downside. That is what I am attempting to confirm. The McKenna judgment ensures that the Government of the day, even though it has the right to initiate legislation leading to a constitutional referendum, cannot now use public funds to put forward that view actively. That is where the Referendum Commission steps in. It...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Thank you. I will have to stop as I was trying to stop everybody else when I was in the Chair. I am not sure I fully agree with Senator Byrne's contention that if we make public statements criticising individuals who subsequently might appear before a House committee, that somehow disbars us from participating in those committees. This issue has arisen a few times and perhaps the Minister...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríochadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Fiosruithe Thithe an Oireachtais) 2011: An Dara Céim / Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Houses of the Oireachtas Inquiries) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: -----or is it essentially just inquiries?

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome the Minister of State. I am disappointed that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is not here to hear yet another plaintive plea about MBNA like those made by my colleague, Senator White, and Senator Kelly, from the Roscommon-Leitrim constituency. However, I am sure the Minister of State, who is a former Member of this House, will convey our comments to the Minister, as is appropriate....

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I support my colleague, Senator MacSharry. I tuned to Ivan Yates's programme on Newstalk this morning and he was bemoaning the fact that the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, despite repeated requests from the radio station, had not been returning its calls inviting him to appear on the programme. It appears the programme has a regular ministerial slot. It is somewhat bizarre. Having...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food back to the House when the spending review has been completed so we can establish if his Department is seeking cuts of €200 million in its budget? It is quite bizarre. The Government is, quite correctly, placing Food Harvest 2020 at the centre of our economic renewal yet the Department charged with its implementation...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I ask the Minister to clarify a matter. I was under the assumption that if one was stopped by a garda who asked one to produce one's driving licence, but one did not have it with one as sometimes happens, one could be charged with an offence. Section 2 suggests there is no flexibility. If one fails to produce one's driving licence one has ten days to produce it. I understood that was the...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Can I assume that when this section is enacted it will prevent a garda from prosecuting a driver who fails to produce his or her driving licence on demand? The Minister has established that it is already an offence. I do not wish to cast any reflections whatsoever on the fine body of people in the Garda Síochána but there could be occasions where a garda might decide to use the full...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I ask the Minister to reflect on the proposal in the context of ongoing legislation. He might re-examine the issue in light of this enlightened Bill. I am not suggesting the scenario I have outlined could happen but it leaves the issue open.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: On Second Stage yesterday in response to questions from Senator O'Sullivan and others, I understand the Minister referred to the introduction of the plastic driver's licence which he also subsequently mentioned. He hoped that this would be used as a means of identification, which seems perfectly sensible. However, as he will be more aware than most, there is one organisation that insists on...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I am impressed.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I suggest the Minister makes every effort to do so.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: I am grateful to the Minister.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: There are references in section 3 to driving dangerously defective vehicles and parking vehicles in dangerous positions. All of us welcome the Bill because if we look around the country during the recession, there is an increasing number of cars with registration plates stretching far back in time. There was a time between 2000 and 2009 when garages found it difficult to shift cars that...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Before the Minister responds, I wish to clarify a matter. What I had in mind when I spoke earlier was the possibility of reducing the VAT rate on motor repairs in much the same way as was done for the restaurant industry when it was incentivised by a reduction in VAT. I am aware that Governments and civil servants in the Department of Finance traditionally abhor the prospect of any...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Sep 2011)

Paschal Mooney: Very good, but I understand labour is charged at the higher rate. I am thinking of something that may not necessarily adversely impact on the Exchequer. Senator O'Neill is correct that it is incumbent on everyone who has a car to have bulbs replaced. I am trying to show that people are cutting corners. I fully concur with Senator Mullins that it would be as cheap and effective if the...