Results 1,581-1,600 of 4,132 for speaker:Donie Cassidy

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——if that is agreeable to the House. Senators Leyden, Donohoe, Callely, Kelly and Ross highlighted their concerns about the development plan and what may be in it, and mentioned reshaping of the challenge the Government is faced with. I agree with Senator Kelly that the IT sector has an important role to play. However, I disagree with the sentiments expressed about broadband. There has...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: The number of broadband subscribers now stands at 1.12 million, or 1,125,080.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: These are figures that have been given to me by ComReg, which show that broadband provision in Ireland continues to grow. At the end of September, as I said, 1.125 million subscribers had been provided with broadband.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Considering that in 2003 we only had 6,000 broadband subscribers, that represents remarkable progress over this timeframe.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: A total of 59% of households now have broadband and that figure should be seen in the context of the 70% of Irish households that have personal computers. We are moving very rapidly——

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——perhaps not as far as we would like, but certainly in a positive direction. Senator Leyden mentioned a debate on housing and referred to the sale of the century which took place in the 1980s. Those of us who were Members of the House remember it well.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: It generated a lot of capital and it also gave responsibility for maintenance to house owners and removed it from local authorities. There were other cost saving exercises that resulted in a win-win situation. I will allow time for discussion of the Senator's proposals early in the new year. Senator Callely welcomed the opening of the large new O2 arena last night. A total of 27 major...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: ——who go to these concerts and are uplifted. It is a major ambassador for our country and I congratulate everyone concerned. Senator Hannigan spoke about hotel prices. I am pleased to inform the Senator that not for the last five years have hotel prices been at such a low level.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: I have obtained these prices from the Irish Hotels Federation. I must confess I have a vested interest. However, we have increased room occupancy by about 170%.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: This is a great credit to the success of the capital allowance programme, because we now have possibly the finest hotels in Europe, with the greatest services compared with previous years. The tourist business used to be an industry that operated for five, six or seven months of the year, but now it is a year-round industry, with conferences, concerts, the attractions of golf, fishing and...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Yes. I can tell the Senator at first hand that the article is not true, and I challenge it.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Senator Keaveney spoke about party pills. The party pill Bill will be introduced in the next session. In addition, with regard to the debate on alcohol, I encourage young people and those partaking of alcohol over the Christmas season to respect it for the drug that it is. I would like to see everyone enjoying themselves and having a good time, but we should respect alcohol as it is a...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: I am responding to Senator Norris and Senator Bacik at once. I ask Senator Norris to be patient because Senator Bacik is also a treasured Member of the Independent benches.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: With regard to the other points raised by Senator Norris, I will get back to the Senator directly this afternoon when I find out what is the position. Senators Ó Murchú, John Paul Phelan and Buttimer made very valid proposals for celebrating the 90th anniversary of the First Dáil. Senator Ó Murchú suggested that schools, employers and community activists should all become involved in...

Seanad: Commemoration of 90th Anniversary of First Sitting of Dáil Éireann: Motion (17 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: I move: That, to facilitate the Commemoration of the Ninetieth Anniversary of the First Sitting of Dáil Éireann, it is proposed that: On Tuesday, 20 January 2009, Seanad Éireann shall be enjoined with Dáil Éireann to constitute a joint sitting of both Houses of the Oireachtas and the following arrangements shall apply: (1) the joint sitting shall commence at 11 a.m. in the Round Room of...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business today is No. 1, motion re Friday sitting, to be taken without debate at the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, Appropriation Bill 2008 — All Stages; No. 3, earlier signature motion, to be taken without debate and which will consist of one question put by the Cathaoirleach; and No. 4, statements on gun crime, which shall be taken at the conclusion of Nos. 2 and...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Three in a row for Kilkenny.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: Second Stage speech.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: I would like to acknowledge former Senator Mulcahy in the Gallery. Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Hannigan, Regan, Callely, Ó Murchú, Coffey, Bacik, Coghlan, Hanafin, Buttimer, Norris, O'Reilly, Mullen and Healy Eames expressed various concerns regarding the economy. As I said in the House yesterday, although some Senators may not have been here, we had a special debate on the economy on 6...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2008)

Donie Cassidy: The facts are that the House sat all day for a special debate on the issue on 6 December. I hope that puts the record straight.