Results 1,761-1,780 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The Government might have anticipated that.

Control of Exports Bill 2007 [[i]Seanad[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I find the Minister of State reasonable and responsive to the legislative proposals we have made to him in this area and others. The intention of getting the text right as an instrument of legislation is to enable procedures and administrative rules to be put in place to achieve the more general purposes of what people on all sides are aiming for. We cannot ignore the Forfás report of 2004...

Control of Exports Bill 2007 [[i]Seanad[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: My concern is that it is of the nature of those involved in arms brokerage that their citizenship may have been derived from one source whereas their residency status may frequently fluctuate. The typical arms broker may use several different passports for several different purposes. He may have clients in one particular country but will arrange for a deal to be struck in another country...

Control of Exports Bill 2007 [[i]Seanad[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: That is a description of my position.

Control of Exports Bill 2007 [[i]Seanad[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: If that is the advice of the Attorney General, from where will the discipline emanate? Is it his view that it is a matter for each sovereign member of the European Union to make its own arrangements to control brokering? The armaments industry makes a substantial contribution to the GDP of many states. People could come in and out of our system. I am trying to assist the Minister of State.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Agreed.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: It is an absolute scandal.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: We were.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Disgraceful.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Indeed.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Not by statutory instrument on its own.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: It is also how we want it.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The explanatory memorandum was made available only this morning. It was not available last night, although we have read it already.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: People need permission to marry.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Hear, hear.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: It is St. Valentine's Day.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I have rarely called a quorum in the almost 20 years I have served in this House, but I must now do so as this Bill and those who will speak on it deserve the attention of Deputies. I call a quorum.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: We are not likely to forget him easily.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: If the couple falls out, she will be deported for good. If they plan to marry, they had better write a letter to the Minister.

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the opportunity of contributing to the debate. Many years ago as a young academic I initiated courses on the sociology of migration. In Manchester, I had an opportunity to examine not just migration from Ireland, but African migration on the Continent of Africa and out of Africa. The Deputy who has just spoken mentioned this area and it is important to try to abstract values from...