Results 161-180 of 1,852 for speaker:Eamon Scanlon

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: Excuse me, I did not interrupt Senator Bannon. I mean sincerely that we should be working——

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I fully understand that. I am as well aware of the fact as Senator Bannon. I know the farmers in my area the same way that Senator Bannon knows the farmers in his area.

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I apologise.

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: Honesty has been referred to and it is important that we, as politicians, are honest.

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: It has been discussed already today. We are sick of hearing about the length of time this directive has been around, since 1991. In 1996, Ivan Yates, Deputy Howlin and the IFA attempted to deal with what was an extremely contentious issue in the directive. At that time they suggested 170 kg per hectare. The Minister had no alternative to signing the directive. We must get that derogation up...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I support Senator Feighan in his call for the unanimous support of this House for the undocumented Irish in the United States of America, who number approximately 50,000. They are marching in Washington today and given that at this time of year we will have Ministers attending St. Patrick's Day parades all over the United States, it is opportune to ask those Ministers to try to improve the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: As a person with an interest in the auctioneering business, I would like to respond to some of the questions raised. It saddened me to hear Senator Brian Hayes say that after 25 out of 50 houses were sold the price increased overnight by €28,000. That is shocking. The reason this happens is that demand outstrips supply. I know that when people mention zoning land for housing, others look at...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I would like to point out that auctioneering is the only profession in the country where a person must advertise he or she is applying for a licence a month in advance, get a C2 from his or her accountant to ensure his or her taxes are fully up to date, and go before a court of law while anybody can walk in off the street and object to the issuing of the licence.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: No other profession in the country has to do that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: We should support decentralisation because the more houses are freed up in the city, the more houses will be available for those who need them. A person can still buy a three-bedroomed house in the west of Ireland that is ready to walk into for €165,000.

Seanad: Agrifood Sector: Motion. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Minister and her officials to the House. I also welcome the comprehensive action plan for the future of the agrifood business, which was announced recently. The action plan is a response to the report of the Agri-Vision 2015 committee, which was chaired by Mr. Alan Dukes. I do not know whether Senator Coonan was in favour of Mr. Dukes going on that committee, or against it.

Seanad: Agrifood Sector: Motion. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I am still not sure but as a former Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Dukes has vast experience in that sector and has much to offer. The committee comprised some of the most senior figures in the sector, including leaders from farming organisations and the agricultural industry. It also took into account a wide variety of other reports and sources, including the enterprise strategy group. This...

Seanad: Agrifood Sector: Motion. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I am saying that if Fianna Fáil had been in Government at that time it would have done the same thing. There was no choice in the matter.

Seanad: Agrifood Sector: Motion. (29 Mar 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: This country was being taken to the European Court and convicted. If action had not been taken somebody would have been obliged to pay serious fines. Who would have paid them? Ultimately, the farmers would have had to, so that action had to be taken as there was no other option. The Minister has applied for a derogation on the nitrates directive to increase the limit from 170 kg of nitrogen...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Apr 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: Last week, a Polish national died suddenly in County Sligo. He was 39 years old and died of a heart attack. He had only been in the country since February and had just started work. The person who employed him runs a small business. He contacted the man's family in Poland, his wife and two children, a ten year old boy and a seven year old girl. They wished to have the remains repatriated. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Apr 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I support Senator O'Toole's request for a reasoned debate on the regulations being introduced that will affect small butchers throughout the country. A number of years ago small abattoirs were regulated out of business and that is now seen as a serious mistake. They had to compete against heavily subsidised meat exporting plants which were supposed to be exporting meat but which are now...

Seanad: Accident and Emergency Services: Statements. (9 May 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I am glad to have the opportunity to comment on accident and emergency services, particularly in my home county of Sligo. I am sorry to have missed the full debate. I understand that the problems facing Sligo General Hospital are not as serious as those facing major hospitals in Dublin. I welcome the fact that changes are being introduced by the HSE and that the executive is developing...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: Following on from Senator John Paul Phelan's comments on decentralisation, we noted with interest the Taoiseach's remarks at the weekend that perhaps the timeframe was ambitious. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which is to move to Knock, has acquired temporary accommodation in Tubbercurry, County Sligo. The Office of Public Works will take over a building on 1 June...

Seanad: Energy Strategy: Motion. (17 May 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I commend the Independent Senators on proposing this motion on an important issue. The increasing price of oil, the need to significantly reduce our carbon and greenhouse emissions and the growth of dynamic new economies has placed the need for alternative energy firmly on the Government agenda. The Government is aware of the importance of the matter and has made progress on it. The €27...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: May I share time with Senator Cox?