Results 1-20 of 523 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Marian Harkin

European Presidency: Statements. (20 Jan 2004)

Marian Harkin: I wish to share my time with Deputies Sargent and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

European Presidency: Statements. (20 Jan 2004)

Marian Harkin: I wish the Government well during its Presidency of the European Union. The Taoiseach and the Ministers will play a significant role in shaping Ireland's Presidency. I have read the Government's comprehensive programme for the Irish Presidency of the European Union. I would like to raise a number of issues but will concentrate on two. The first is the issue of development, poverty reduction...

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (3 Feb 2004)

Marian Harkin: I recently received a document entitled Bunreacht an hEoraip, the Irish translation of the proposed constitution for Europe. This document is still under negotiation yet seeing its title, instead of the more familiar title Bunreacht na hÉireann, brings home how important the European dimension is and how much it impinges on our lives, even if it is an unseen hand. Nonetheless, the work of...

European Council Meetings: Statements. (30 Mar 2004)

Marian Harkin: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the European summit held in Brussels last week. Like other Deputies, I wish the Government and its officials well in the remainder of the term of our Presidency of the EU. One of the main issues concerning us now is the possible conclusion of negotiations on the European constitution. I heard the Taoiseach say earlier that we all need to...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Marian Harkin: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak about the citizenship referendum. I have thought carefully about the issue and tried to inform myself. I have listened to those of my constituents who have raised the matter with me. It is not all one-way traffic. There are divergent views and differing legal and political opinions. As this is where we are, we must decide what to do. A number of...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (18 May 2004)

Marian Harkin: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of significant regional importance: the refusal by Teagasc to negotiate with local farmers on the future of the Ballinamore research centre; the abandonment by Teagasc of research that will be of benefit to the more disadvantaged parts of Ireland; and its deliberate decision to significantly diminish...

Accident and Emergency Services: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jan 2005)

Marian Harkin: I am pleased to make two brief points on the motion sponsored by the Independents. The motion outlines the numbers on trolleys in some Dublin hospitals, which are scandalous, but this is not confined to Dublin. In Sligo General Hospital, my local hospital, there is a serious problem. Last week there were approximately 20 people without beds in the accident and emergency department and in the...

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Marian Harkin: I welcome the opportunity to make a short input to this debate. I am happy to support the Private Members' motion. In this debate very few punches have been pulled. There has been tough but fair comment which will clear the air. I welcome the fact that political parties and individuals have aired their views publicly in this House, and elsewhere, in a way I have not heard before. The central...

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Marian Harkin: Real peace building happens on the ground and in communities. The two Governments should look at article 19, annexe A, strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement and set up the North-South forum for civic society.

Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (Resumed). (2 Mar 2005)

Marian Harkin: I am pleased to have the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this discussion. What was different about the murder of Robert McCartney? Why is this crime on everybody's lips? There have been many murders perpetrated by all sides. There have been many victims and the devastation of their families and friends was no less than that of the McCartneys. Certainly, the fact that the murder...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (23 Mar 2005)

Marian Harkin: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of local and national importance, namely, the motion passed by Sligo County Council which expresses its grave concern about action of the Arts Council in adopting a report that was substantially changed after it was signed off by the special committee on the traditional arts and which also calls on the Minister to...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (23 Mar 2005)

Marian Harkin: I am out of breath because I came all the way from Brussels.

Human Rights Issues: Motion. (24 Mar 2005)

Marian Harkin: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this discussion and to give my full support to this Government motion. On 21 February 2005 the European Council adopted a common position renewing the restrictive measures against Zimbabwe. This means that the extension of sanctions against Zimbabwe will be continued until February 2006 when they will again be reviewed in light of the...

Suicide Levels: Motion (Resumed). (5 May 2005)

Marian Harkin: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion tabled by the Independent Deputies. It calls on the Government to develop an effective, strategic action plan for the prevention and reduction of suicide and to implement it as a national priority. I listened to many speakers on this motion and the subject has been treated sensitively. We are talking about people's pain, the devastation of...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Marian Harkin: Hear, hear.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Marian Harkin: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the Bill. I give my full support to Deputy Cowley who spoke so eloquently of the need for balanced regional development, including further development at Knock Airport, front-loading funding to the western rail corridor and giving a fair share of funds to the regions. The current spending imbalance under the national development plan is a...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Marian Harkin: Another issue of crucial importance to everybody is that of fair and proportional representation in Dáil Éireann for each citizen in each constituency. Our electoral system is based on PR. It is designed to give the most accurate representation of the wishes of the electorate, such that not only can a voter express her preference for one candidate but she can also vote for a number of...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Marian Harkin: Furthermore, this Bill favours the large parties. How can we say this system is more democratic and equitable than the previous one? How can we expect voters to respect us as politicians when our system disproportionately favours the large parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael? Despite all their fine words on this Bill and the concerns of some about the splitting of the Leitrim constituency,...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Marian Harkin: It is quite outrageous that the Minister would misrepresent what I said.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Marian Harkin: I said their terms of reference should be changed.