Results 181-200 of 918 for at speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join Senator Ned O'Sullivan in welcoming the introduction in the Lower House of the Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017 by our colleague, Deputy Shane Cassells. Town councils should never have been abolished. The so-called Putting People First document which led to our councils being decimated, particularly in rural Ireland, does not contribute to...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Apr 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I have just introduced it into the vocabulary of the House. The matter is the responsibility of the Minister of State at the Department of Defence.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Like others, I call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to intervene as a matter of urgency in the Bus Éireann dispute. Members of the various unions involved in this strike will protest outside the House later while the Minister addresses the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport. He should not only address the committee; he should address the unions and the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am very proud of the fact that I worked alongside them. I have no doubt that if they had a vote at the time when I stood for the local elections I would have doubled my vote on that occasion.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is not that long ago since the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years. It was in 1973 after a referendum was conducted in 1972. The proposal was passed by over 300,000 votes. In May 2015, a proposal was put, by way of referendum, to reduce the age of persons deemed eligible to stand for a presidential election from 35 to 21 years of age. The proposal was overwhelmingly defeated by...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----by way of putting this matter to a referendum at a time when we feel we have a chance of winning it.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: If we held one at the moment, I do not believe that a referendum would pass, based on the result of the vote to reduce the age at which people are eligible to stand for presidential elections. We need to give this matter time. I will go along with this proposal even though I cannot give it my full support because it does not go far enough as far as I am concerned. We should give this...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: In fairness to the Minister and to other colleagues, the proposers of the tabled amendments will be asked whether they wish to push them and at that stage we will see what happens.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Keith Swanick, whom I commend for the particular Bill he is bringing forward. I join Senator Kevin Humphreys and other colleagues who yesterday expressed their sympathy to the wife of the late Deputy Peter Matthews. While Peter was not known for his brevity, he certainly was for his bravery and principles....

Seanad: North-South Interconnector: Motion (1 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is of great importance to the farming and tourism sectors and to families in this location. In December 2016, An Bord Pleanála granted approval of the proposed construction of the North-South 400 kV interconnector in counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan. The highest voltage in use in the United Kingdom is 400 kV volts. An Bord Pleanála awarded planning permission to construct...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I share Senator Warfield's disappointment at the Court of Appeal's decision in Belfast yesterday in the Pat Finucane murder. My party fully supports the Finucane family in its attempt to have an independent investigation into this horrific act. The Bus Éireann dispute is a serious matter. I join with colleagues who have raised it here this morning. It is a vital piece of...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Look at what is happening in the North.

Seanad: Amendments to Councillors' Conditions: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister, and to save time I endorse everything that my previous two colleagues have said. As the Minister is aware, a Fianna Fáil motion supported by all parties and none was passed in July of last year. That called on us all to work together to see what we could do to benefit our hard-working councillors. The Minister was good enough to meet with us and we had a long,...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Feb 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, to the House. I compliment my colleague, Senator Swanick, on tabling these very worthwhile amendments. While I fully accept the ruling of the Leas-Chathaoirleach that they are out of order on the grounds they would be a charge on the Exchequer, I fail to see how they could be a charge on the Exchequer. As Senator Swanick has pointed...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: North-South Interconnector (24 Jan 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I thank Senator Gallagher for giving me a minute of his time. I totally and absolutely endorse everything he said on the proposed interconnector. This process has now been going on for over ten years, in which time the families who live in these areas of Cavan, Monaghan and Meath have suffered financial, psychological and physical torment. It is just not good enough. From day 1 they have...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: I agree with my colleague, Senator Michael McDowell, that we should be given adequate time to debate any amendment reverted to us from the Dáil. The Leader indicated yesterday that that would be the case and it is important that it should be. While the legislation might not be perfect, it will at least be a start. We will have to wait to see what we will receive from the Lower House....

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: First, I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Swanick. I think he is to be lauded for his efforts in this regard in the past number of months. I think it is unfortunate that the National Treasury Management Agency and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund have been investing taxpayer's money in three tobacco companies while at the same time,...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: Sorry, Senator Craughwell, the Minister does not rule anything out of order. The Chair looked at it.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: VAT Payments (30 Nov 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to the House.

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Diarmuid Wilson: Not at all.