Results 21,001-21,020 of 21,047 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Seanad: Job Creation (5 Dec 2007)

Alan Kelly: No, is it appropriate that the other representatives were not invited?

Seanad: Budget Statement 2008: Statements (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Alan Kelly: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. I will try to go through the budget's provisions in a fair-minded way, the best way to do so. I will give praise and criticism where they are due. I will not address the international and domestic factors in the budget's environment, but we all know that a major domestic factor is that of tax receipts, especially in respect of...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2008: Statements (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Alan Kelly: I listen intently to every debate in the House, but Senator MacSharry's statement could have been on any budget.There was no detail. That he read the budgetbeggars belief. Complimenting the Senator's namesake——

Seanad: Budget Statement 2008: Statements (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Alan Kelly: I believed the Senator did not interrupt people. Complimenting his namesake of 20 years ago does not show any degree of modesty. Senator Boyle went into detail, as he did unscripted on RTE, but he will find that this is not a green budget. It is more of a parsley budget. I acknowledge and welcome the changes to the budget's procedure. It is a much better way of doing our business to set...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2008: Statements (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Alan Kelly: Not one worth talking about. It only covers 29 weeks of the year.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2008: Statements (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Alan Kelly: It has been increased by one week — gee whiz. The increases in social welfare benefits are €12 per week instead of the recommended €20 per week. Child benefit only goes up by €6 which will be below inflation. If pensions are to rise to €300, they needed an increase of €14 per week. There has been no change in medical card status as well as in the dependant spouse pension and...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: I concur with Senator de Búrca's call for the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to attend the House. I have lost count of the number of times I have made the same request — perhaps six or seven times. Yesterday, Mr. Seán Quinn commented specifically on the environment in Ireland and bringing people here under false pretences. Unfortunately, the self same chief executive has an area...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: I said that at the beginning. The environment is one of the biggest issues and the others are the access debacle, particularly in the mid-west, competitiveness, product development and the various marketing challenges facing us. A number of Senators raised the issue of the undocumented in the United States. I was one of the few who attended an all-party meeting on this issue last night. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: Unfortunately, that view has emanated but it can be changed quite quickly as the Minister will be visiting US government representatives soon. I welcome the fact that Northern Ireland's First Minister and Deputy First Minister will be raising the issue when they meet their counterparts in the United States on 7 December.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: I would like the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to come to the House to update Senators on the roll-out of telecommunications services. The outgoing chief executive of Shannon Development, Mr. Kevin Thompson, recently said that if we do not improve our performance in this area, the infrastructural problems associated with the Red Cow area of Dublin will be mirrored in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: We have lined people up from an education point of view, but it appears we will not have the required telecommunications infrastructure or the investment that is needed to help start-up companies. I am glad that Enterprise Ireland and InterTrade Ireland, along with a number of start-up e-business and software development companies, are going to Silicon Valley this week or next to search for...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme (14 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: I refer to the proposed decentralisation to Mallow of Fáilte Ireland. I was once an employee of Fáilte Ireland and I seek clarification for my former colleagues who want to know where they stand in respect of the decision, drawn up on the back of a packet of John Player Blue, to move them to Mallow. Will the Minister proceed with this decision? Staff are in limbo at present and need to...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: I join Senator MacSharry in welcoming Rally Ireland and the WRC to Sligo. This event, which will be held over the next few days, will be fantastic. It will bring a significant number of visitors to one of the weaker tourism areas in the State, according to the regional breakdown of tourism statistics. However, this event provides an opportunity to analyse the value of international...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: This is the third or fourth consecutive week in which I have sought a debate on tourism. I wonder if the Leader can provide an update on the matter in light of the decline in British tourist numbers, the scandalous decision to deregulate self-catering accommodation, which will affect regional tourism, and issues of access. This House has debated the decision made by Aer Lingus and the...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to discuss the forthcoming budget. I wish to consider the ongoing budgetary assessments and then refer to specific areas the Minister may consider addressing in his response. I welcome the Minister's new approach to the budgetary process as it will bring about more transparency. This year is unique in...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Nov 2007)

Alan Kelly: This is the third time I have asked the Leader to invite the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to the House to address a number of issues. The importance of e-business to tourism is underestimated. I read today that 64% of people book all their travel on-line. I am concerned that the funding given to and administered by our multiple agencies is insufficient to maintain competitiveness...

Seanad: Ambulance Service (31 Oct 2007)

Alan Kelly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Devins, to the House. All emergency services should be given our fullest support. I am concerned, however, that inadequate resources are being allocated to the ambulance service. In recent weeks, several persons working in the ambulance service have contacted me to raise their concerns in this regard. Since the imposition of an embargo on the...

Seanad: Ambulance Service (31 Oct 2007)

Alan Kelly: I apologise, I did not realise.

Seanad: Ambulance Service (31 Oct 2007)

Alan Kelly: I have some short questions and I thank the Minister of State for his response. Are the 37 staff being offered employment advanced paramedics or EMTs? Is there any information on the training programme in place, such as the numbers involved? Is there any information on the number of ambulances being purchased? Are they to go to areas replacing two-stretcher or one-stretcher ambulances?