Results 2,181-2,200 of 4,905 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: Some of them are knocking already.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join other colleagues in calling for debates on policing and a number of other issues. I also seek a debate on the Garda Reserve, to which Senator Paul Bradford alluded. I support the Garda Reserve and think it should be expanded. Its role should be increased within An Garda Síochána in the context of community policing, etc. I fully support the concept of gender equality and...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: We are in danger of taking the gender debate to a ridiculous level when it would lose its impact.That is my personal opinion.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am not suggesting there are not but to suggest that a certain quota should be reserved on a gender basis is ridiculous-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----and takes this whole debate-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----to a level that will undermine the entire debate.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: On the comments made by my colleague-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: Senator Craughwell commented on councillors' pay and conditions, in particular PRSI. He is aware, as are all Members of the House, that an all-party group is in existence and is attempting to increase the pay and conditions of councillors, including their PRSI entitlements. That is ongoing. I am confident that we will make progress as an all-party group. I do not only represent the 193...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----and the entire population of the island of Ireland here as a legislator-----

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----as is my job and the job of others in this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I commend Senator Craughwell for the effort he has made during his short time in this House on behalf of the electorate of the majority of the Members of the Seanad. I will assist him, as I am sure my other colleagues will, in whatever way I can with the particular issues that he has raised. I compliment the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Leader will have to explain this to Senator Craughwell as it is all new to him.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and apologise on behalf of my colleague, Senator Ó Murchú, who cannot be here to take Committee Stage. I fully agree with the amendment that Senator Ó Clochartaigh and his colleagues have put forward in regard to the appointment of the chairperson. I am not insinuating for one moment that the Minister would interfere...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I have no doubt she will be moving on to a more senior position in any further Cabinet, so it could be a different person in whom we may not have the same type of confidence not to interfere. The fact that individuals are on this board suggests to me they have the expertise to be members of the board. Therefore, I think it would be a vote of confidence in those people if they were to elect...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Minister made reference to the fact that potential candidates for the board passed through an independent panel. Will she provide details on the members of that panel? She said that the chairperson must have the trust and confidence of the Minister. Does this mean the Minister does not have trust and confidence in the other members that have not been appointed chairman? As Senator...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: To be fair to the Minister, she was hung out to dry by the Taoiseach on that concern. She was only in office for a very short time.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Minister cannot say it, but that is what happened. The Taoiseach hung her out to dry when she was only a day or two in the job.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: Not for the first time, I find myself in almost total agreement with Senator David Norris. It seems ridiculous that if a Member of this or the Lower House is qualified to sit on the board, that he or she is prevented from doing so. The one stipulation I would make is that Members of the Oireachtas who are board members should not receive expenses because they are paid as Members of this or...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: They are not excluded and should not be because it is unconstitutional to exclude them from board membership. I urge the Minister to reconsider her decision to exclude eminently qualified Members of this or the Lower House from board membership of the National Concert Hall.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Diarmuid Wilson: I reiterate that I compliment the Minister for not preventing county councillors and members of local authorities from being members of the board.