Results 24,081-24,100 of 26,256 for speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: No, I am not sharing time with anybody.

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle will give me 20 minutes and I will try not to antagonise the Minister too much.

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The discussion here today should centre, instead, on the reform of the Seanad. The 1922 Free State Constitution established a more powerful Upper House than we currently have. Its composition was designed to ensure representation for the Unionist minority in the South. The Taoiseach of the day, Mr. Eamon de Valera, frustrated by the Seanad's efforts to block the repeal of the oath of...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I admit that this is one of the most important debates we will have as the issue affects how we do politics at a national level. I am also conscious that for a brief period between 2000 and 2002, I was a member of the Upper House. I was elected in the company of Mr. Jim Glennon after a by-election and at the behest of my party. It was made very clear to both of us that we were being...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: And maybe an odd Fianna Fáiler.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 54. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compliance with the stocking prescriptions in commonage framework plans is a condition of cross compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29355/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: 55. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of disadvantaged area scheme applications that were received in 2012; the number paid to date broken down on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29364/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Dáil Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I will be brief because I accept the junior Minister of State's personal bona fides in this matter. Basically, what he saying to us is, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Dáil Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I agree with what was said by the Chief Whip in The Irish Times in the past fortnight where he indicated that the lack of reform was deplorable on the part of the Government. I accept that when the Chief Whip and all the other Whips meet we can work out an agreement. We can come up with proposals. However, the Chief Whip is a creature of Government and the difficulty is that when he goes...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Dáil Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Committees will only be effective when, after their deliberations, some significant impact on the legislation that comes before them can be seen. If the public is aware that they are discussing legislation day in, day out for weeks on end but if, in effect, at the end of the day there is no amendments to the legislation, then one wonders what is the exercise about at all. It all comes back...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Dáil Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: How many of those Bills have found their way into law?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Dáil Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: None.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Dáil Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: It is hard to know where to start on this one. I will refrain from saying anything about the Seanad because we will have a debate on that in the course of the week. I have to admit that over a period there has been some active engagement between the Government Whip and the assistant Whip and the Labour Whip, Deputy Ó Snodaigh, Deputy Catherine Murphy and myself. I read some weeks ago...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Third Level Participation (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: All Members are seriously concerned about the plight of those who are less privileged, those lower income categories to which Deputy Ó Snodaigh has referred. It is good that on occasions such as this, Members have an opportunity to discuss what are the real impacts of the changes on the education system. I commend the Minister of State on his acknowledgement that successive Governments...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Broadband Services Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: This is not an area in which I am particularly expert but we all accept the interconnectivity between broadband availability and employment generation. Three things arise for me: price, speed and availability. These are matters of major concern, as has already been highlighted by Deputy Ó Snodaigh. Can the Minister of State give us an indication of how the plan announced by the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representation (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Nothing wrong with that.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representation (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I understand that the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, wrote to the Minister recently seeking associate membership of ICTU. In PDFORRA's correspondence, it points out that, with the Minister's permission, it has joined the Irish Conference of Professional Service Associations and has also been allowed to affiliate to the European Federation of...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Representation (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I am aware that previous Ministers refused this request, but it is an anomaly and an anachronism that organisations such as PDFORRA cannot be represented to some extent in pay negotiations. The idea that they could be represented by their employer, who is their paymaster, is nonsensical. The loyalty, solidarity and support of the Defence Forces, as represented through PDFORRA and the...

Other Questions: EU Presidency Priorities (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Obviously, the Minister's reply is comprehensive. Indeed, he made a number of interesting speeches in the course of the past six months which we all would do well to study in detail. I have two issues. The Minister made major mention of the importance of improving EU-UN relations. How would he indicate the progress he has achieved in that area? In the area of common security and defence...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Charities Regulation (18 Jun 2013)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister for his response and wish to raise two issues. I am a little concerned that the legislation to reform the Red Cross is delayed until next year. I believe the Minister is talking about its publication in what effectively will be the fourth year of the Government's term in office. It has been leapt over by the Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Bill,...