Results 2,441-2,460 of 2,725 for speaker:Noel Coonan

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Noel Coonan: I support the call for a debate on Northern Ireland, particularly in regard to local government. However, I caution that we should first have a debate on local government in this State, particularly with regard to better local government and customer-friendly services. The Government has imposed an embargo on 860 local government posts and the quality of service has been affected as a result....

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Nov 2005)

Noel Coonan: We are very keen to hear from her.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Nov 2005)

Noel Coonan: I support my colleagues seeking a debate on education. I ask the Leader to extend that debate to agriculture because while the agricultural sector was never more educated, it was never more under threat than at present. It is important that we have a debate on agricultural issues, particularly sugar beet and the WTO talks, to encourage and support our Minister in her fight to keep the farming...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Nov 2005)

Noel Coonan: It is vital for the farmers of this country. We need to debate the matter as soon as possible.

Seanad: Animal Diseases: Statements. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: The Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomed Mr. Mandelson's remarks and the emphasis on——

Seanad: Animal Diseases: Statements. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: The Minister for Foreign Affairs congratulated Mr. Mandelson on his efforts at the WTO. That is on the record.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: I accept the acknowledgement from my friends on the right that I am the new leader of the Independent grouping.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: I support the call by Senator Bradford for a debate on decentralisation. I would like to oblige Senator Mansergh in confirming that decentralisation is going ahead as announced. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: Partial decentralisation, a limited version, is going ahead. I support the call for a debate on decentralisation because in this House, some months ago, during the passage of the Garda Síochána Bill, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said he was not in favour of decentralising the Garda inspectorate to Roscrea, in north Tipperary, as promised. A high profile announcement was...

Seanad: Animal Diseases: Statements. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Tá fáilte romhat go dtí an Teach. These two issues are likely to have a serious impact on Irish citizens, both producers and consumers. Recent newspaper headlines have stated that 10,000 are to die in a flu epidemic and 50,000 will perish in a pandemic. It is known that bird flu, avian flu, can have catastrophic consequences but those figures...

Seanad: Animal Diseases: Statements. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: I think the Chair is safe. Avian flu can have catastrophic consequences, especially when combined with human flu. We must be careful in our approach to this problem. I welcome some of the announcements made by the Minister of State in that regard. The Minister of State must address the public fear surrounding the availability of the antibiotic needed to treat an epidemic, or indeed, a...

Seanad: Animal Diseases: Statements. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: We must have proper traceability and animal health measures in place.

Seanad: Animal Diseases: Statements. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: Give us an instance of negativity.

Seanad: Animal Diseases: Statements. (20 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: On a point of order, I was not negative, nor did I talk down Irish agriculture. I ask the Senator to prove his point and not waffle, which is endemic in his party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: I wish to ask the Leader and the Minister how many more tragedies we must witness and how many more lives must be lost before someone on that side of the House is prepared to take responsibility and ask who is running the health service. What is happening in this country and how long more will it be allowed to continue? I could recount another tragic incident but I will not do so today; I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: I put it to the Leader that someone should take responsibility for what is happening in the country, which is a scandal.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Coonan: I support the call made by Senators O'Toole and John Paul Phelan for a debate on quality food production, particularly in respect of the meat sector. We need a level playing pitch. Both Senators mentioned the food industry and butchers but we should bear primary producers, namely, farmers, in mind. Farmers are being strangled by bureaucracy and there is no point in us producing quality food...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2005)

Noel Coonan: I welcome the amendments. During the debate in the House, Senator Quinn, myself and others expressed concern about this issue. The Minister promised she would come back to the House with amendments and she has done so. She referred to the requirement for a court order for an authorised officer to enter "any premises". Does that include farms?

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2005)

Noel Coonan: I too thank the Minister for introducing this amendment which improves the Bill. Will she clarify whether an "extract" of the certificate means a copy of the certificate?

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2005)

Noel Coonan: I too thank the Minister and the officials of her Department. This Bill has been a long time coming but as a result of much discussion and effort on all sides in this House it has been dramatically improved. I also welcome the Minister back "from Russia with love". Does the Minister have good news for the farming community in regard to the overshoot on the beef premium? Has she made any...