Results 24,941-24,960 of 26,148 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to share time with Deputy Mitchell.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will start on a positive note. I welcome that this legislation is going through the Dáil before the summer recess. I raised the matter on the Order of Business with the Taoiseach more than a week ago and expressed the view that it should come before the Dáil before the summer recess to ensure that Shannon Airport was accommodated. The Minister will be aware that the building and other...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: On a point of order——

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will be quick.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: This preclearance legislation is welcome and is vital for Shannon and the mid-west region. Good legislation requires thorough consideration by all TDs in the Dáil. That is the point.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: One takes exception to the fact that Deputy Dooley is saying this. He might correct the point.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy might correct the point.

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to make a few observations. We are talking about the Estimates. The key issue is that we consider them long after the budgetary process-----

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: Anger is coming even from the very young, from infancy up.

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: I hope our soothing tones will help the baby in some way. I thought I had left the sound of a baby crying long behind me.

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: We must take care of the future of that baby in the Gallery. Competitiveness is the main issue I wish to discuss. The OECD report refers to the fact that exports will fall. We are a small open economy and we must get exports to grow. Dr. Ken Whittaker was associated with Seán Lemass. To some extent they are synonymous. He stated categorically that our biggest problem was our lack of...

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: We must foster an entrepreneurial culture. When the Irish went abroad we were adaptable. We must focus on that area. The most recent stability report from the European Council states that it is wary of the Minister's growth assumptions for 2011 to 2013. It is my understanding that the IMF will refer to the same. On average, the Minister is projecting a GNP growth rate of 2.9%. That is...

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: It has not.

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: Why does the most recent report from the European Council state that it has not been addressed? I would like the Minister to deal with that question.

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: The report is dated 10 March. This is the most recent report the Minister presented to us.

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: I would like the Minister to deal with that point because major reservations have been expressed in terms of the Minister's projections in the recent Supplementary Budget. We must deal with the issue on the basis of realistic targets. The Minister must broaden the focus on job creation and job protection to the wider economy, not just specifically internationally traded services and...

Vote 41 — Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Revised Estimate). (24 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Morgan is being nice to the Minister.

Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: The key point is that the Minister is asking the Dáil to give him a carte blanche in extending the guarantee. I believed the guarantee was to ensure banks could deal with the circumstances that arose at the end of September 2008 such that we could have, within a relatively short period, a sustainable banking system. Deputy Bruton's amendment refers to 31 December 2014, thus establishing a...

Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (23 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to touch on some items within the Bill. The Government has guaranteed the extension of its own guarantee. In principle, there is nothing against that but it puts taxpayers' money at risk for an extended period. In effect, the Minister will have to bring a scheme back to the House but it appears he is putting the cart before the horse. We will have no precise idea of what is in the...

Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (23 Jun 2009)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister owes the House a more elaborate explanation, particularly-----