Results 2,801-2,820 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31 (28 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 31, I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following matter of public interest: the urgent need for the Government to act with swiftness in order to ameliorate the deteriorated and unsafe condition of Galway's water supply that is causing intolerable distress to families in the city and various parts of the county; the need for...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 110: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will direct ComReg to ensure that the universal service obligation for telecoms services is fully upheld and that no residential public service telephone network provision requests is not granted within a maximum three month time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11362/07]

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (27 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 126: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Broadcasting Bill which emerged from the recent widespread e-consultation process will be published before the general election; if he will issue a directive to the BCI to ensure that general campaigning advertising such as the recent Trócaire campaign will not be subjected to censorship; and if he...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 559: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the work that has been initiated with regard to the necessary upgrading, specifically extension, of a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the work which has been carried out at this school and the work that remains; when this work will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11308/07]

Schools Building Projects. (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak about certain schools. I encourage the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, not to read out his self-congratulatory set of paragraphs but rather to commit to speaking to the member of Cabinet with responsibility, who might, unusually, provide clear timescales in respect of what I have to say. A number of the schools in question are Irish...

Schools Building Projects. (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Will the Minister of State get a few definite dates for that litany of schools?

Schools Building Projects. (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Tell her it is like a mantra, it is beginning to bore me.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 58: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has entered into consultation with the colleges of education in order to increase the number of teachers who will be available to address the projected increase in primary school population over the next ten years and also to reduce class sizes to European norms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10714/07]

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers who graduated from all colleges of education including on-line courses and postgraduate courses in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10713/07]

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I move amendment No. 6: In page 4, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: 3.—(1) For the purposes of section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act 1988, an advertisement is directed towards a political end if and only if it is directed towards one or more of the following purposes namely: (a) to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the interests of a political party, a...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I am grateful to the Minister of State, the Chair and the House for facilitating the teasing out of this issue but the Minister of State's reply makes matters a great deal worse. What it really suggests is that it is proposed to transfer the ambiguity, lack of clarity and narrow definition into a more general regime which will fall not only on independent broadcasters and those under the...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: If the Minister of State agrees, I suggest this amendment be recommitted to allow us discuss it as if it were a Committee Stage amendment. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: The Tánaiste will get his answer in a few weeks time.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: The Tánaiste will get lots of candour then.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Will the Tánaiste indicate when the Government and Opposition Whips will arrange to have No. 90, the Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad], listed for Report Stage? In that case, we can envisage practical action being taken to resolve existing difficulties.

Order of Business (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I appreciate the Tánaiste's reply.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I note in the list of grouped amendments that my amendment No. 6 has been ruled out of order. The Ceann Comhairle informed me that the amendment I tabled cannot be taken as it was not anticipated in discussions on Committee Stage. I find this difficult to understand so I will explain what I meant. Amendment No. 6 in my name would have assisted in the definition of the word political in...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I am very grateful for the assistance of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in this regard and I sprang to my feet on this occasion because I noticed that amendment No. 6 was not listed in the grouping. I was afraid that someone less benign than the Leas-Cheann Comhairle might indicate to me that I had lost the opportunity to make a case for my amendment. I am very happy to wait if I can give more...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Reaching amendment No. 6 when it is not listed in the grouping is an existential matter.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (22 Mar 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.