Results 2,821-2,840 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I support Senator Norris's comments on the convention on the constitution. At a time when the Government has indicated one of the items for discussion will be the reduction of the voting age to 17, the Department of Defence has announced one must be 18 to join the Defence Forces. The reason I support Senator Norris is because I advise the Government to tread cautiously in launching any...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Paschal Mooney: -----especially if it puts down a simple "Yes" or "No" question and does not give the people an opportunity to discuss whether the House should be reformed, which I believe the vast majority of people would want. Many editorials in the media have indicated this also. I caution Government to tread very carefully if it goes down this road.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Paschal Mooney: We saw what happened with the referendum on the powers of inquiry for the Dáil and Seanad when the Government did not have universal support. Since the Constitution was first introduced in 1937, it has been proven that referenda put before the people have passed only when they received political consensus. Where there was a lack of political consensus, the referenda have fallen and Fianna...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Paschal Mooney: If Mr. Trapattoni was 53, 43 or 33 it would not be mentioned at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jun 2012)

Paschal Mooney: This also gives me an opportunity to wish the Irish team well. We will have a feast of sport over the weekend and the Irish will be all over the world. I wonder whether there is a breach of any laws in this regard in that in my opinion and that of others it is ageist. There is absolutely no need whatsoever to make reference to Mr. Trapattoni as a 73-year-old. Why not refer to him as the...

Seanad: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012: Second Stage (6 Jun 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome the Minister of State. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Seanad. I suppose I should be reluctant to speak about activities in the Minister of State's back yard. The primary provision of this Bill is the abolition of the regeneration quango. I understand that is the term now being used. I am sure the Minister of State will have a robust response to the criticisms of...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I am reassured more than I was before the Minister's response. It is not that I doubted his intent, as he is unquestionably operating in the best interests of animals. He understands the concerns expressed by my colleague in respect of agriculture, as well as the concerns held in the hunting and fishing industries. Providing greater clarity on the issue is important for the efficient...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I am uncertain as to whether I can raise my point under this amendment as opposed to the section. Like many others, I have an interest in protecting animals from poison. In particular, I am concerned about raptors that are at risk. I draw the Minister's attention to a fine article that appeared in The Irish Times on Tuesday, 13 March, and which relates to section 18. As we are debating...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I know my friend and colleague, Senator Ó Domhnaill, will deal with the specific amendment and the Minister's reply. I want to address the wider context of the sustainability of this particular section. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is best placed to deal with these issues rather than the Wildlife Act which has less resources. I am not in any way taking away from the...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I was not.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I hope that I am speaking for everybody here when I say that we are very grateful to the Minister for his response. The indications received from all sides of the House and the confidence that we place in him, his officials and his Department, in the context of this amendment and wider section, should stiffen his resolve around the Cabinet table to ensure that he proceeds with the section....

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I have a brief question. Throughout the legislation emphasis has been placed on agricultural animals. I am not saying it does so exclusively but the main thrust of the legislation is about agricultural animals. As the Minister is aware, certain sections relate to who is legally entitled to buy an animal, under or over a particular age, and there are provisions to ensure that the animals...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I am grateful to the Minister. We were a little perplexed as to why it was felt necessary to change the wording of the original subsection. In essence, the two versions seem to be much the same. However, we accept the Minster's bona fides in this regard. The amendment uses the words, "Nothing in subsection (1)". This allows me to raise the issue of the docking of animals' tails. This...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I am not totally reassured by the Minister's reply but I understand where he is coming from. He said he consulted veterinarians. Let us suppose in a hypothetical situation a vet is anti-hunting - he has a visceral hatred of hunting as a concept – and the people who own the dogs, who are responsible people, say it is a long-standing practice and is in the interests of the health and...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: The Minister said he had consulted Veterinary Ireland. My understanding is the Department has not consulted regional game councils. Therefore, the Minister is only getting one part of the equation. I do not wish in any way to cast aspersions on the professional integrity and objectivity of the veterinary profession. I raise the point to ensure there is no ambiguity or ambivalence on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I second Senator Darragh O'Brien's amendment to the Order of Business. While I applaud Senator Martin Conway's interest in Aung San Suu Kyi, those of us who are here long enough are aware that her name has been mentioned in this House for more than 15 years. I assume the non-governmental organisation to which the Senator referred is Burma Action Ireland, in which several Members have been...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Will that be in the context of the European summit or is it for something else?

Seanad: Statute Law Revision Bill 2012: Second Stage (16 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome the Minister of State to the House.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I share Senator Hayden's idea of a third force being established. There should be a role for local authorities, so I would be interested to hear the Minister of State developing that idea. I also welcome proposals in the recent Social Welfare Bill which place an onus on banks to address mortgage-holders who are currently in distress. Prior to the law being passed, the mortgage relief...

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Statements, Questions and Answers (15 May 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I agree with the overall thrust of what has been said here today, which is that the banks have a greater responsibility in this area. There is no sympathy for the banks despite the fact that there is some difficulty. Would the Minister of State agree that the encouragement to create a third banking force through Permanent TSB is a positive sign? Perhaps he can indicate how it will be...