Results 2,841-2,860 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2014)

Terry Leyden: The three musketeers.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I would like to make the point that we are not opposing the holding of the election on 23 May. We are making a point about the reduction in the number of seats. Of course we are not against the independent commission, of which our esteemed Clerk is a member. We are against the principle of the reduction in the number of seats from 12 to 11, which the Government should have vetoed.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: The Senator is lucky to have a place to waste her time in. She would have been outside the door only for Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I am not making any point of order.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I am being interrupted.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I am making the point that Fianna Fáil, as the party that brought this country into Europe, is the most pro-European party in Ireland.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: Jack Lynch and Paddy Hillery went out to Europe and negotiated it. I was the Minister of State in charge of the Single European Act.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I was negotiating that on behalf of the Government. Nobody can ever point a finger at Fianna Fáil. The point I am making is that if Fianna Fáil was in power now, we would have vetoed the reduction from 12 to 11.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I was a replacement candidate for Europe. I contested the convention-----

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: -----for the election in 1999. I polled very well.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: Exactly.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: That is the point. I have heard comments being made about our stand in this regard. We are emphasising that Fianna Fáil was the party that negotiated this country's entry into the EU. We are very proud of that. We should not run away from that situation at all. I will wish the Minister well if he is appointed as a Commissioner. I think he would make a good, able and strong Commissioner.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: He would be a strong voice on behalf of Ireland. I wish him well in that regard. We accept that the election will take place on 23 May, but we are opposed to the reduction in the number of MEPs from 12 to 11. That is all.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I am deputy leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: Very much so.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: We hope to take over the presidency of the Council of Europe next month.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, to the House. The Fianna Fáil Party supports the European Parliament but opposes the legislation which unfairly deprives Ireland of a strong representation in Europe. The reduction earmarks Ireland for reduction as part of the accession of Croatia as the 28th state in the Union. The reduction...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: It takes one to know one. The Leader should talk to the Taoiseach about that.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)

Terry Leyden: I wish Senator John Whelan well in his new position as acting leader of the Labour Party. It is something of a shock that he is there this morning after all his statements about the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, and members of the Fine Gael Party. These are voices crying in the wilderness.