Results 281-300 of 487 for long speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I understand the principle behind the amendment and the case being made by Senator Bannon, but I wish to outline the reasons I cannot accept it. We had a long discussion on this amendment on Committee Stage and while peripheral issues were raised at that time, I understand the substantial issue has been dealt with fully. I reiterate my view that the insertion of a provision restricting...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (1 Jul 2004)

Pat Gallagher: There was a long debate on this issue on Committee Stage during which I outlined clearly that the Bill does not deal with water charges, nor is it a vehicle to introduce charges at some later date. Water charges are provided for separately under other primary legislation, namely, the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1997, which precludes charges for domestic water services. Even if...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...and any structure erected prior to that which is not connected to the water services authority sewer. It was based on section 258(1) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Such restriction is no longer considered appropriate, and could hinder the application of section 61 of the Bill, where for example, a building which was previously connected to services undergoes substantial...

Seanad: Shooting Regulations. (26 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: There has been a long-standing policy of not allowing hunting on State lands acquired and managed for nature conservation purposes. The reasons for this approach are twofold: to protect the safety of people visiting and using national parks and to avoid compromising the nature conservation status of these lands. In 1999, the then Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...Friday and the local elections polling day order will be made this week. Senators will also be aware that candidates standing for election to the Seanad — this provision has been in place for a long time — are required, even with affiliation to a political party, to have the support of four Members of the Oireachtas. I do not know Senators' views in terms of the abolition of that...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...issued under section 32 of the Bill. These guidelines will also be available publicly. However laudable Senator Bannon's case, his amendment is unnecessary and what he proposes would deviate from long established practice.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...in which impersonation could occur, and I do not think Members would want to provide such opportunities. It could also lead to lack of order in the control of polling station activity. We have had long experience of working the system and most people accept the responsibility of presiding officers. The system has worked well and it would be wrong to amend it. I will not accept the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...point and even if they had been directors of elections, there would not have been any opposition from our side of the House at the time. I make no apologies to Senator McCarthy for being so long in Government.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 May 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...VAT at 20%. The net cost is less. The machines will have a lifetime of 20 years after first use. I made the case both in the Seanad and the Dáil that these extra costs would be beneficial in the long term. As Senator Brady said, this is a once-off cost and the Government is satisfied there will be many benefits in the long run. The question of storage is a matter for returning officers...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (6 Apr 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...school in the Castleknock area. At the time of purchase the site was zoned residential. Subsequently, a decision was made to build a school at Diswellstown and the site at Beechpark Avenue was no longer required for educational purposes. A motion to change thezoning of the site from residential to amenity was put to the local authority and despite the opposition of the county manager, it...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...of a safe, good quality, non-national road network. As a result of the enactment of the legislation, an additional €34 million will be generated. Another €30 million on top of that would go a long way towards achieving the profile we have established for ourselves in the south and east and in the BMW regions. I hope, in the very near future, that officials of my Department who deal...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...for roads, both national and local. I always recall the proposal made in the summer of 1986 that we should abandon half the roads in Donegal and simply try to maintain the remainder. We have come a long way from that situation. Senator Bannon is perhaps fortunate that the Minister is not in the House because he might have a better memory than me. There is no point saying we do not look...

Seanad: School Transport. (25 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...school transport to Pallaskenry post-primary centre from the Limerick city catchment area. The school transport scheme was established to cater for children in rural areas who, if living a long distance from school, might otherwise have difficulty in attending school regularly. Approximately 140,000 primary and post-primary pupils use the school transport scheme on a regular basis. The...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...are these experts? The people we are speaking to are experts in this field but there are many so-called experts now and some members of the Opposition are listening to them more than those who have long experience in this area. I am aware of the 41 questions to which the Senator referred but in excess of 100 questions were raised at that time. The current status of the reply is that we...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...mandate. Many of those Members were returned in June 1981 to serve in Government — a majority of those may have been from the Labour Party but I am simply making a point. While we have come a long way since then, I do not think anybody in this House would suggest that to have Members running for Europe would necessarily destabilise a Government. A minority Government or one with a small...

Seanad: Planning Issues. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...few member states to have a third party appeal system. The Planning and Development Act 2000 made a number of important changes to primary legislation to confer greater rights on third parties. The long-standing right of public access to planning files free of charge has been continued and enhanced under the new Act. The primary purpose of the fee is to contribute towards the enhanced...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...is accepted throughout both Houses. All of us support electronic voting, although some may be concerned about the detail or otherwise. Electronic voting is desirable. Some people say we should have long counts but Senator McCarthy's view is that we should do away with them. We have examined the research to which the Senator referred and we are satisfied with the testing regime, the pilot...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: ...by text which, of course, can be hacked. As one of the Senators said, this system is not connected to any system either internally in the station or externally. No hacking can take place. We are a long way from voting on the Internet or by telephone. I think Senator Bannon said people who are abroad should be allowed to vote but that will not happen. People can apply for a postal vote if...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: The Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 was passed by the Seanad as long ago as May 2000. With the permission of the House, therefore, it may be wise to provide Members with short introduction to its background and an overview of the amendments that were made to it in the Dáil.

Seanad: Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001: Second Stage. (15 Apr 2003)

Pat Gallagher: ...for their very constructive contributions to this all important debate on the Licensing of Indoor Events Bill 2001. I appreciate it is some time since the Bill was originally initiated as it took a long time to get into the queue. It is almost complete and I have no doubt we will get the necessary co-operation from the House with a view to ensuring we can proceed with the Remaining Stages...