Results 3,101-3,120 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: All I am saying is that the same thing seems to be happening in relation to the policies that are being pursued by this Government. This is one of the latest in a series of decisions that are seen as inherently anti-rural.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I would like to refer to a particular coincidence. One of the e-mails I received came from-----

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I will not respond to any of this noise that is going on beside me. I will plough ahead in the best interests of debate.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: As I said earlier, it is obvious that I have struck a rather sensitive nerve somewhere. My grandfather, God rest him, came from the small community of Kilteevan in County Roscommon. By a strange coincidence, one of the schools that will be affected by this measure will be Kilteevan national school. There are still some Mooneys in the area. I received an e-mail from a cousin of mine who...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: My cousin asked me to support the school authorities at Kilteevan national school and other schools when they protest about these measures. She went on to say that as the school has 52 pupils, it is okay for this September, but it could be in big trouble the following year. The plaque over the school says that it was built in 1897. It has survived previous recessions and two world wars, so...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: They are still there.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: It stayed there during the Fianna Fáil Administration. It was actually built on. As one of my colleagues said earlier, Senators can carp all they like about the inequalities and inefficiencies of Fianna Fáil Administrations, but the people of this country recognise the manner in which the Fianna Fáil Governments of the last ten years, in particular, supported rural Ireland, rural...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I would ask the question-----

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: My understanding is that there were twice as many people protesting on the streets in recent weeks about this Government's proposals. Nothing changes in that regard. All I am saying is that the Government has hit a sacred cow. My colleagues have made the case for their motion. The Government will have the GAA on its back. When rural schools start to close, the GAA will start to lose teams.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I have seen it happening in my own part of the country. If the school goes, the community goes. If the community goes, the people go and then there is nothing left. All of these things have to be considered. Senator MacSharry made the case eloquently that this is being done for the sake of €15 million. The Minister has said that nobody in the Department could come up with a saving of...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Our spokesperson on education has outlined where the savings can be made. I repeat that the Government has opened a can of worms of enormous proportions. It will come back to bite it on the feet or the legs again. Although everyone on this side of the House has sympathy for the Government as it faces serious economic difficulties and challenges and tries to find money, we feel that the...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome the Minister to the House yet again. I endorse what he said in his opening remarks that this important legislation has passed all stages in the other House without any controversy. The minor amendments tabled in the Dáil, important as they are, have been accepted by the Minister. I hope it will have an equally speedy passage through this House....

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I do not wear glasses and I do not have red hair.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I will not include Foster and Allen. They are great ambassadors for the country.

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Remember Oscar Wilde.

Seanad: Redundancy Payments (7 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter and welcome the Minister of State. However, I put on record my disappointment that the line Minister is not present. It is a practice I have never really supported, irrespective of the administration. I understand Ministers can be called away but it is vitally important for the status of, and respect for, the House that the line Minister...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am pleased to see that he has returned from his foray into hostile territory in County Tipperary.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: I wonder whether a covert operation was underway given the announcement that Lar Corbett is retiring. Had the Minister anything to do with influencing him to make things easier for Kilkenny this time out? Those of us on this side of the House are pleased to give the legislation a fair wind despite some reservations on how it will be executed and the impact it will have. A great deal of...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: The tellers agreed to it, the result was announced to the House and the adjusted result stands.

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Report Stage (7 Feb 2012)

Paschal Mooney: Amendments Nos. 4, 5, 9, 13 and 14 are related and will be discussed together.