Results 301-320 of 1,662 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (10 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. Before I was elected to Seanad Éireann, I served as a councillor in Kerry for 22 years, in which time I had the privilege of being mayor of the county.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (10 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. In that time, I was involved in any amount of housing grant applications. Although one did not always get the desired outcome, I never came up against a case as unfair and inexplicable as this one. I do not say that lightly and, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach knows, neither am I in the habit of tabling Commencement matters on individual issues such as this....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Adaptation Grant Applications (10 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State for his reasonably satisfactory response, including scripted and unscripted comments, and his understanding of the uniqueness of the situation and the bigger picture. I will not belabour the matter. I know the family will welcome a review and look forward to the promised contact from the county council in great anticipation. I detect a mood change from the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Services (10 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I ask the Minister to be brief because we are tight on time this morning.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coast Guard Services (10 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank both the Senator and the Minister.

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (9 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: My copy of the Minister of State's opening statement does not seem to contain reference to the navy. Will that be circulated?

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (9 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I am not constraining other Members. I will take Senator Ó Ríordáin's place when it comes up. I will not be dictating to anybody else.

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (9 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for what has been an interesting and wide-ranging debate. I will focus on a human aspect of this issue, namely, the standard of living and working conditions endured by members of the Defence Forces. Ireland has never been a militaristic nation; we are too small for that and it has not been part of our culture. In fact, our predecessors spent...

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (9 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: Does the Senator wish to raise a point of order?

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (9 Jul 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: The matter is now closed. When is it proposed to sit again?

Seanad: Dealing with the Past in Northern Ireland: Statements (27 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend him on his speech, which was balanced, reasonable and sensitive. This is a very sensitive area and I will certainly follow the Minister's line in that respect. We all have our own opinions about what happened in the North and this is not really the place to give vent to those. I welcome our visitors and sympathise with them and all others who...

Seanad: Dealing with the Past in Northern Ireland: Statements (27 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: -----or the British Government is the cause, but because there is a vacuum in the North, perhaps we have to do a lot more down here.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: We saw an unfortunate return to violence in the Middle East last week. It is quite clear how it started this time. Hamas launched a missile attack on an area of Israel 50 miles north of Gaza. The Israelis, as they always do, will react multiplied by ten. If this was the other way around and the aggressor had been Israel, we would have many statements in both Houses condemning it....

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I will not take up anything like that amount of time as this is not my area of expertise. I welcome the Minister of State. We in Fianna Fáil welcome the Bill. It brings a rational conclusion to what was a very difficult period in the term of the previous Government. The Minister of State's predecessor and my constituency colleague, the former Minister, Jimmy Deenihan, effectively...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I join Senator Craughwell in welcoming the decision by PDFORRA and other parties to step back from legal proceedings and enter arbitration.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the announcement by the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Deputy Kehoe, that he intends to proceed with a programme of rolling recruitment throughout the year. Numbers in the Defence Forces are in decline, which is a serious situation, and the main reason is pay and conditions. In his speech yesterday, the Minister of State used a staggering euphemism in saying he...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: That is both the documented and undocumented Irish as well as the wider diaspora. No other nation has such potential at its disposal in the wealth of talent we have in every corner of the globe. It is vital that we are seen to appreciate, acknowledge and cherish that fact. I am sure the Leader will join me in sending our good wishes from the House and all Members to our Irish-born and...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Motion for Earlier Signature (13 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: I compliment the Minister on the passage of the Bill in the Upper House. I am glad to see the non-partisan spirit throughout the debate. When Ireland was looking for home rule in the 19th century under Parnell, certain high Tory politicians said the Irish were not fit to govern themselves. Events in this Parliament as compared with our colleagues across the water would give the lie to that...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (12 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: There is an old Chinese saying or blessing, "May you live in interesting times."

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (12 Mar 2019)

Ned O'Sullivan: We are certainly living in interesting political times, but they are also confusing and ever-changing. The Minister of State may have had to change her script two or three times in the past 24 hours, but we will certainly be very responsible in debating this important Bill and not say anything that will in any way set back the outcome for which we all hope and wish. Those on my side of the...