Results 32,381-32,400 of 32,983 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the Minister and thank him for his contribution. Our party is supportive of this legislation. I have reviewed it and will outline five areas where it could be improved and on which I will seek a response from the Minister. The nub of this legislation is to provide for expanding the scope of power of the commission from downstream to upstream activity. That is being done for two...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister for that correction. That appointment appears to have taken place without regard to the public and transparent process the Minister said needs to be in place. This body has a role in increasing transparency and public confidence in this sector. One of the jobs that will be pivotal in doing this appears to have been filled without regard to the process that we deem...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Paschal Donohoe: That is why I asked.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Paschal Donohoe: I support the calls of Senators Cannon and Mooney for a debate on housing and, in particular, the number of unoccupied houses. I was interested to hear Senator Mooney praise the Government for having a social conscience in raising the issue. We need to be very clear that it was the absence of a social conscience and social awareness in the first place that led to this significant problem. ...

Seanad: Banking Sector: Statements (26 Jan 2010)

Paschal Donohoe: We do not need lectures on honesty.

Seanad: Banking Sector: Statements (26 Jan 2010)

Paschal Donohoe: There is a need for plain speaking in regard to the discussion we are having. The reason there will not be a public inquiry into the causes of our banking crisis is that the Taoiseach and his predecessor do not want to find themselves in a situation where they are being questioned or interrogated in public regarding their role in the creation of the current difficulty. That is it. The...

Seanad: Garda Stations (18 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter and the Minister of State for handling the debate on behalf of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I have raised it due to the importance of the Fitzgibbon Street Garda station to the central Dublin area and the Dublin Central constituency. It is located near the city centre, a residential area and an area that sees...

Seanad: Garda Stations (18 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The reply says it all. I appreciate it and will pass on the information to the local community.

Seanad: Garda Stations (18 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish the Minister of State a happy Christmas. I believe I have engaged with him more often than I have with anybody else in the House. I wish him a good period of rest and a happy new year.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I extend my Christmas wishes to everyone in the House and to everyone who helps the House run so well. I agree with what Senator Mary White said. Before we get to a smart economy, we must have a cheap economy. We need relentless focus from the Government on making this happen. We have not seen this action to date and it will be desperately needed in the new year. I add my voice to...

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second the motion. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary. This is the first time I have addressed him since his appointment. I was in the same class as him in college. We were both in the same room for lectures on international economics.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Motion (16 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: It served us both very well. We learned about the economics of monetary integration, labour economics and other such issues. I am delighted to see the Minister of State doing so well. I am also delighted with his portfolio. I wish him the very best of luck with it in the future. The area for which he has responsibility, especially in regard to FÁS, is important in terms of many of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I join my colleagues in registering my strong opposition to the changes proposed. I do so for a number of reasons. My colleagues have noted the effects the change will have for different members of society. I propose to focus on two sectors of society. The first group comprises those whose main source of income is derived from social welfare payments. The second group comprises those in...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The new Governor of the Central Bank declared yesterday that he might not be the banking type and that he might not play golf as well as the bankers. We did not employ him to be either of these things, rather we were looking for somebody who could provide for strong governance, straight talking and a clear analysis of where the country stands. It was, however, refreshing to hear some of...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second Senator Cummins's amendment to the Order of Business. I have three questions for the Leader to which I would appreciate answers this morning. The first relates to the honesty of the budget and the Estimates-----

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not mine.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I am prone to putting groups of questions to the Leader in the hope that one of them will be answered.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I will return to my three questions. If I get an answer to one of them, I will be doing well this morning. The first question relates to the honesty of the budget and the plans for next year. The budget does not include provision for funding for further recapitalisation of Irish banks. A discussion is currently taking place about the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. It is already...