Results 32,461-32,480 of 33,049 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I was interrupted and I wish to finish my third question.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Can our country maintain its economic independence? That is the most important question the budget had to answer yesterday. The Leader must invite the Minister for Finance to the House every second month of the new year to confirm that the budget assumptions are being met. That issue, honesty, is what concerns all of us.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator is the first to welcome it.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: What an ending by Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Budget 2010: Statements (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: There is a distinct possibility there will be another two or three budgets announced by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, but we will see all of them next year. That could be the prospect faced by Senator Leyden's party. As for his claims that Fianna Fáil will be re-elected to Government in 2012, as a fellow politician, I must admire the gusto and conviction with which he can...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support my colleagues who have called for a debate on the budget. I make this call in reference to what happened in Greece today. For the second day in a row Greece has suffered huge losses in its stock market and seen the price of its government bonds and the cost of borrowing rise again. This is very relevant to what is happening in Ireland. If the bond markets and hedge funds get...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: It is important. The Leader correctly made the point that this Chamber needs more coverage. This is the day the Houses of the Oireachtas launched a new and much improved website containing new services. I hope that through the offices of the Cathaoirleach, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission will find its way to support an initiative that is trying to bring coverage of this Chamber to...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support the request made by Senator Buttimer that the Minister for Finance come to the House to discuss the state of social partnership and the national finances, just as Senator Boyle suggested. We must look at what is happening in Greece in its economy and take note of the phenomenal difficulty it faced very quickly. We must realise that not only are we just a couple of steps away from...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: We know the people have lost confidence in the Government. However, it became crystal clear overnight and early this morning that the Government had lost confidence in itself. Everyone is aware that there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tackle the difficulties facing the country. However, the Government has blown it and shown itself it to be out of touch with mainstream thinking in...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator has changed his tune since yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Or yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Like my colleagues, I wish to refer to the discussions that took place in Government Buildings last night and I have some questions for the Leader. Many of my colleagues have pointed out that these are interim measures and that nobody knows whether they will work or what their effect will be. It is bit late now for such questions. The discussions have been going on in different forms for...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second the amendment.