Results 32,561-32,580 of 33,049 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I also welcome the Minister of State and acknowledge the work he personally is undertaking on the rental sector. New regulations are being introduced and far greater interest is being shown in that area, which is to be welcomed. However, the purpose of this debate is to focus on the Bill. I wish to raise a number of points, to which I would appreciate a response from the Minister of State....

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Fitzgerald and concur with Senator O'Toole in regard to the ongoing discussions between the social partners. A perception is being created in some quarters that failure is a creeping inevitability in these discussions. This House should send a clear message that failure is not an option. Our country stands on the brink and...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency Business Plan: Statements (29 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. I want to focus on an aspect of the business plan that was not referred to in his contribution and which has not been part of the public debate on the NAMA legislation to date. The objectives of NAMA, as laid out in the draft business plan, are very clear: "The eligible assets to be acquired from participating institutions are land and...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Senator Fitzgerald called for a debate on the waste of financial resources and the effect of such wastage on the funding of front-line services. I request the Leader to ask the Minister for Transport to come to this House to give an account of the different agencies and semi-State bodies under his control.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport yesterday at which I heard a presentation on a report of an internal audit on the operation of Iarnród Éireann. The conclusions of the report and the manner in which it was presented were genuinely shocking in terms of how taxpayers' money is being spent. While considerable public debate on the company has focused on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: What about Gerry Adams getting his MP's salary, yet not going over to Westminster?

Seanad: Inter-Country Adoptions (28 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this issue for discussion on the Adjournment and I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, for coming to the House to respond. The problems being experienced by couples seeking to adopt children from abroad have been comprehensively discussed in this House, with much of the debate focusing on the situation as it pertains to Vietnam. Much...

Seanad: Inter-Country Adoptions (28 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister of State for the response. It contains some information that will be of help in responding to the family and people in a similar situation, especially the clarification regarding what the outcome might be for non-Hague countries once the legislation is published. It is a helpful response.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I also want to be associated with the condolences expressed by my colleagues. I knew Senator Kett before I became a Member of this House. I first got to know him as a representative of the constituency of Dublin Central. The run-up to an election there, no less than in any other constituency, can be a fraught time. I came across him most during those pre-election periods. When I first...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Yesterday a member of the Leader's party asked the Leader to give the International Monetary Fund, IMF, an opportunity to address this House. I did not hear the Leader's response to this request but I want to register my complete and utter opposition to such an idea. I do not want the IMF anywhere near this country.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I hope it forgets we exist at the moment.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I know we are members but I am completely confident that we have within our own means, with the support of the European Union, the ability to make our country secure. I have great respect for the Member in question and for many of his contributions but I completely oppose this request which sends out the wrong message to those who watch what we do. On the proposal my party advocated, I agree...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Exploded.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: At least we were here.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support Senator Fitzgerald's amendment to the Order of Business and formally second it. I wish to comment on the proposals made by other speakers on Seanad reform and the comments of some of my colleagues about the statements of Senator Fitzgerald and Deputy Enda Kenny. It all boils down to one simple point. This institution has largely been created and formed by the Members opposite. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Is this an institution of vested interests or is it one that will represent the common interest of the people? We propose asking them for their views on whether the Seanad should be retained. This is an institution which has been forged and heavily influenced by the Leader and the other side for the past 20 years. We want to ask the people whether they are happy with this. I also support...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: What was the Senator doing last week?

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Not at all. He is looking at reality.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator is clutching at straws.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator was too busy going on about "The Late Late Show".