Results 32,561-32,580 of 32,983 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: OECD and IMF Reports: Statements (10 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: -----to allocate the responsibility for creating NAMA to the former Taoiseach. The IMF report has quite a bit to say about the implications of that agency. The phrase used is as follows: "If well managed, the distressed assets acquired by NAMA could, over time, produce recovery value to compensate for the initial fiscal outlay". The report adds that when the Irish authorities were pressed...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (10 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome to the Minister and thank him for attending in person to respond. I seek clarification regarding the status of the various national galleries and the plans, if any, the Minister has to integrate them. I am a major fan of all the galleries, in particular, the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham, IMMA, which has done a magnificent job in recent years in presenting its permanent...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (10 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister for his response. He stated: "the rationalisation of the support or back-office functions within complementary national cultural institutions is not an optional consideration at this time and must be undertaken". I could not agree more and clearly we must examine all these aspects. I take great heart from the Minister's point in recognising that all these places are...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support my colleagues who called for debates on two issues. Senators Cannon and Coghlan raised an issue that was discussed on yesterday's Order of Business regarding the behaviour of banks. We will be discussing this matter in the context of the legislation on National Assets Management Agency in September, but in response to what Senator Glynn said, I emphasise that the Parliament cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support the call for a debate on the pharmacy issue. I seek clarification on two points in that respect. The first is a statement by the Minister that the cost of supplying €1 billion worth of drugs in Ireland is €640 million. Therefore, two thirds of the cost of supplying those drugs is absorbed in profit margins and the administrative costs of the various people involved. That is...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I accept that. The pharmacists are due a response from the Department of Health and Children on the effect of such proposals and if they will achieve the savings we all acknowledge are necessary.

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Is that a "Yes" or a "No" from the Senator?

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with everything Senator O'Malley said but two points in particular are worth emphasising. The first is how virtually every issue that will be discussed in the Irish political world over the next number of months will be related back to the Lisbon treaty by some in our country. Today I heard the Vintners' Federation of Ireland has come out and said a proposal on the blood alcohol...

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: There is a big difference.

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I can hear him coming now.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support the call by Senators Glynn and Callely for a debate on the behaviour of banks. It is important to have such a debate quickly. I note with interest the blame the Senators apportioned to the banks for their behaviour. Is it not the case that much of the responsibility and blame for the problem rests with the Government? Last week, it emerged that €6 billion of €14 billion the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: He has a lot in common with the Pope.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support the calls from my colleague for another debate on unemployment. We had a debate on the issue yesterday but the new figures from the Central Statistics Office have been published and show the trend continuing, with unemployment rising at a time when our national income is falling. I find myself in some agreement with Senator Leyden. We should have a debate on the different...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I am sure the Leader will do so.

Seanad: Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I will begin with the positive points and echo what Senator Ryan has just said. It is continually the case with this Minister and his Department that if Senators put forward amendments and put a strong case for them, he is willing to consider them or will act on the intent of the amendments.

Seanad: Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I have had the same experience as Senator Ryan in this regard in the case of the Harbours (Amendment) Act and the Dublin Transport Authority enabling legislation last year. I acknowledge again that I have always found a constructive approach on amendments is reciprocated by the Minister. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the work done by Senator Brendan Ryan with regard to the...

Seanad: Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: With respect, I am making the point that the Minister and his officials have been nothing less than superb with regard to responding to and acting on the points we have raised on this legislation and because of that, this is a better Bill than it otherwise would have been. That is what the Oireachtas is here to do. However, we have been let down by the way in which the legislation has been...

Seanad: Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I have shown no disrespect to the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Yesterday's publication by the Central Statistics Office of national income figures must be debated in the House. They indicate that national income shrunk earlier this year by between 7% of 10%. If this trend continues for the year, it will shatter the country. The figures emphasise two crucial points, the first of which is on economics. When other economies are showing signs of bottoming...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to restate firmly Senator Fitzgerald's comments yesterday and the comments made by other colleagues today that the Government has a moral duty to publish the reports on what will be done to save our economy.