Results 321-340 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Code of Conduct for Civil Servants: Motion (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I listened with interest to the comments of all Senators. Senator Twomey spoke about the whistleblower's charter and he is absolutely right. We need to look at the options that will stamp out corruption in our public service and in our society. It is an endless fight and there are many different ideas. Perhaps Senator Twomey and Fine Gael might support the Kenny report in future. It was...

Seanad: Code of Conduct for Civil Servants: Motion (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: That is the oldest trick in the book.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is my pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, to the Seanad and to see him here, covering his brief of horticulture and agriculture, key issues for the Green Party. I thank Senator Prendergast for mentioning the farmers' market aspect. So far, the debate has been good. Senator Bradford said this was a green jersey issue. That resonates with me, not because of the word...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I cannot.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am not even going to try.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is having an enormous impact on this country. In some ways it may-----

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We shall allow the Minister of State to pronounce the volcano later.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Indeed. His Icelandic is far better than mine and I defer to him on that. It is interesting because it highlights the fact that we bring in so many food products by flying them in from other countries. If we can produce these products locally, should we fly them in, burning up carbon in so doing? The importing of people is an entirely different matter but should we fly in products from...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I make a serious point concerning the quality of Irish food. We must focus on that quality in this country because while we cannot compete with the huge monocultures of very large countries elsewhere, such as Brazil, we can compete in the high quality of locally produced food. I refer again to what Senator Prendergast said. The Green Party is taking a very proactive approach in encouraging...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There is anger outside and inside this House, rightly so in both cases and we must acknowledge that. I join Senators Boyle, White, Ormonde and others in calling for a series of debates and initiatives on child protection. As a group of people, the Seanad can make a serious contribution towards child protection. In the same way as the Seanad took the issue of head shops and ran with it in a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is in the programme for Government and we all must push for it. The difficulties in bringing it forward must be resolved and that is up to all parties. It is important that we all get together to ensure the referendum takes place. As other Senators have so done, I refer to the protests that occurred outside the Houses last night. The Leader of the House and I were in the lobby of...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I ask the Leader for a debate on the outside influences affecting the country's economy, of which there are many. Sometimes in debates in this House and elsewhere we think of ourselves as a little island unaffected by everywhere else. There has just been a general election across the water in the United Kingdom which has a profound effect on what happens in this country. There are many...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: A large number of fires are occurring as a result of the very dry weather we are having and small gorse fires are getting completely out of control. There is also the possibility of people setting fires deliberately. We need to consider how these fires are dealt with because the emergency services in such instances are not adequate. I fear for the loss of life in the future if we do not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 May 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I acknowledge Senator Coghlan's contribution. I also call for a debate on the use of poisoned meat to poison eagles. That would be a very important debate from a wildlife point of view. I support the calls for a debate on Greece. It is interesting that we have, at last, moved away from a debate on the Irish economy to a debate on the Greek economy. The extraordinary circumstances in...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I call for a debate on the issue of environmental health. As we sit here, there is untreated sewage flowing into watercourses. This is still the case, in spite of the increased levels of expenditure by the Government. Unfortunately, sewage still presents a major problem.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I thank Senator Healy Eames for providing that information. It is why I want to have a debate in the House because I want to bring everyone up to speed. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has not yet been in the job for three years-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: This problem dates back to Victorian times and is absolutely disgraceful. The reality is that the Government has put far more money into tackling it than any of its predecessors. We have seen increases in spending every single year on sewerage treatment facilities. The people are still suffering ill effects owing to the lack of treatment facilities and it is often the local authorities...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The interruptions are not appropriate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The matter of environmental health is multifaceted. Radon affects many people all over the country. Around 200 people die every year because of it, which is not good enough. New building regulations have been brought forward, as a result of which many new houses have barriers against radon. In spite of this, a report today shows that in a house in Sligo the level of this radioactive gas...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I join with Senators O'Toole, Ellis and Quinn in calling for an important debate on participation in politics. We held a good debate last night on women's participation in politics and I hope to contribute to it when it resumes. There is a discussion on Article 41 and the belief that it needs to be updated in a future referendum, but it is important we keep the debate in context. I would...