Results 3,381-3,400 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Rural Development: Statements (14 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on his re-appointment. I noted Senator Ó Murchú called for his canonisation. I assure the Minister that nothing I say or do today will put him in mortal danger. He will be absolutely fine in the wake of contributions from this side of the House. The sustainable development of rural Ireland is an integral part of the sustainable...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh Deasún Mac an Easpaig freisin. He spoke to us this morning at the Irish class and made a very inspirational speech about his time in the Gaeltacht and about how much Irish he learned and how quickly. We can all learn from this and we are all grateful to him for visiting. I thank Senator Daly for facilitating the visit. I was relieved this morning to see...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Although he could have appointed more women he took the lazy option, which does not bode well for the performance of the Government. This is more of the same but had he taken some courage, he could have helped to change the country for the better.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I hope he is not listening.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: The Senator should not be too sure of that.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: That was Senator Kelly, but I will pass on the Leader's comments.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Like previous speakers, I congratulate those who were successful in the appointments made yesterday, namely, the Taoiseach and the Ministers. I wish them all well. I also wish the future Ministers of State well. I have not had a chance to find out who they will be as I did not have an opportunity this morning to check the Data Protection Commissioner's website on which of their names...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I concur with the points made by other Senators on the situation in Burma. I assure the Minister for Foreign Affairs that we will be supportive of any measures he takes to alleviate the hardship in that country. I congratulate Sean McSharry, the ten year old who has become the youngest European to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro. I am aware of the difficulties he faced because I reached the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Sean McSharry's feat bodes well for the incoming Taoiseach. The day before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952, Edmund Hillary made the first conquest of Mount Everest.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Queen Elizabeth II has enjoyed a long and happy reign. I wonder whether the incoming Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, will enjoy the same. We hope his reign will be good for the people of Ireland but I am sure he will forgive me when I express the hope that it is not as long as that of Queen Elizabeth II.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the all-party motion on Zimbabwe but want to focus on human rights closer to home. Yesterday saw the publication of the Council of Europe's report on human rights in Ireland. It contained 34 recommendations for action by the Government. Senator Alex White referred to some of these areas, which include rights of travellers, access to education and rights of people with mental...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Order for Second Stage (30 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a second time". I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Noel Ahern. The Labour Party believes that the best form of government is open and honest. The reputation of politicians on this island suffered in the 1970s, the 1980s and in the early 1990s to the point where permanent changes were needed to the way we operated and did...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage. (30 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: On a point of information, the Minister of State may not be aware that his speech has not been made available to us. We could request it through the Freedom of Information Act but it might be easier to use a photocopier.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I am sure everyone in the House will join me in wishing the Taoiseach well later on today in his historic address to the joint session of the US Congress. I hope he will use the occasion to raise awareness of Ireland and I hope he raises the plight of the undocumented Irish during his address. I also hope he extends an invite to the average American to visit these shores. We had a...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank the Independent Senators for moving this motion. I am pleased to see the Minister here tonight to listen to our concerns. No matter what part of the country one goes to, one will find a primary school struggling with more or less the same three problems, namely, a lack of funding, school size and access routes and road safety in front of school buildings. Those are three vital...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: The Department has promised to double the capitation grants but there is no indication when this money will appear. As a result, there is a concern that primary schools can be run on the generosity of parents and on how much money they can contribute. Class sizes are also a major issue. Large class sizes have resulted largely from the lack of a coherent school planning programme at a time...

Seanad: Lisbon Reform Treaty: Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Dick Roche, to the House. It is only 24 hours since I heard him speak about the Lisbon reform treaty at a meeting of the Irish Countrywomen's Association in Termonfeckin. It was an excellent meeting and the audience appreciated the Minister of State's attendance. I am pleased to have this opportunity to discuss the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: We continue our debate today on the Lisbon reform treaty. I spoke to the Irish Countrywomens Association yesterday about the treaty and one of the questions that regularly came up concerned how the treaty might improve equality for women. My response was that the Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantees equality across gender. I am grateful to Senator O'Toole for this document because I...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Coupled with that, our nation has the second lowest participation rate of women in the political system in the European Union. Only Malta has a lower rate. If we look at Spain, the Prime Minister there, Mr. Zapatero, has just appointed his cabinet in which the majority of members are women.