Results 3,521-3,540 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Education Schemes (25 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: It is nice to see Deputy Haughey back in the House. I am pleased to address this issue, which relates to the McIver report, established in 2003 to review the issue of post leaving certificate courses, PLCs. PLCs were introduced in 1985 and have been a tremendous success with hundreds of thousands of students across the country attending them and becoming better educated. In counties Louth...

Seanad: Education Schemes (25 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive report. The Minister said the number of spaces has increased by 60% since 1996-97. There is a cap on the number of places in some counties, for example, the cap in County Meath is one student per 1,000 people. The national average is approximately four students per 1,000. Will the Minister review the allocation as it affects County Meath, with a...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: While I am glad the threat of power cuts at Moneypoint appears to have been averted for the present, I am concerned that a matter as vital as our nation's electricity supply can be threatened by a disagreement between a German contractor and a Polish subcontractor. When the contracts were signed, penalty clauses should have been inserted to deter this type of instance from occurring. While...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages (24 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I am glad to hear him say that there are lessons to be learned from this process because it helps no one when legislation is rushed through Parliament. My colleague in the Lower House referred last night to the fact that soon afterwards we uncover the inevitable mistakes and loopholes. It has been remarked that the content of the amendments introduced...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State. The global economy is forcing many western countries to examine how to remain affluent. For many years, we have known that industries such as textiles and manufacturing are moving east. Until recently, we were under the illusion that IT companies would remain here, but they have begun moving east, creating problems for Ireland in terms of retaining jobs....

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: The current target is to reduce illiteracy levels to between 10% and 15% of the population by 2016, meaning 500,000 will have basic literacy skills. It is an unacceptable target and must be changed. The Department has been advised of the Right to Read campaign which seeks to improve literacy among schoolchildren. According to the campaign, it is important that children have room to learn in...

Seanad: Education and Training: Motion (24 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: These people need to be supported by us. Everybody has the right to go back to school or college and upskill and learn new skills. We must help middle-aged workers who are out of a job and give them the skills to take part in the information economy. That is how we make our workforce stronger, retain multinationals located in this country and encourage new companies to come here. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I am also concerned at Prime Minister Brown's proposals on electronic border controls from 2009 because we have a land border with Northern Ireland that poses many problems in this regard. A person from Dundalk who needs to go to the UK seeking a new job as a football manager, for example, may find it easier to travel from the North than from the South. He or she could simply drive to...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements. (18 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: The Government and the IDA have a pivotal role to play in the continued development of the economy. Globalisation is upon us and it is vital that we continue to be competitive in the world market. To do so, we require serious investment in the country and we need to think hard about where the next benefit to the economy will derive from. In the next five to ten years, there will be new...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I was concerned to see reports that PRSI contributions will not be enough in three years' time to pay for pension benefits and that the pensions system will move into deficit. The clock is running out in regard to what we do about our pensions. In 40 years' time, when many of us in this Chamber will hope to enjoy our retirement, there will be just two workers for every retiree. That...

Seanad: Serious Crime: Motion (17 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the motion which gives us an opportunity to speak about an issue of importance to people across the country. The amendment proposed by the Government is more of the same. The last Government concentrated on increasing the number of prison spaces and imprisoning more people. I worry about that attitude. Senator Walsh referred to people coming across drugs for the first time in...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (17 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, to the House and congratulate him on his recent elevation. It is a good sign that somebody of his commitment is in his position and this bodes well for the future. I am sure we all agree that drugs are a major curse in modern society and I therefore welcome the chance to debate the subject. The commitments made in the National Drugs...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: It was wonderful to see Anne Enright win the Man Booker prize for her novel, The Gathering, the second Irish author to win the prize in the past three years. It shows again what a great nurturing ground we are for literary talent. It is important not to forget the words of the former US President, Bill Clinton, that literacy is not a luxury but a right and a responsibility. In some of our...

Seanad: Burma: Motion (11 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State. Many of us will have travelled to Asia and seen at first hand the dignity and serenity of Buddhist monks but when they become the enemy within, as they have become in Burma, we know there is something seriously wrong with that state. These peaceful people are protesting for their dignity and it is up to us to show solidarity with them in their fight....

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: The centre for global development has just released its report and index on the performance of the richest countries of the world on overseas development aid. Ireland comes halfway up the list which, while not a bad result, leaves room for improvement. One of the criteria used in assessing performance is aid. We are committed to providing 0.7% of gross national product by 2012, three years...

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. Access to education is a major problem for young families in Dublin, Meath, Louth, Wicklow, Kildare and throughout the country. It is a problem that is growing day by day. It is a ticking time-bomb and it is due to the fact that we have an obsolete system for planning new classrooms in schools. We suffer from a planning system that is disjointed and...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I was deeply concerned to read reports on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture's review of the Irish Prison Service. It cites gross violations of human rights, violence and the ongoing procedure of slopping-out cells. While many Members will never see the inside of a prison, it is clear there has been a mass proliferation of drugs, gang warfare is taking place and the entire...

Seanad: Parking Regulations (4 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for leave to speak on this issue. It came to light in recent weeks when the imposition of a car parking charge at railway stations led to an increase in the cost of commuting by 40% for some train users. Last week, the cost of commuting at Stamullen, County Meath, increased by €250 per year owing to the imposition of a car parking charge at that rail station....

Seanad: Parking Regulations (4 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: I thank the Minister of State and appreciate he is responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey. The issue was not specifically about the concept of charging for parking but how we can ensure that the car parking charges are regulated and do not increase year by year. Will the Minister of State ask the Minister to consider including car parking charges in his remit to control...

Seanad: Parking Regulations (4 Oct 2007)

Dominic Hannigan: That is not always the case.