Results 35,561-35,580 of 35,973 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I am aware of that. My point is that I was dissatisfied at the Adjournment of the House in the midst of the current economic crisis when we should have been debating a policy that could potentially bankrupt the State.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I add my voice to the calls for that debate to take place today. Will the Leader allow a debate on third level fees? I understand the Minister will make an announcement on this issue shortly. There are differing views on this matter from the various political parties. Sinn Féin and the Labour Party share the view that third level education should be provided from direct taxation. Fianna...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister indicated the changes will apply to students sitting the leaving certificate this coming June. The various proposals should be put to the House so Members can thrash them out and inform the Minister's decision. Perhaps the Leader would arrange such a debate. There must be a discussion on the issue of Ministers of State and the golden handshake they have received. It is...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I know we are in Easter week but I get the sense that Government Senators have taken it a step too far because some of them are acting the role of Pontius Pilate, trying to convince us they had no hand, act or part in the economic downturn and the direction that they, as representatives of the majority party in Government, have taken this country. They have left us in hock to the banks and...

Seanad: Supplementary Budget Statement 2009: Statements (9 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Their attitude would be similar to that of the general population.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I agree with the amendment to the Order of Business. We need this debate today. I listened to Senator Boyle, who infuriated me when he spoke about Senators. As a member of Sinn Féin in this House, I only accept the average industrial wage and the rest of the salary does not go into my pockets. It is instead invested in the constituency. I have two children under the age of five and my...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The change to mortgage interest relief will bring about a massive burden on the lowest income earners. The Government has indicated this budget is fair because the CEO of the ESB or Bord Gáis on their €500,000 per year will suffer the same consequences but €1,000 to such people is nothing compared to the cuts felt by somebody on the minimum wage.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The Government has continuously talked about protecting jobs and getting people back into employment but has done nothing about it. Why did we cut €30 million out of the school building programme and €300 million from building roads? Why did we cut €200 million from building social housing and water and sewerage infrastructure? Why did we cut millions from research and development...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: He did not have to wait the same length of time when he came to the 18 and 19-year-old lads and girls out there——

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: ——who have lost their jobs. They were earning €200 per week and he decided to cut their income by 50%.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: He has decided to cut that €200.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I ask the Leader to reply on the fairness——

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Norris as ucht a chuid ama a roinnt liom. While I do not intend to support the Fine Gael motion this evening, I welcome the focus of the debate it has initiated as it is important to make progress in finding solutions. Last week, Sinn Féin was the first party to publish a job creation strategy. We announced 80 proposals that would have a direct impact...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Those jobs are the only ones that the document proposes to create. When I examined the timeframe that would apply to Fine Gael's expenditure, I was surprised to note that it would all be done by 2010. For example, the chief executive officers would be appointed by June of this year. We need solutions if we are to get the people of this country back to work. We need a long-term vision....

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (25 Mar 2009)

Pearse Doherty: We should not be having this debate at all. We have had a number of debates on broadband, some of which have been sparked by worthwhile motions proposed by Senator Ross which should have been supported by the House. We are talking about a technology that is at least a decade old, and a national broadband strategy that even the Minister recognises will not address the needs of customers in...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (25 Mar 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Burke as am a roinnt liom. Tá a fhios againn gur ceist thábhachtach í an turasóireacht sa tír seo agus go bhfuil laghdú ar an méid turasóirí atá ag teacht isteach ó thar lear. Given the economic circumstances, it is important to maximise tourism spend and the tourism sector's potential. Many Senators have ideas and suggestions on how to...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come before the House to report on progress made on the undocumented Irish during his recent trip to the United States. Some of the information given and statements made by Senators on the strike action proposed for Monday are factually inaccurate. Those who will go on strike on Monday have been balloted and the decision to go on...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Pearse Doherty: The House should also recognise that 65% of IMPACT members voted for strike action and the ballot did not deliver the 66% required for strike action to proceed. Let us not twist this issue and try to blame the executive or leaders of trade unions for the decision forced on union members by the Government. I call on the Taoiseach to stop his attacks on public and private sector workers.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Pearse Doherty: Government Senators called on people to be patriotic. The most recent occasion that we heard such comments was when 30 attacks were made on the education sector and front line services. The solution to the national strike planned for Monday lies solely in the hands of the Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Pearse Doherty: I have no problem defending the approach I took on Friday night to the role of this House.