Results 35,881-35,900 of 36,033 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 May 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Like the majority of people on this island I believe that Ireland's place is in Europe. Many benefits have come as a result of our membership of the European Union. Continued co-operation with our European partners is essential if we are to meet the challenges facing us in the future. It is certain that regardless of the outcome of the referendum, Ireland's place in the European Union will...

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

Pearse Doherty: Cuirim fáilte roimh na deise labhairt sa dhíospóireacht seo agus molaim Páirtí an Lucht Oibre as an reachtaíocht seo a thabhairt chun tosaí sa Seanad. Tabharfaidh mise lán tacaíochta don reachtaíocht seo. In 2003 Sinn Féin strongly opposed the retrograde amendment to the Freedom of Information Act 1997. There was justifiable alarm at the time regarding the dilution and...

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

Pearse Doherty: Government information belongs to the public. It is the Government that is the trustee of that information on the public's behalf. State secrecy hides bad decision making, inefficiencies and corruption. The Freedom of Information Act 1997 was a long overdue attempt to address the tradition of secrecy. The 2003 amending legislation represents a considerable setback for participatory...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: We will have a debate.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: There have been four weeks of statements from the "Yes" campaign.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid a dúirt an Seanadóir Ó Tuathail ag cuartú díospóireachta ar chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. D'iarr mise go dtarlódh seo tamall fada ó shin agus d'iarr Seanadóirí eile, ina measc an Seanadóir Brian Ó Domhnaill, an rud céanna. Tá an díospóireacht sin práinneach. Tá an tuarascáil againn agus tá sé ráite ann go bhfuil 15 bliana fágtha...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I am glad to hear that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I have not been allowed to comment on this matter but I hope I will be given the opportunity to do so tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I disagree with some of my colleagues who have questioned the lowering of the alcohol limit for drink driving. I believe this is necessary and the legislation should come before the House as soon as possible. It has already happened in many countries throughout the European Union. Ireland received an exemption some years ago and was not required to lower the alcohol limit to 50 milligrams....

Seanad: Patient Safety: Statements (22 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The theme of these statements is patient safety. I believe the biggest threat to patient safety is the grossly inequitable nature of the health service presided over by the Government for the past 11 years. Patient safety is the biggest issue of concern for everyone and the biggest failure of the Administrations in which Deputy Harney has served as Tánaiste and Minister for Health and...

Seanad: Kidnapping and Detention of Ms Ingrid Betancourt: Motion (10 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis seo cur leis an rún ata os comhair an tSeanaid. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir O'Malley, tá an rud atá ag dul ar aghaidh i leith Ingrid Betancourt scanallach. Iarraimid uilig go scaoilfí saor í láithreach. Tá sí á choinneáil ag FARC. I welcome this debate and commend the Independent Senators for putting forward this motion. The motion has the support of...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage (9 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Tá áthas orm deis a fháil labhairt ar an mBille seo. Nuair a fhoilsíodh an reachtaíocht seo i 2006 agus nuair a tháinig sé ós cómhair na Dála i mí Meán Fhómhair 2006, chuir mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Aengus Ó Snodaigh, fáilte roimh an méid a bhí sa Bhille, go háirithe an moladh chun ombudsman ó thaobh seirbhísí dlí a thabhairt isteach. Cé gur chuir Sinn Féin in...

Seanad: Hospital Services (8 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Tí. Tuigim, mar a dúirt tú leis an tSeanadóir Ó Domhnaill gur fearr leat a bheith anseo nuair a bhíonn ceist a bhaineann le do Roinn le plé. Is mór an trua é, nach bhfuil an tAire Sláinte agus Leanaí ábalta a bheith anseo leis an cheist seo a phlé, ach beidh an freagra agat. Tá súil agam gur freagra maith atá ann. Is í an cheist...

Seanad: Hospital Services (8 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I expected such an answer from the Minister and the Department and it is disappointing for me and, more importantly, for those who have to avail of the services now and in the future. I note Deputy Ó Cuív's comments at the beginning of his response, which were not scripted by the Department, saying patients are willing to travel for the best care, and I concur with that. People will...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an gCeannaire, cén uair a bheidh an díospóireacht againn ar chúrsaí na Gaeltachta agus cúrsaí Gaeilge sa tír seo? D'iarr mé go mbeadh an díospóireacht againn mar pháirt de Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge thart. I ask the Leader to facilitate that debate. When I contacted the Minister's office he was willing to come here during...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I apologise for not being here this morning when the President of the European Parliament was present. My car was broken into last night and I had the Garda on the scene investigating that crime, so I am sure Senators will understand the difficulties. I do not accept what has been said in this Chamber, that the harmonising of corporation tax has nothing to do with the Lisbon treaty....

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Apr 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The European Parliament has endorsed corporation tax harmonisation and Labour and Fine Gael MEPs have supported those proposals in the European Parliament in the past. If we are to have a debate let us have a serious one.

Seanad: Physical Education Facilities (20 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Is ceist tábhachtach an cheist seo, agus tá sé tábhachtach freisin gur chuir Seanadóir ó thaobh an Rialtais an ábhar seo ar an athló. Tá muintir Gaoth Dobhair ag iarraidh go rachaidh an halla spóirt seo ar aghaidh gan mhoill. As has been already mentioned, this goes back to the early 1980s. I can remember being in primary school when past pupils of Bunbeg national school came to...

Seanad: Physical Education Facilities (20 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I thank the Minister for his response. To tell the truth, I am shocked just reading it. The parents' committee and the board of management received an official letter from the Department confirming that the sports hall was approved and should be on site within eight months, but there was a caveat that it could not go to tender until the mechanical and electrical designs had been approved....

Seanad: Sustainable Residential Development: Motion (19 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus roimh na treoirlínte. Tá sé thar am go bhfuil na treoirlínte againn. Níl dabht ar bith le blianta beaga anuas go bhfuil na conraitheoirí móra ag cur brú ar na bailte ar fud an Stáit, agus nach raibh na treoirlínte in ann cosc a chur orthu agus cinntiú go raibh an forbairt a bhí idir láimhe acu an forbairt ab fhearr don todhchaí agus go raibh...