Results 35,921-35,940 of 36,002 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Economic Outlook: Motion (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The slowdown of the economy is no surprise. It has not been helped by our dependence on the US economy which has been on a downward slide since the sub-prime crisis broke. Neither has it been helped by the failure of the Government to intervene as the competitiveness of the Irish economy has been eroded. Our ranking in terms of global competitiveness has fallen since 2000. There are...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: That may be my fault for not advising the Chair. Ar dtús báire, ba chóir dúinn a aithint go bhfuilimid ag caint faoi eachtraí inar chaill daoine a saoil. Tá teaghlaigh agus cairde na daoine úd ag gortú go fóill. Níl an fhírinne mar gheall ar na heachtraí sin faighte acu fós. Caithfimid aird a thabhairt ar sin. Bhí an ceart ag an tSeanadóir Walsh liosta na ndaoine a chaill a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I support the amendment to the Order of Business. This Chamber must debate the matter today. I listened to Senator Kelly's comments on time and space. This issue has been brewing since September and is not a new issue. When I sought a debate on this last September I was told to raise it when the Minister was debating another issue. I did so but we continually called for debates. This is...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: There is no point in Senators running around in 11 days telling people they support rural pharmacies if they will not allow the Minister to be held accountable in the Seanad. I appeal to Government Members to support the amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Let us have the Minister, who is responsible for the HSE, appear in the House. I commend the Leader on agreeing to a debate on Malin Head and Valentia within the foreseeable future, hopefully within the next two weeks. Many Senators have called for this and I am pleased to see it will be facilitated. Many remarks were made in the Chamber yesterday about the wider public perception of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I support the proposed amendment to today's Order of Business. Last week, I tried unsuccessfully to raise this matter on the Adjournment. A full debate is warranted on the ongoing difficulties pharmacists are experiencing with the HSE. It does not take a genius or a rocket scientist to realise that resolving the issue requires independent negotiations with no preconditions. The Minister...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stait go dtí an Seanad. In the past many schools availed of the summer works scheme to get work done throughout the summer months, including essential repairs of windows, roofs and other maintenance work. In budget 2007 the summer works programme was suspended, therefore denying grants to schools for vital building work. Will the Minister indicate how the...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I thank the Minister of State. The reply from the Department is not good enough. We have left schools in a vulnerable position due to the costs that have been incurred but, more importantly, we have left children in a vulnerable position because the essential works need to be done. Does the Minister of State, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher, support the suspension of this scheme? Given he...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: After them preparing these applications, will the Minister of State defend the Minister's decision not to grant aid those schools for the essential works?

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I ask that the Leader arrange the debate on the marine rescue co-ordination centres in Malin Head and Valencia to which he committed on the Order of Business of 15 December. He expressed his hope that an all-party agreement could be reached to strenuously oppose the proposal and he wanted to ensure the Minister would attend the House before the Christmas recess. While that unfortunately did...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: I, too, would welcome debate on rendition flights and the use of Irish air space to accommodate this atrocious practice. The issue is not as straightforward as Members on the Government side suggest. When this debate was running in Donegal during the general election, two former Ministers of State in the Department of Transport, one with responsibility in the area of aviation, supported...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: Yes. I also call on the Leader to arrange for a debate in the new year on the decline and depopulation of rural Ireland. Within the next week, in the parish of Gweedore in Donegal the second post office in the space of three years will close down. This may seem insignificant, but when coupled with loss of jobs, the withdrawal of transport services etc., we are seeing the death of rural...

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an tSeanadóir Bacik as ucht a cuid ama a roinnt liom le labhairt ar an ábhar seo. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Ba mhaith liom an tSeanadóir Cassidy a mholadh as ucht an deis a thabhairt dúinn an rún seo a phlé sa Seanad agus as an dóigh ar éirigh leis deis a thabhairt do na páirtithe uilig tacaíocht a thabhairt don rún. Tugann mo...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: Following the Attorney General's advice to the Government that primary legislation must be enacted as a matter of urgency to protect the 19 existing bodies established by Ministers by statutory instrument under the 1961 Act, we need to give some leeway. If the legal advice, which should be made available to the Opposition, is correct, then to ensure the continuation of the work of these...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: Tá mé iontach buíoch deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ábhar seo. When debating this Bill there are important figures we must keep in mind. Some 290,000 people are living in consistent poverty in this State, many of them children. Some 770,000 people are at risk of poverty, many of them also children. Two weeks ago the Government had the opportunity to make decisive progress towards...

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Paddy Burke as ucht a chuid ama a roinnt liom. I commend the Independent Senators on bringing this motion before the House. It is timely and apt to discuss this motion after having had a discussion on the supports necessary for small and medium enterprises to flourish in a modern Ireland. A key element for any business to flourish and develop is the...

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (12 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: There is no denying that the State has made remarkable economic progress during the past 15 years and the small and medium enterprises have benefited somewhat. There are a number of areas where we can help SMEs to develop. There is an acknowledgement that SMEs are the best way to produce new jobs and certainly the best way forward for the regions. I stand here as one who is an employer but...

Seanad: European Union Reform Treaty: Statements (12 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: The electorate of the Twenty-six Counties will vote next year on the Lisbon or reform treaty. We may be the only EU citizens to do so. This places an enormous responsibility on our shoulders to ensure before we vote that we fully understand the content and implications of the treaty. I have listened carefully to comments from Charlie McCreevy when he said that Ireland would be "the laughing...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: Ba mhaith liom dá mbeadh muid ábalta am a chur ar leataobh fá choinne díospóireachta ar acmhainní nádúrtha na tíre seo. I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on natural resources, particularly those offshore. I listened to Senator Hanafin talking about Russia selling off its natural resources for the price of a house, but in some cases this State did not even get the price of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2007)

Pearse Doherty: ——On a point of information, I was referring to parliamentary questions, not Question Time.