Results 36,081-36,100 of 36,187 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid a dúirt an Seanadóir Ó Murchú mar gheall ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Seanad. Tá dian-imní ar dhaoine nach gheobhaidh siad an bolscaireacht sna meáin-cumarsáide atá tuillte acu má labhraíonn siad an Ghaeilge. D'iarr mé ar Cheannaire an tSeanaid díospóireacht a eagrú le linn seachtain na Gaeilge, nó coicís na Gaeilge mar atá againn anois. Tá a...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: ——to renege on the commitment that Deputies and Senators gave in the lead-up to the general election to hundreds of concerned parents and teachers who attended the INTO meetings, and to renege on the commitment in the programme for Government to reduce class sizes by one unit every year until 2010. I seek a amendment to the Order of Business so that we can have a debate on the issue of...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (5 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach chun na ceiste seo a phlé. Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom moladh a thabhairt dos na Seanadóirí ón Chomhaontas Glas a chur síos an rún seo inniu. Sílim go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo de dhíth orainn. Fáiltím roimh an rún agus glacaim leis. Beidh mé ag tabhairt tacaíochta dó níos déanaí tráthnóna má tá vóta...

Seanad: Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (5 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the Second Stage debate of the Passports Bill 2007, which contains a number of positive elements. The right to travel outside the State and the right to hold a passport are enumerated rights under Article 43 of the Constitution. The prospect of having primary legislation clearly articulate these rights and the system governing their realisation is welcome. The Bill introduces in...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I too call for a debate on the Lisbon treaty. It is important that we have a proper and timely debate on this issue. Many people are concerned with the implications of the treaty, whether it is further movement towards common defence, the fact that more taxpayers' money will be committed to the European Defence Agency and to increasing our military capabilities, or the undermining of...

Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the Minister, who has at long last come before the House to discuss this issue. A Senator from the Government benches wondered whether we are rushing under pressure or have been lobbied intensively to speak on this issue. I was the first person to speak on this issue in the Seanad and since the resumption of the Seanad and Dáil last year Sinn Féin has called on the Minister to...

Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister stated that no pharmacy will be asked to dispense medication at a loss. Does she take into account that pharmacies must pay overheads such as ESB bills, wages and all the rest, and that in effect they will lose out and go into the red due to the new pricing? On a specific matter, will the Minister accept from myself or any other Senator audited accounts from pharmacists? Will...

Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: We are talking about 300.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I concur with Senators in their request for a debate on the Middle East and the ongoing conflict there. It has been a long tradition that we have a debate on the Six Counties and I am aware that one will be facilitated this year. Does the Deputy Leader know when that debate will take place, especially given that a number of events are being organised internationally and at home to mark the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: That is what I am saying.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: There is ongoing debate in the media as to whether Ian Paisley will be First Minister next year. It would be apt that this would happen given it is ten years since the Agreement. I agree with the call to have the Minister for Education and Science come to the House to debate the issue of funding for primary level education. This State is at crisis point with regard to primary education....

Seanad: Civil Marriage: Motion (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Sinn Féin fully supports the right of same-sex couples to marry and found a family, including by adoption. We also support the right of unmarried and same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships, to which the motion refers. Sinn Féin was the first party to try to enshrine this right in legislation, when former Deputy Seán Crowe tabled an amendment to the Civil Registration Bill 2003...

Seanad: Civil Marriage: Motion (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The current law contains an exemption which allows such institutions to discriminate on the basis of a person's sexual orientation or family status. This is unacceptable particularly in publicly-funded schools in the 21st century. The exemption means that even if the Government introduces a civil partnership Bill, it would be useless for many gay and lesbian teachers who would be afraid to...

Seanad: Coast Guard Stations: Statements (Resumed). (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing his time with me and I agree with his comments. The Government has embarked on a ridiculous policy by trying to close the Valentia and Malin Head marine rescue co-ordination centres. When I first asked for a debate on this issue last October, a debate on Seagate, which was withdrawing from the north west, was taking place. I stated that given the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I agree with those Senators who have raised the dispute between the pharmacies and the HSE. Boxes of letters are being distributed to Deputies and Senators outside the gates of Leinster House. They contain 475,000 signatures from people throughout the 26 counties calling for intervention in this dispute. It is amazing and crazy that almost half a million people are demanding action yet we...

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Curam fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. My motion on the Adjournment of the House relates to the need for the Government to progress a plan to bring rail to County Donegal, connecting the town of Sligo and the city of Derry through Donegal. This would see rail reintroduced to Donegal through the towns of Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Donegal town itself, Ballybofey, Stranorlar,...

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister of State went off point. I have travelled throughout the country many times. There are airports and motorways in different regions. While the Government's investment in the dual carriageway is welcome, only the Aughnacloy-Derry stretch will be a dual carriageway. It is right that the fourth largest city on the island is connected to the largest, Dublin, because every other...

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: It was a "Yes" or "No" question.

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: We are in government in the North.

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: It was a personal question. Does the Minister of State support the demand?