Results 3,601-3,620 of 4,936 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Senator Mullins left one other significant matter off his list. Once again, according to the latest opinion poll, Fianna Fáil is the largest political party in the State.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is a very important development for the future of our country. I join other colleagues in wishing Pope Benedict well in his retirement. I wish him a long and peaceful retirement in the Vatican or wherever he decides to reside. He made a very courageous decision to retire, the first Pope to do so in almost 600 years. When is the Education and Training Boards Bill going to arrive into the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: On a point of order, I put it on record that Senator Leyden did not call for it.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the guidelines for schools and centres of education published by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, on cyber bullying and bullying in general. However, the guidelines must be backed up by the provision of training for teachers and education providers and funding to enable guidance counsellors do the job for which they have been trained in schools and...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (6 Feb 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: On a point of order, although it is highly irregular to have emergency legislation coming into the House, it is only fair that we hear what it is about. Therefore, we agree to the suspension of the House.

Seanad: Private Rented Sector: Statements (6 Feb 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State and thank her for her comprehensive contribution. The average Irish landlord owns one or two properties, while fewer than 10% of landlords own two or more properties. This reflects the underdeveloped and amateur market compared with the European standard of large landlord companies operating multiple properties, which in many cases is to be welcomed. The...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am opposing this section.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: With regard to privatisation, it is my understanding the Government has decided to sell off a division of Bord Gáis and Irish Water will be a subsidiary.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: But a subsidiary nonetheless. There is genuine concern among the public that it will be next for privatisation. Would it not be wise, therefore, to reverse the decision to sell this division of Bord Gáis to allay these fears? The Minister of State referred to two other semi-State companies - ESB and Bord na Móna - that could have taken on Irish Water. Were they invited to examine the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: We oppose this section because of the manner in which the tender was awarded to Bord Gáis. There should have been a public tender and we do not see what the rush was for except to divert awkward questions from the Taoiseach, the relevant Minister and the Government as a whole to Bord Gáis. We object to the company being formed on the basis that there should have been a public tender....

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd to the House. These are difficult days for the Minister and the people of County Louth as a result of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I offer my condolences to the Minister, the people of his county and to the family of Detective Garda Donohoe in County Cavan, where he hailed from originally. I wish to clarify the situation...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I will not take that amount of time. My colleague, Acting Chairman, Senator Mooney, tells me I should refer to Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP, as "Deputy McGuinness". I did not know that until today. She is very welcome. It is refreshing to hear somebody who knows her brief inside out, and not only represents the farming community in Brussels so well but also lives the life at home. She...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join other Senators in sympathising with Senators Henry and Clune on the recent deaths of their mothers. I also sympathise with the de Buitléar family on the death of former Senator Éamon de Buitléar. In particular, I join my colleagues in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the vicious and callous murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was a native of Kilnaleck, County...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: There are tough lambs in the Cooley.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Is the Senator saying the Tánaiste did not make those comments?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: We are up the country.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: It does not matter about the potential 1,600 people who may lose their jobs.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Excuse me, the Government went ahead-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: She is inviting interruption.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Government went ahead with a decision to give it to Bord Gáis Éireann without allowing the Oireachtas committee the courtesy of waiting for its report.