Results 3,721-3,740 of 4,132 for speaker:Donie Cassidy

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Never was there a truer line in a poem or a song. Senators Keaveney, Quinn, McFadden and Bacik requested that the Ministers for Health and Children and Education and Science come before the House. On Seanad reform, Senators stated that they would welcome the holding of an orderly question time in the House, even if it was only on one day per week. I do not know how possible it would be to...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: One either has the gift for entrepreneurship when one is born or one does not. One must have drive, determination and ability. There is no point in appointing people on foot of their gender, they must have massive ability. One must be prepared to work 15 to 17 hours per day in order to succeed.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: As the Senator is aware, points of order cannot be raised when the Leader is replying to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Senators Quinn, Daly and Ó Murchu called for a debate on the challenges we face in the context of planning. I have no difficulty in arranging time for such a debate. Senators Daly and Cannon requested a debate on housing aid for the elderly and asked that additional staff be appointed by local authorities in respect of this matter. I will pass on their views to the relevant Minister....

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re Standing Order 94A, without debate, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business; and No. 2, statements on Chad, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1 and to conclude not later than 1.30 p.m. if not previously concluded, with the contributions of spokespersons not to exceed ten minutes and those of all other Senators not to exceed eight...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Motion (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: In respect of the point made by the eminent Senator Norris, good and worthy people are not always popular people. We have seen how the greatest people have stood for election and have not been elected at the early stages for one reason or another but have become probably the best parliamentarians we have had during that particular time in the country's history. When I entered the Seanad in...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Senators Twomey, Norris, Ormonde, Fitzgerald, Feeney, Doherty, Callely, Bacik, Glynn, Buttimer and Harris all expressed serious concerns about events that have occurred since we met last Thursday. No one could have foretold what would happen following the Minister's address to the House, when she explained in minute detail the position concerning her portfolio. One could only admire her...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: ——someone is trying to sabotage the HSE, as established by legislation passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: We must invite the Minister back to the Seanad to inform us of the up-to-date position. We want to know what she is doing about those who will not let her know what she is entitled to know as the person who has been given responsibility by the Taoiseach and the taxpayer for the management of €14 billion per annum.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: These people who have put themselves in this position in the HSE must be answerable and the patient must come first. The special meeting of those involved in the midlands was a pitiful sight. I compliment the Minister and the consultants who went to Portlaoise last Saturday——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: ——to give peace of mind to those 97 unfortunate women who had to be called back. Everyone in the country was gripped with concern for their well-being, as well as for the other nine women. We in this House want to do the right thing. I saw the Minister, Deputy Harney — she and I are close personal friends — from time to time correctly brief the then Opposition spokesperson in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Senator Cummins's party was in power also. On that issue, there is not a local authority in a county in Ireland in which Fianna Fáil is in power at present.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I have heard that the unfortunate accident——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: That is true.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: The 40 or 41 councils that are under the control of most of Opposition parties——

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: ——should, over the coming three or four weeks, make a special allocation for road safety in their Estimates. The Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, of which I was a member, the Joint Committee on Transport, which was chaired by Senator Ellis, and the Road Safety Authority have done considerable work in this regard. We have come a long way in that 100 people are alive...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I apologise to the Senator but I understood someone mentioned an elitist panel. Perhaps I read it in the newspaper today.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I have no difficulty in having a discussion on all panels but, as I stated previously, we are coming under serious pressure because there was a 34% turnout of voters in respect of the University Panel. This must be addressed.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Donie Cassidy: It will be one of the issues under discussion. Senator Norris stated on the first sitting day that he and Senator Ross got approximately 4,500 votes between them. I was eliminated with 7,555 votes, which is nearly double what the Senators got. They got two seats and I did not even get one.