Results 3,741-3,760 of 3,797 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (28 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on surviving the cull. He has been most courteous to Members in this House. The parents of a number of children with special needs in County Galway have worked very hard in recent years to fill an educational void that exists for children with special needs in the three to six years age group. They have done so in child development...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (28 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: On the face of it, the reply seems positive and I thank the Minister of State for that. I ask that, in incorporating all the children who are currently attending the child development centres into either mainstream schools or the special schools which were mentioned, whatever resources are required be made available.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I support the call for the Minister to come in to have that debate. The second issue I wish to raise is the issue of the Government's proposed early childhood services, one of the most welcome developments of the recent budget. I spoke to a gentleman yesterday who, because he had a passion for teaching, quit his job at 35 or 36 years of age and returned to college for three years to become a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I too support the call for a debate on job creation. It was most disturbing to hear a former Minister of State at the Department that is supposed to be charged with creating jobs say he was sorry he did not have time to kick a larger hole in the wall of incompetence within the Department. Job creation is the single most effective tool the country has to turn the country around.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: Dropping tax revenue and creating jobs is the solution. It is, perhaps, because the former Minister of State came from a business background that he realised the kinds of supports needed to allow indigenous Irish business develop. I agree foreign direct investment is wonderful and we should do all we can to ensure it continues, but the real potential for job creation here has always been...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (8 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I welcome the Minister of State. Much progress is being made on the ongoing issue of the provision of second level education in Kinvara, in south Galway. On behalf of the community of Kinvara and its hinterland, I thank the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, and his predecessor, Deputy Hanafin, for their input in ensuring we retain the high standard of second level education that is provided...

Seanad: Affordable Housing: Statements (8 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I welcome the Minister of State and I thank him for his contribution. As he pointed out, we have seen a significant change in the dynamic associated with affordable housing in our local authorities. As public representatives, we have all worked with couples, tried to get them on the affordable housing list and to have them included in allocations in recent years. Now, the exact opposite...

Seanad: Economic and Recovery Authority: Motion (1 Apr 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I second the motion. It is a most welcome development in allowing us to debate the options open to us in tackling head-on the challenges we face. The proposal to implement a far-reaching economic stimulus package, overseen by a new economic and recovery authority, is welcome because it is real, tangible, looks past tomorrow and next week, can be implemented and, if it is, could create the...

Seanad: Forthcoming Budget: Statements (26 Mar 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: Nobody can deny that this is the last chance saloon and the upcoming budget is our last opportunity to turn the ship around. We are looking at the embers of the economic success that roared through the country during the past ten or 15 years. However, some flames are still lingering. Other commentators describe them as green shoots. The budget will either utterly extinguish those flames...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I agree with the comment about an increasing disconnect between the membership of our unions and union leadership. That is very much the case. From speaking to a number of union members in Galway in recent days, my experience is that they are utterly ashamed of the positions adopted by their leadership. While listening to a radio station yesterday evening — I cannot recall which one —...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I was greatly concerned last weekend to hear a section of a debate that appears to have escaped under the radar at national level. It pertained to a decision taken by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to halt immediately the sports capital grants that have been so helpful to Irish sporting organisations since 1987. I note with interest that Senator Buttimer has decided to raise this...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (29 Jan 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: I listened with interest to the debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill and the wonderful thing that is democracy. The essence of a healthy, thriving democracy must be the level of trust which exists between those who are elected and those who elect. While that trust is in general healthily maintained in Galway East, there is a danger that it may be about to break down, particularly in an...

Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: There is a certain sense of déjÀ vu in that a number of weeks ago we sat into the early hours of the morning to deal with legislation regarding the bank guarantee scheme. We now find ourselves once again trying to work ourselves out of a difficult situation. I am, as I was then, confident that the Minister is acting solely and utterly in the interests of the Irish people. I do not accept...

Commemoration of the Ninetieth Anniversary of the First Dáil (20 Jan 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: Is mór an phribhléid dom í labhairt anseo inniu agus deis a bheith agam rian a fhágáil ar cheann de na hócáidí is tábhachtaí i stair na tíre seo. Déanaim é mar cheannaire an bPáirtí Daonlathach, a party that has made a distinct contribution to Ireland's democracy, prosperity and standards in public life, but will soon enter the annals of Irish political history. I hope I can...

Seanad: Commemoration of the Ninetieth Anniversary of the First Dáil (20 Jan 2009)

Ciarán Cannon: Is mór an phribhléid dom í labhairt anseo inniu agus deis a bheith agam rian a fhágáil ar cheann de na hócáidí is tábhachtaí i stair na tíre seo. Déanaim é mar cheannaire an Pháirtí Dhaonlathaigh, a party that has made a distinct contribution to Ireland's democracy, prosperity and standards in public life, but will soon enter the annals of Irish political history. I hope I...

Seanad: Death of Member: Expressions of Sympathy (18 Nov 2008)

Ciarán Cannon: I am pleased to have an opportunity to offer my deepest sympathy, and that of my party, to Séamus Brennan's wife, Ann, his family and his colleagues in Fianna Fáil. I did not have the privilege, as I am sure it would have been, of knowing my fellow Galwegian, Séamus Brennan, personally. My perception of him was always driven principally by my knowledge of his achievements as a politician...

Seanad: Volunteering in Irish Society: Statements (14 Oct 2008)

Ciarán Cannon: I welcome the Minister of State who has a serious grasp of the value of the voluntary sector, the challenges facing it and how we should address these. I welcome this opportunity to speak on the important role of volunteerism in the life of our country and how Government can proactively support and encourage the many people who generously give of their time in the service of others. We are...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Second Stage (8 Oct 2008)

Ciarán Cannon: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the legislation, which has been drafted to enhance the long-term viability of the ports around our island nation. Our long-standing maritime tradition is one aspect of the economy that is often overlooked and the legislation shines a badly needed spotlight on the sector. It seeks to allow harbour authorities the flexibility and autonomy to operate in a...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2008)

Ciarán Cannon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey, and thank him for taking this matter. There is a long-standing and proud tradition of second level education in Kinvara in south Galway. It is almost two years since the Sisters of Mercy, who operated a facility for 150 years, announced to the community in south Galway that they were no longer in a position to continue to operate it....

Seanad: Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Committee Stage. (1 Oct 2008)

Ciarán Cannon: I echo the sentiments expressed by previous speakers. This is an historic occasion, not only in the context of the hour at which we are concluding our business but also in respect of what the Oireachtas has achieved during the past 48 hours. Effectively, we have secured the Irish banking sector and also the economy. The Minister made a bold and decisive move and the support the Bill has...