Results 4,001-4,020 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: By all means it would be right and proper to have a debate on alcohol legislation as it is currently envisaged-----

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: -----and see whether we can accommodate all the points of view.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (4 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary. I thank him for his very gracious comments about my re-election. The Government Whip made the comment that the last time the two of us were in the House together was on the last sitting day before the 2007 Seanad election. He suggested I should start my contribution by saying "Before I was interrupted". I echo the comments made by the...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (4 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: Colleagues are undoubtedly aware that just yesterday the popular international travel guide, Lonely Planet, ranked Ireland in the world's top ten friendliest countries. The guide book has published a list of ten countries where a warm welcome is guaranteed. It highlights that Ireland's brand as a tourist destination remains strong internationally despite the economic downturn. As we...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (4 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I fully support the right of a free media in a democracy to report and to bring the Government and its Ministers to account where the spending of public money is involved. I was misinterpreted in the suggestion I made which I will make again. We have heard the Minister of State outline the proposals to try to get more people to come to this country and to improve the tourist product,...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (4 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I hope the scheme will be of great benefit to the overall tourist product. I make the case that in the review which I hope will take place sooner rather than later for an extension of the scheme to include bus travel.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (4 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I will give Members an idea of what we are up against. In that regard, I am grateful to the Oireachtas Library and Research Service for providing information I requested on what other countries were doing, which will give some indication of the opposition we face and the competitive nature of the tourism business. Regarding taxation measures and other financial incentives in countries from...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (4 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 9 March 2010.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2010)

Paschal Mooney: It is extraordinary that I seem to follow Senator Hannigan whenever his final remarks relate to the Irish Diaspora, an issue the two of us raised in the context of the total spend. I welcome his request in the matter. There is a need for openness and transparency. If there is to be such a debate, the House would benefit from knowing where taxpayers' money was spent. Some €14 million is...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I suggest the repeated requests for a debate on the banking crisis are fuelled by concerns about the lack of credit from the banks to small and medium-sized enterprises. Perhaps the Leader would consider widening the debate on banking to include proposals on job creation and resolving this severe imposition on small and medium-sized enterprises. Everybody knows they are hanging on by their...

Seanad: Power Sharing Agreement in Northern Ireland: Motion (17 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Power Sharing Agreement in Northern Ireland: Motion (17 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I endorse everything that has been said about the extraordinary contribution made by all participants in reaching this agreement. I remember a particular soundbite that emerged in the news coverage, namely, that the Taoiseach, when he had travelled to the North and had to stay over, had not even carried a toothbrush. Whether that is true, it epitomises the total commitment of the Irish and...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I share the concerns and disappointment of all sides of the House regarding the breakdown of talks last night between the Tánaiste and Mr. Michael O'Leary. I have stated in and outside the House on many occasions that I applaud everything Mr. O'Leary and Ryanair have done to make air travel more accessible. The benefits they have brought to this country have been and continue to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: Irrespective of whether it is right or wrong and irrespective of the agenda he is pursuing, everything he says is reported as if it is fact. Therefore, I suggest that such an action should take place outside the glare of publicity and that the parties should attempt to resolve the matter. It can be resolved, of that there is no question. Apropos of the remarks made by Senator White and in...

Seanad: Proposed Emergency Funding to Greece: Statements (16 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome my former colleague in this House, Deputy Mansergh, in his capacity as Minister of State. It is my first opportunity to sit across from him rather than beside him. I welcome his statement clarifying the position of Ireland. I concur with all the comments made so far in speakers' contributions on this debate. I cannot for the life of me understand how any Member of this House or...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I share Senator Hannigan's concern about the two issues he has raised. I certainly support him on the second one concerning the Irish diaspora. Perhaps the Leader will have an opportunity to reply to Senator Hannigan. A decision has already been agreed between the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his opposite number in the UK that on the occasion of the digital transfer in 2012, not only...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: In the context of the digital turnover, RTE will be available for viewing all over Northern Ireland. This should be welcomed by all sides of the House because it is an issue that has been to the forefront of North-South relations. It is quite astonishing in this day and age — perhaps this is what Senator Hannigan was referring to — that there are large segments, especially in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: The House will be aware that tourism, along with the agrifood sector, is the largest employer in the State. Will the Leader arrange a debate to coincide with a significant marketing campaign about to be launched by Tourism Ireland aimed at the Irish diaspora, not only in our nearest neighbour, which is our largest tourist market, but also around the world? It is significant that the work of...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I share the concerns of my friend and colleague, Senator Ó Murchú, regarding the branding of allegedly Irish-made goods. At a time when the economy is in such a tailspin and the focus is increasingly on the protection of jobs, this is a very serious issue. I ask the Leader to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment or a Minister of State from that Department...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Paschal Mooney: I agree with certain of the comments made by Senator Bacik and will put a question to the Leader in respect of them. However, I am sure he would first like to respond to the accusations which appeared in the media this morning in respect of last night's meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. The debate which took place at that meeting was extremely mature and positive in nature.