Results 441-460 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am not the Minister.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I wish to make an important point. It is regrettable that Senators are suggesting that this is not something on which we need to work together. This is so important and everyone on all sides of the House should work together on it.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I thank Senator Healy Eames. It is one of the most crucial debates we have had in this House in a long time. It is vital that we look after those in society who have the greatest difficulty. I have a son in a special needs, ABA, school. It is crucial we consider educational needs from the point of view of the child. It is the child who must come first. It must be acknowledged that we...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Music therapy was also mentioned. There are many other types of therapy and I am just giving those as examples. We need to consider programmes whereby we can allow people who wish to help children to do so because there is a need. Many parents, including me in the past, have struggled enormously to get the basic services. Early intervention was mentioned in the context of individual...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I thank Members on both sides of the House for their kind words about the resignation of my former party leader, Deputy Sargent, yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It used to be said a week is a long time in politics but we can now say a day is a long time in politics, especially with the advent of new media and the pace of change. A number of Senators referred to symphysiotomy. I have been a campaigner for natural birth for many years and I would like a debate on maternity services in Ireland. We have an outdated system. Many procedures, including...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We need to examine the active management of labour and to have a proper debate on the issue. I support the call by Senators Reilly and Buttimer for a debate on tourism. We could very much do with that. It is an important day in that the mayoralty of Dublin will be launched. I call for a debate on that as well. This is part of a political reform package that needs to be rolled out in other...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome my friend and colleague, Senator Mark Dearey, to the Chamber. Today is a baptism of fire for him. He is a man of great integrity and he will prove to be a great Senator over the next two and a half years. The Green Party nominees will not change during that time. I wish his daughter, Stella, a happy birthday today and I also welcome his family, friends and colleagues to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The proposed amendment to the Order of Business is a little hollow when the leaders of the Opposition parties consider it more important to bring personality politics into play.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I call for a debate on the arts. We are in a deep recession and circumstances are difficult for many people. I attended an interesting debate on the arts last night. It is important that we place a high priority on them. During recessions, arts very much come to the fore and it is important that people be allowed to express themselves in an artistic fashion.

Seanad: Ombudsman Report on the Lost at Sea Scheme: Statements (18 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is with great sadness I read this report. I understand this is the second time such a report has come before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the histories of the State and the Ombudsman. The facts of the matter are clear. Compensation was awarded to a small number of families during a small period. The title of the scheme, the Lost at Sea scheme, is appropriate. It was not a good...

Seanad: Cancer Awareness: Statements (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I wish to share time with Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Cancer Awareness: Statements (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister. This is one of the most important debates the House has had, as cancer affects so many families in our society. I welcome visitors to the Chamber on national no smoking day. As an avid non-smoker, I would encourage measures to prevent smoking. In terms of environmental health, it is crucial that we consider as many measures as possible to enhance people's...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There is nothing more important in the world, including the economy, than the protection of our children. I support calls from other Senators to have a series of debates on the protection of our children. I walked through places such as Letterfrack, which is one of the most beautiful parts of this country and the world, and saw the graveyard and experienced the feeling there. It is an...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I will talk to her.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We could examine different methodologies and how to enhance laboratory services in this country. I will discuss the matter with Senator Coffey and I call for a debate on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I ask the Leader for a debate on public transport in rural areas. I have been made aware of the great difficulties getting around rural areas. It has been brought to my attention that there are many instances of bus companies in particular that would like to provide rural transport but have major difficulties with licensing. There is a centralised licensing authority. I am aware that...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I support calls for a debate on special needs education. The sooner we have this essential debate the better. I refer specifically to Senator O'Toole's comments on the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act which is addressed in the programme for Government. Progress is required on the recruitment of speech and occupational therapists. I am also in favour of moving...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I commend Senators for calling for a debate on special education needs. I also call for a debate on the issue of Travellers' health, on which a report was published today. The health of Travellers is linked with poor accommodation. The report recommends a greater national input into the issue of Traveller accommodation because the current local authority system does not appear to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: That is not the case.