Results 4,661-4,680 of 4,905 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Aviation Action Plan: Statements. (31 May 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I congratulate the Minister who has been in office for only seven months. He has consulted widely with the stakeholders, listened to all their views and put forward what I and my colleagues in Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats consider to be the best aviation policy this country has seen. I pay tribute to the Aer Lingus staff and management for all they did to bring the airline...

Seanad: General Practitioner Services. (4 May 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I wish to raise with the Minister for Health and Children the concerns of the local community at the level of general practitioner services in Shercock, County Cavan. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, and I received representations from Councillor Francis McDermott and the local community on the decrease in the level of general practitioner services in the town of...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (27 Apr 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I wish to share my time with Senator Brady, by agreement.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (27 Apr 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, and congratulate my PD colleagues for putting forward this motion. I listened with interest to Senator Morrissey expound on statistics, some of which were sad. The toll of 336 road deaths in 2003 was the lowest since 1963. It is a cause for concern that the toll increased in 2004. To...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (27 Apr 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I continue to hold that view. The penalty points system cannot be taken in isolation because other Government initiatives have led to safer roads. The low cost accident reduction schemes funded by the Government have been very successful since their introduction some years ago, and I am delighted they are to continue. The signing, lighting and cats' eyes programme announced by the Minister...

Seanad: International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (27 Apr 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister to the House. He has had a long day here. When I saw this Bill on the Order of Business, I wondered whether this topic should be the responsibility of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. However, after reading the Bill I am satisfied that it is being dealt with by the correct Department. The Bill will allow Ireland to ratify the Convention on...

Seanad: State Airports: Motion. (20 Apr 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I wish to share my time with Senator Kitt. I welcome the Minister and his officials. I agree with Senator Terry that Dublin Airport is very important not only for Dublin, but for the eastern region and, indeed, the country. I am delighted to speak on the Fine Gael motion. As the motion tried to do, it is easy to focus on the current delays at Dublin Airport and to blame the Dublin Airport...

Seanad: Expressions of Sympathy on the Death of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II: Motion. (12 Apr 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am glad of the opportunity to join with my colleagues in paying tribute to the life of the great John Paul II, our Pope. The theme of his papacy was "Be not afraid". He was an inspiration to us all — the young, the old and especially in recent years the very sick. I had the privilege of studying in Maynooth with a number of young men who went on to become priests around the country....

Seanad: Expressions of Sympathy on the Death of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II: Motion. (12 Apr 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: ——one of whom is a Member of this House, were named John Paul in honour of the Pope. There could be no more fitting tribute than to be called after that great man. On his visit to this country in 1979, the Pope spoke many thousands of words, some of which I can still recall. I was a young person at the time, so it meant so much to me too when the Pope said, "Young people of Ireland, I...

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State and officials back to the House, just as I welcomed the Minister, who was present earlier. The Taoiseach is on record as having said that the solution to our congestion on the M50, according to traffic engineers, is the implementation of the M50 upgrade together with barrier-free tolling. I confess I am not very familiar with the toll bridge and use it only ten...

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: Some Senators who are on the left of the political spectrum will be amazed to hear that. The tolls charged in China are substantially higher than those charged on the M1 and the M50. There is no reason Ireland should be any different. The toll charges on the M1 do not attract serious criticism. Initially, lorry drivers objected because they were obliged to pay a toll. However, when they...

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: He then went on to state that we should take them back. I was very surprised to hear a former high-ranking member of the trade union movement——

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: Senator O'Toole is regarded by his colleagues in union circles as being to the right of union politics. They would be delighted to realise that he is on the extreme left of union and, indeed, national politics.

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am currently reading a book, at a very slow pace, by the historian Diarmaid Ferriter.

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is entitled, The Transformation of Ireland 1900-2000.

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: It tells the story of John A. Costello, who served as Taoiseach in the inter-party Government in 1948.

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: This is in the national interest.

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: On, or shortly after, his appointment, Mr. Costello contacted the head of the Department of Transport and informed him that the then Government was not in the business of building racetracks for plutocrats.

Seanad: West Link Toll Bridge: Motion. (23 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: There would be no need for this debate if Mr. Costello's philosophy had been followed this evening.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Mar 2005)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister and his officials back to the House. I am pleased to second this Bill. It provides for the introduction of a series of social welfare improvements announced in the budget in December 2004. It also provides for a number of amendments to the Pensions Act 1990. The Minister has done a marvellous job in securing the largest ever budget for his Department in the history of...