Results 4,741-4,760 of 4,953 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I remind the House that in 1995, Fine Gael, the Labour Party and Proinsias De Rossa's outfit were given the opportunity to put their rhetoric into action.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: They failed to do so.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: In 1995, they awarded £1.80 to pensioners who worked hard to build the economy we have today.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The three budgets for which they were responsible, from 1995 to 1997, provided an average increase of €3.50 to pensioners. Let us put the record straight and cut out the nonsense. I welcome the largest ever expenditure on social welfare in the history of the State.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The social welfare budget has risen by €1 billion, which is an increase of 8.8% on last year. The total spending on social welfare has more than doubled since 1997. Payments have increased by three times the expected rate of inflation. A total of 1.5 million people will benefit from social welfare payments weekly. There has been a fourfold increase in child benefit since 1997. The increase...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (15 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Bill and I thank the Minister of State and his officials for coming before the House. I also thank the Minister of State for being present during all Stages. Concerns were expressed on all sides of the House and I thank the Minister of State for addressing them. I welcome the Bill and look forward to its enactment early in the new year.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: People use designated disabled parking spaces because such spaces are always in the most convenient location in terms of the associated destination. I agree with my colleagues that such behaviour is disgraceful. The fine could never be too high. I would not afford anybody who parks illegally in a designated space the opportunity of getting away with a penalty point. Such people should be...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Senator should not rule it out.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Senator Burke has raised an interesting point. Currently if people are caught on camera for speeding they receive a letter in the post and are given a certain number of days to pay the fine or else they receive a summons and are brought to court. However, I know of a case where an individual received no letter in the post. The first indication that person had of having incurred penalty points...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: We have a system in place whereby the Garda is obliged to notify a person of an alleged offence. There are so many days within which a fixed penalty must be paid. If it is not paid a summons is issued. Would the Minister of State agree that in the interest if fairness there should be an onus on the Garda to prove the original notice was served?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Garda should be able to prove that. At the moment it is not able to do that.

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Senator should speak to Deputy Ring about that matter.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2004: Second Stage. (9 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, and his officials to the House. This is my first opportunity to wish him well in his new position. As the Minister of State outlined in his detailed speech on the introduction of the Road Traffic Bill 2004, its main purpose is to promote further improvements in road safety and to provide for the introduction of a new system of metric speed...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (8 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join with other speakers in paying tribute to the late John Francis Conlan. I knew him fairly well and always found him to be a very honourable, decent, quiet, unassuming and private man, which is unusual for a politician and even more so for a publican. He cherished his private moments with his wife, son and daughter. As previous speakers have stated, his political career began in 1950...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme. (7 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The announcement in December 2003 of the Government's decentralisation programme provided a significant boost to the entire country. We in County Cavan were delighted that our county town, Cavan town, was one of the seven towns selected for one of the main Departments. The news of the reallocation of the headquarters of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to Cavan...

Seanad: Aer Lingus: Statements (Resumed). (2 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: With your permission I wish to share my time with Senator Daly.

Seanad: Aer Lingus: Statements (Resumed). (2 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on his appointment as Minister for Transport and wish him well in that position. I welcome also his officials. Aer Lingus is an important Irish asset and a most important symbol for this country. Since 1936 Aer Lingus has served us well. As an island nation we need first-class air communications. People trust their national carriers all...

Seanad: Aer Lingus: Statements (Resumed). (2 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: That is understandable. Under the stewardship of the chief executive officer, Aer Lingus embarked on a radical restructuring of the company and the board, management, staff and unions at the airline should be complimented by all of us on the manner in which they have addressed the problems. Aer Lingus is expanding its role across Europe and has returned healthy profits in recent years. From...

Seanad: Aer Lingus: Statements. (2 Dec 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Agreed.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the new Minister of State at the Department of Transport to the House. As Senator Dooley said earlier, if he is half as good in this Department as he was in his previous role we are in for a treat. I take the opportunity to congratulate the two Senators opposite me, Senator Paddy Burke and Senator Finucane, on their promotion to being spokesmen on transport.