Results 4,761-4,780 of 4,937 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I was not but perhaps the Cathaoirleach was. Cork Airport commenced operations on 16 October 1961 and served the important tourism and business interests in the southern region. It is also ideally located to service offshore gas and oil exploration work off the south coast. The period since the 1970s has seen significant capital development at each of the three airports. Major developments...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: My point does relate to Aer Rianta as it is concerned with how people can get to airports.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: One can give the youngest member of the Dáil the benefit of the doubt but the former Taoiseach should know better. If they stopped holding up the M3 project, the people of the constituency I represent and of County Cavan in particular could get from Cavan town to Dublin Airport in under an hour. That is the significance of my point and I thank the Cathaoirleach for permitting me to make it....

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I consulted with a number of people in various locations throughout the country and I read with interest in the newspapers of the Dáil debates on this legislation. The Government Deputies in particular welcomed the Bill, with some reservations, as a wonderful opportunity for Cork Airport and for the southern region to develop away from the stranglehold of Dublin. Deputies representing...

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements. (29 Apr 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join with other Members in welcoming the Minister for Transport and his officials. Since the National Roads Authority announced its road programme this is the first opportunity I have to thank the Minister publicly for using his good offices to ensure phase two of the Cavan by-pass will go ahead this year.

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements. (29 Apr 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: With the allocation of €5.5 million by the National Roads Authority, phase two of the Cavan by-pass will commence on or before 11 June this year. I thank the Minister for that. Whereas the penalty points system has been a great success, I have some concerns about it. It would be a mistake to include too many offences in the penalty points schemes as I think it should focus on speeding...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: We will not go down that road.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I was one of the speakers yesterday who asked the Minister to revisit this decision, which affects a small but vulnerable group of people, widows and widowers who in many cases are struggling. The saving to the Department of Social and Family Affairs is small, and the decision should be revisited. Those in Opposition know well that as Senator Norris pointed out, one can retain one's own views...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I do not know whether Senator Ryan could never achieve membership of the party for particular reasons, or if he failed to get a Fianna Fáil nomination. I will not go into that, but for him to insinuate that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is not able to fight her own battles is a bit rich.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Minister has succeeded in getting——

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: ——€11.26 billion for this year's social welfare budget, which is the highest allocation in the history of the State. For a Labour Party Senator to insinuate that the Minister for Social and Family Affairs is not able to fight her corner is somewhat rich, particularly when we cast our minds back to 1995.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: In 1995, the then Minister for Social Welfare, Proinsias De Rossa, MEP, gave the old age pensioners, about whom Senator Ryan spoke so sympathetically——

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: He gave them £1.80 of an increase.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: If I convert that into euro it might sound better — €2.29.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Before we start shrouding ourselves in pomposity and making eloquent speeches, we should remember the past.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: That particular Government was presided over by a Fine Gael Taoiseach. We all knew the tail wagged the dog then. That does not happen with this Government.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Senator Ryan should apologise to the Minister for the insinuation he made. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs listens to her parliamentary party colleagues——

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Fianna Fáil Party has its feet on the ground. It has representatives in almost every parish——

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: ——which is more than any Opposition Member can claim.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (24 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I, therefore, ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to review this proposal. I know that if there is anything she can do about it, she will do it.