Results 4,761-4,780 of 4,905 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: This year over €1 billion will be spent on child benefit. The number of people who qualify for carer's allowance has increased by almost 140% since the Government took office. The Bill also provides for amendments to Part VII of the Pensions Act 1990 which deals with the equal treatment of men and women in occupational pension schemes. The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Let us cast our minds back, seeing as Senator Cummins is good at history——

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: In 1995, the Labour-Fine Gael-Democratic Left Government was given the opportunity to put its rhetoric into practice. That famous man, Proinsias De Rossa, who is now pontificating about security and co-operation in Europe and trying to disrupt the calm waters of this country, allocated a £1.80 increase to old age pensioners. They were the people who contributed to establishing and building...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Over three budgets under the control of that so-called socially-minded rainbow Government, the total average increase in pensions was €2.95.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: God help us whatever the next one will be like, in about 20 years' time.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I congratulate the Minister on securing €11.26 billion for her departmental budget this year. That underlines the Government's commitment to the elderly, children, the less well off——

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (23 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: ——the sick, those unable to care for themselves and the unemployed. If I were in the position of Opposition Senators, I would be welcoming these increases, especially those in unemployment benefit, because after the next election some of them may have to sign on for it.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport (International Conventions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (9 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, and his officials to the House. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on the Air Navigation and Transport (International Conventions) Bill 2004. The Bill will allow Ireland to ratify the Montreal Convention, and will give the convention the force of law in Ireland. The Montreal Convention is an updated replacement...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join with other speakers in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. We are all aware that Aer Lingus was established in 1936 and has since undergone major change, from the establishment of transatlantic services and internal flights to its recent dramatic turn around in the face of major difficulty. As has been mentioned by other Senators, the terrorist attacks on New York and...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (18 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: At least he was civil, which is more than can be said for Senator Brian Hayes and his colleagues given the underhand manner in which they dealt with the vote this evening.

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy O'Malley, and the officials from the Department of Social and Family Affairs to the House. I am very pleased to speak here on the Civil Registration Bill 2003, which is the first major reform of civil registration legislation since it was first introduced in Ireland in 1845. This is a comprehensive Bill, which...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Treacy, and his officials to the House. I had a detailed speech prepared in defence of my native county but I have to forgo it for reasons of time.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Government's decentralisation programme announced in the budget. I especially welcome the decentralisation of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to Cavan town——

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: ——which has been a great laugh to the Opposition, particularly to Deputies Kenny, Coveney and Gilmore.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Fine Gael Party has no Oireachtas representation in County Cavan, so they think they can scoff at us. The local elections are coming up and the people of Cavan have long memories.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Labour Party does not exist in most counties, and that is particularly so in County Cavan. I put those Senators on the other side of the House on notice that the people of Cavan have long memories. Senators Norris and Ryan spoke about landlocked County Cavan. Senator McHugh, from the top of County Donegal, spoke about the ridiculous situation of placing the Department of Communications,...

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Two Senators opposite had an interest in the European elections, and I am glad they are not pursuing that because the Common Fisheries Policy was decided in Brussels which is 1,000 miles from the North Sea.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: Cavan is 40 miles from the nearest sea.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: There is more to the marine portfolio than the sea. There are the inland waterways which this Government does not forget about, but which those on the other side of the House do not even know exist. The River Shannon rises in County Cavan and flows all the way down to County Limerick.

Seanad: Regional Development: Motion. (11 Feb 2004)

Diarmuid Wilson: We have plenty of natural resources apart from just gypsum mines, particularly the natural resource of our proud people. For communications, we are second to none. Let us lay this myth to rest, once and for all — an argument based on the county being landlocked is nonsense. We will deliver the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to Cavan town in three years, no matter...