Results 461-480 of 1,662 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Jul 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: It reads better in Greek.

Seanad: Education (Digital Devices in Schools) Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (27 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank the Acting Chairman for offering me this opportunity to welcome back a great friend and colleague, former Senator Pat Moylan who was Cathaoirleach from 2007 until 2011. Mr. Moylan was an excellent Cathaoirleach who was very popular and well respected in the House, as all our Cathaoirligh have been. We have been very fortunate. It is good to see him looking so well.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I note the upcoming motion. I do not want to pre-empt it, but it is great we are accepting and realising the suffering of a great number of people because of their sexual orientation. I commend Senator Nash on his motion. I note an amendment to it has been tabled and, like Senator Bacik, I would prefer if we could get consensus on this because it is too important to be messing around with it.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I am very proud as a Fianna Fáil member that it was a party colleague of mine, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who steered through the legislation, notwithstanding the wonderful work of Senator Norris and others who fought a lone fight for a long time.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: She had to do the business and she did it in the teeth of public opinion polls at the time, which showed that 50% of the population did not want any change in the legislation. That took courage. We look forward to the motion. I agree wholeheartedly with the comments of Senator Ann Marie O'Donnell's-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I agree with Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell's point on libraries. She has the jump on me because she has the programme in front of her, which I do not have. I had planned to talk about it because, as the Leas-Chathaoirleach knows, I was very involved in library development in Kerry as chairman of the arts committee for many years. It is a particular interest I have. The Government is...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: Unfortunately, it is not being availed of by those who could benefit most from it, for example, people in disadvantage who have not had the same opportunities for education as others.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: The local authorities deliver a fantastic service and I would like to see it further developed and supported budget-wise. I ask that the Leader arrange for the relevant line Minister to come to the House in the near future for a debate on the plan.

Seanad: 25th Anniversary of Decriminalisation of Homosexuality: Motion (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I will not detain you, Acting Chairman. I did not prepare a speech but I wish to add my humble words. I commend Senator Nash on bringing forward this all-party motion. We are talking about apologies. We tend to think that apologies come from the State, this amorphous State. The apology has to come from the people. I was one of those people. I was brought up in a rural place in the...

Seanad: 25th Anniversary of Decriminalisation of Homosexuality: Motion (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: Roosevelt said that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear of change motivated a great many of the people who opposed the passage of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. I think fear was at the root of much of the "No" vote. I sympathise with people who have fear. We have to assuage their fears and work with people to help them through those fears. Their fears are...

Seanad: 25th Anniversary of Decriminalisation of Homosexuality: Motion (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act did not change much but it changed things for the better. I know that the terrible things threatened when we voted "Yes" will not come to pass. This is a good day. I cannot leave without complimenting the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, who is here with us now and who has been a leader in this field.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Breen, to the Chamber.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: Tá noiméad amháin fágtha.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: The Senator went over a bit, but however.

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (19 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome his contribution and those of previous speakers. Some interesting points have been made by previous speakers which, in the main, I agree with. The SME sector is responsible for the creation of 250,000 jobs, which is a high percentage of the total employment pool, and it must be nurtured and cared for. Many hurdles are placed...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I had not planned to speak until, like other Members of the House, I learned of the sad passing of my great friend, the former Senator, Rory Kiely. He was a great friend of the Cathaoirleach and all of us. He was a legend and a man of many parts. He served in the Seanad for 30 years. He served a full term as Cathaoirleach. He was very well known in GAA circles as a trustee of the GAA and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Dementia Strategy (12 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to the House.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Griffin. As a fellow Kerryman, I wish him well. We have much in common and naturally I support many of the points he made. Tourism is a good news story and long may it remain so.Like all good news stories, it has to be minded and nurtured because it has its pitfalls as well as its upside. It would, however, be churlish not to welcome the...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: We have to keep coming up with new initiatives because we cannot rest on our laurels. There are many reasons people come to Ireland to visit and the Minister referred to a few of them. Essentially, it comes down to the Irish people and the traditional céad míle fáilte. We like people, we want people and we welcome people and we treat them properly 99% of the time. They get...