Results 4,881-4,900 of 4,951 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: When Fianna Fáil returned to Government, it fulfilled its promise and brought 120 civil servants to Cavan. We make no apologies for that. I urge the Government to include Cavan among the centres to be selected for the forthcoming decentralisation programme. A number of factors underpin this request. Cavan occupies a strategic position on the corridor linking Dublin to Enniskillen and...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am proud to stand beside him and robustly defend his and the Government's record on education. After all, we are the real Labour Party. (Interruptions).

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: Overall funding is up 94% in the last five years. We are now spending €5.6 billion each year on education and that figure is increasing. We have considerably increased the amount of money for the capital programmes and right across the board the Government has put considerable resources into education. Many young people have now come through good primary and secondary education and seek...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: Is it right that the children of the more than 50,000 people who earn in excess of €100 million per year— (Interruptions).

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: —and those of the substantial number of people who earn over €200,000 per annum should benefit from free fees, when families in communities in which participation in third level is 5% or less receive nothing? No, it is not. The leader of the champions of the upper middle classes and multimillionaires, Deputy Rabbitte, believes in universal access to third level education.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: What does Deputy Rabbitte mean by "universal access"? In my opinion, this includes all people, regardless of their incomes. Is that just?

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: I believe it is not. This evening, Deputy Rabbitte said that bus drivers, Eircom workers, road workers, factory workers and shop assistants will all have to pay fees.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is utter and absolute rubbish.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: It has been made clear by the Taoiseach and the Minister that it is utter rubbish.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: Fine Gael has no idea what is going on. Its members are having autopsy after autopsy as a result of their lack of imagination during the general election campaign, yet they have the audacity to mention the opinion polls here. That is a disgrace.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: I know the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Dempsey, and I trust him. He is a man of substance and vision. He has a social conscience and I know that he will do nothing to hurt the ordinary citizen of this country—

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: —and I am proud to say that I support his review of the system.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: Had I had enough time, I would have discussed it.

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements (Resumed). - Third Level Fees: Motion. (21 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: That could be— (Interruptions).

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: It gives me great pleasure to second the motion.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister. I congratulate him not only in regard to what he is doing for road safety but also in regard to all that he is doing in the Department of Transport. He is a credit to the Government and the people who elected him. I would prefer to be playing golf with the Minister than with Senators Browne or Bannon.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: I might give Senator Browne a chance, but definitely not Senator Bannon.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: Leave it to us.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: We will complete much in the next four years. Thereafter we will have another 15 years, so it will not make any difference.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the new initiatives brought forward by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Séamus Brennan. The introduction of the penalty points system has brought about a revolution in the thought process of all motorists in this country. Surveys carried out since the introduction of penalty points for speeding show that there has been a 72% decrease in the numbers exceeding the speed limits....