Results 481-500 of 1,677 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

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...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: We need to know why Chinese people want to come to Ireland and what their travel patterns are but we do not have enough data on it. I welcome the take-up of tourism promotion on the part of local authorities. When I was a county councillor we were always trying to get management in Kerry to be more hands-on and proactive in promoting tourism in the county. We are an easy county to promote...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: As John B. Keane said, it is an awful responsibility to be a Kerryman. On the question of regionalisation, 40% of our tourism is made up of the Dublin market while the next strongest is the south west, with 19%, while the west is at 13% and the poor north west is at about 5%, which I cannot understand. I know that infrastructure and bad roads are a reason and I was pretty shocked at how...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: He would say that, would he not?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: It is unusual to see a politician praising a politician whose name appears on the same ballot paper.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Ned O'Sullivan: Senator Norris is to be congratulated for being so full in his praise of Senator Bacik. She deserves the recognition of the House for her work over the years. Personally, when I was a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, I found her help, advice and guidance very valuable. Returning to the comment of Senator Feighan, I agree this is not a...