Results 501-520 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is fantastic to see Fine Gael promoting its female Members in honour of St. Brigid's Day.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: In the past various women's groups have asked me about the possibility of making St. Brigid's Day, 1 February, a public holiday. It would be good to debate that matter. There are nine public holidays in Ireland, while in France there are 11, in Italy there are 12, in Austria there are 13 and in Spain and Portugal there are 14. I am of the view, therefore, that there would be great merit in...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: -----in the context of the number of days spent in government during the past 23 years. We now lead Fine Gael by 964 days in government to 963.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: That is a good point to make.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: My proposal that Lá Féile Bríde be celebrated as a public holiday - in honour of women, the Earth and the environment - is worthy of consideration.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State. This is the first time I have had the pleasure of debating child care. It is fantastic that there is a Minister of State with responsibility for children. It is very progressive and the present Minister of State is doing a very good job. Overall, I agree with the Bill. It is good legislation that will help children and in particular cases it will provide a...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The loyal Independents are not always in Opposition. I commend those Independents who in many ways keep this House sane and working. They constantly add to the debate in the Chamber and therefore I commend them.

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I would not go that far. Consideration should be given to the proposed amendment. It will be the responsibility of the Minister and the Government to take the final decision. This is a good Bill and I commend it to the House.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Order for Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister. It is great to be here to listen to Members on all sides commend a Bill introduced by a Green Party Minister. It is also timely. It is a shame it was not introduced many years ago because we would have avoided the effects of what has happened in north Mayo since. with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Deputy Ring gets a good vote out there.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Mayo is a Fine Gael stronghold.

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2010: Second Stage (28 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Good.

Seanad: Haiti Disaster: Motion (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I acknowledge the presence of the Cuban ambassador and I am delighted an ambassador from another Caribbean country is present for this debate because this is time for solidarity with Haiti. All islands must think of the devastation in the country. Before the earthquake happened, Haiti was in enormous political difficulty. Ireland and Cuba - even though I have heard good reports about that...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Yes, I do.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I ask the Leader for a debate on the state of the railways in Ireland. We discuss roads on many occasions but there does not seem to be much debate on railways. I refer in particular to my neck of the woods. I hope there will be positive news in the not too distant future with the western rail corridor opening. Over recent years there have been major improvements in the railways...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I do not think the DART to Dingle will happen.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We have a fantastic new road from Galway that allows people to get here very quickly.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: No, it is not the bypass, it is another road. Investment in, use of and management of railways has not improved to the same extent as roads improved during the Celtic tiger era. To a large extent we are talking about management rather than a major amount of investment. There is good rolling stock and good signalling systems so a good debate on railways and how we can improve them is...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The issue of patronage is not properly sorted out. The school has not happened yet.