Results 501-520 of 1,637 for speaker:Labhrás Ó Murchú

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: That is precisely what we need. If that is not done, we will hang our heads in shame in the future. We will be remembered as the Senators who missed a golden opportunity to do what was right by the citizens of this State and the people of this island.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I compliment Senators Rónán Mullen, Darragh O'Brien and Mary Ann O'Brien on co-hosting a briefing by One Day More this morning. A number of Deputies were also involved in this very moving cross-party event. One Day More comprises families with children with severe disabilities and who lost a child shortly after birth because of severe disabilities. In times of difficulty we look for...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: As other speakers have said, what happened at the weekend concert in the Phoenix Park should be a wake-up call, although we have had wake-up calls in the past, going back to the tragic killing outside the nightclub in Dublin. In between we have had several other cases which should bring home to us that we have a ticking bomb in society when it comes to anti-social behaviour. In fact, it is...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support the sentiments expressed by Senator Brennan this morning in regard to sports capital funding. During the good years, excellent infrastructure for amateur sports in particular was put in place in communities throughout the country. The question is often asked if this is a luxury that should be sidelined at a time when the country is economically challenged. However, it must be...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (4 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Any legislation or debate on wildlife in the House is to be welcomed. It exercises the minds of people from time to time and stag hunting was one such issue. We have heard it in relation to coursing as well. That underlines the interest in and concern for wildlife, which is not confined to people living in rural Ireland. It applies to anyone who is concerned...

Seanad: Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I thank the Minister for bringing the Bill before the House. The debate was positive. I support the point made by Senator Ó Clochartaigh that the Minister consider bringing the primary legislation first to the Seanad. This is not a reflection on the other House but I have found in respect of legislation and other matters, apart from the normal political cut and thrust, which is necessary,...

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: An coiste cumarsáide a bhí ann.

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá stádas faoi leith bainte amach ag comhchoistí an Oireachtais, agus is maith an rud go bhfuil sé sin ag tarlú. Nuair a bhí Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge á cur le chéile tháinig na heagrais uilig isteach chun ceist na Gaeilge a plé agus chuaigh an comhchoiste chomh fada leis an nGaeltacht chun bualadh le breis agus 30 eagras...

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Bhí an ceart ag an Aire Stáit go mbeadh seans againn daonlathas nó easpa daonlathais a phlé níos déanaí, nuair a bheidh na leasuithe eile os ár gcomhair agus tá sé tábhachach iad a chur agus a phlé. Is é an bunús atá leis an leasú os ár gcomhair ná fáil amach na cáilíochtaí nó an stádas atá ag na baill atá tofa le bheith ar bhord an údaráis. The Minister made an...

Seanad: Gaeltacht Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It comes back to the point about the experts that the Minister raised. Some of those people who had all the paraphernalia are no longer around and therefore the difference between common sense and expert is not too wide. That is something we might have an opportunity of balancing, and that is the reason I thought comhchoiste an Oireachtais might play a role in that regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Perhaps it has already been mentioned, but will the Leader consider arranging a debate on Northern Ireland in the near future? Will he also request that the Taoiseach attend for the debate? Everything has been raised to a new level in recent years, which would be emphasised by the Taoiseach's presence. In normal circumstances, a handshake is a simple matter. Yesterday's handshake was...

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions: Motion (27 Jun 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire, agus tréaslaím leis na Seanadóirí neamhspleácha as an rún seo a chur os ár gcomhair. Cabhraíonn sé i gcónaí a leithéid de rún a phlé mar tugann sé seans dúinn uilig ár dtuairimí agus ár dtaithí a gcur ar fáil eadrainn féin. Is é mo thuairim go bhfuil gach duine ins an Teach seo taobhach agus cabhrach le haon rud a bhaineann...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: In recent months we heard a story from China which concerned the forced abortion of a seventh month old baby. This was done to comply with the law of the state. The story outraged the world and the people who brought that story to the world was the family of the woman and child in question. We salute that family from a human rights point of view, but the story has taken an unusual turn in...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: As I came out of Croke Park following the International Eucharistic Congress, I saw an army of young people handing out anti-abortion leaflets. My reaction was that it is the only way they are going to get their message across, because I do not find them succeeding in getting their message across in the media. I was also delighted that it was young people doing this work, and there were no...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support the views expressed by Senator Sean Barrett who has done the House a particular service in seeking to have a solution found to problems identified in the Gaeltacht Bill. If legal and constitutional issues arise with the legislation, it would be better to have them addressed before Committee Stage is taken on Thursday. People living in the Gaeltacht have been waiting for the Bill...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: A second issue relates to planning in rural areas which has been raised by Senator O'Donovan. It is important to have a debate if there are issues to be discussed. It is not a matter of taking shots at An Taisce or anyone else. I do not believe any fair-minded person wants to see the countryside destroyed in any way, but on the other hand, there are a lot of questions to be answered and we...

Seanad: Decade of Commemorations: Statements (7 Jun 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Is mian liom céad míle fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Níl aon amhras ná go bhfuil áthas orm go bhfuil seans againn ár dtuairimí i dtaobh an chláir cuimhneacháin a nochtadh. Is maith an rud é go bhfuil mioneolas á thabhairt. Ba cheart go mbeadh tuiscint sa Seanad agus lasmuigh i measc an phobail ar céard go díreach atá i gceist. Ta mé lán-cinnte go mbeidh dea-thoil ann don...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: We have had extensive debates on the household charge and it has featured intensively in the media for a long time. It might be well worth our while to have a discussion on why the campaign against the charge has gathered such momentum. It has taken us all by surprise. One of the reasons for it is the perceived anomalies and inequities in our taxation system. For instance, if somebody is...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: In response to Senator Bacik's point, relations between Ireland and China, which have been enhanced in recent times, have huge potential for Ireland. During the years I have had the opportunity to visit China and see the improvements and progress made and the openness that is developing in its society. Many might not be aware that Ireland enjoys iconic status in the diplomatic folklore of...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: This House has a very honourable tradition in the matter of promoting human rights. We have monitored and responded to human rights abuses and humanitarian crises throughout the world. I bring to the attention of the House a humanitarian issue nearer to home. The highly respected human rights champion, Monsignor Raymond Murray, has brought to our attention the plight of Ms Marian Price who...