Results 521-540 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The Fine Gael benches are quite lively this morning. It is good to see.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I support Senator Bacik in her call for this debate. It is important that the Minister for Education and Science comes to this House to debate a range of issues.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Like other Senators, I would welcome a debate on the issues of cycling and recycling. Any time a Senator calls for a debate in the House on waste policy, I will absolutely support him or her because it is a crucial issue. I very much welcome the comments of Senator O'Sullivan on cycling. The legacy of Seán Kelly and Stephen Roche is certainly in danger. Cycling is not just a matter for...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: That is not true.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Stags are very different.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State. I also welcome this important legislation, which will provide for a much better environment for dog breeding. I am a former member of Galway City Council and there is one dog warden in the city, which is not sufficient to deal with the large number dogs, including strays, in the city. Dogs are bred for fighting, to which another Member referred earlier....

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Indeed. A point being made loud and clear by Fine Gael concerns the exemption of hunt clubs. I echo the point Senator de Búrca made that it is not good to exempt groups. Why not exempt other dog breeding establishments? Many people are involved in animal welfare. It is quite clear that most establishments which breed dogs are perfectly good. Dogs are a man's best friend and are loved...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: If this legislation works for one group of people, it should work for all groups. Why exempt one group of people? What is the purpose of this? Obviously, there must be some ulterior motive. I am not sure why Fine Gael has this ulterior motive. I do not understand the purpose of exempting breeding premises. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure a good standard, good welfare and...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: What is Fine Gael afraid of?

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There is a suggestion that this will destroy the whole rural way of life for generations. The suggestion that this Bill, which is straightforward animal welfare legislation, will destroy a way of life or a rural culture is a gross exaggeration. I cannot understand from where this is coming. I do not see the logic in it other that there is some ulterior motive which is not being expressed...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: By calling a puppy farm a hunt, one would be exempt. What is to stop people using that provision to get around the rules and the good practice set up by local authorities? This Bill is about good practice and animal welfare. If people are afraid of that being applied to them, I suggest they have something to hide. It is in the interests of the hunts to comply with this legislation. That...

Seanad: Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Second Stage (26 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Why are they afraid of this?

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I support the calls for a debate on the decision to dissolve the NUI, particularly as NUI Galway is located in the city in which I live. The latter institution will be obliged to change its name if the dissolution proceeds. The other matter on which I seek a debate is that relating to sail training vessels. As Members are aware, the Asgard ll sank in recent months. The name "Asgard" has...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am delighted to welcome my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Governemnt, Deputy Gormley, who is absolutely committed to Seanad reform. I have spoken to him about the matter on many occasions, most recently when I saw this motion on the Order Paper. I contacted him by text message and suggested we support the motion. He was quick to reply and agree. I will...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: A referendum. He said he would like to abolish the Seanad on assuming power.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I understand that.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: His wish was to abolish the Seanad. I would like to know his rationale. I felt he was grabbing headlines, which was unfortunate. He was being outmanoeuvred by his Opposition colleague, Deputy Gilmore, and therefore felt he had to make a grand statement on abolishing the Seanad. I could make a statement in the House on abolishing Deputy Kenny with a view to looking for headlines.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Perhaps we should have a referendum on the issue. These considerations are churlish. Somebody said to me that the Roman Emperor Caligula appointed his horse as a Senator. In my locality, people were calling me a horse and I am sure many other Senators are called horses. This is nonsense. We do not appoint horses to the Seanad, thank God.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (20 Jan 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Nor do we have-----