Results 521-540 of 1,637 for speaker:Labhrás Ó Murchú

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I do not think it is acceptable that a bank can set down that a deposit of €2,500 will decide the individual's worth to the welfare of the banking system. It is a crude instrument, particularly when one considered that some of the dispossessed, who will suffer as a result of AIB policy, would have had jobs at the time the bank was bailed out and their taxes would have been used to keep the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: We are living in unusual times. At present, the more one has the more concessions one is allowed, however, those with less will have no voice and will be sidelined and will suffer in loneliness. In view of what the State has done for the banks, it is time to stand up and with one voice leave them in no doubt that headquarters should reverse this unjust decision. The bank must be left in no...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, to the House. Nothing focuses the mind like having served on both sides of the House and what one had to say at any given time. I will not concentrate on what Government Members said when on this side of the House, rather I will concentrate on what I said when on the opposite side. Each Member of the House makes an effort to be reasoned, in...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I have found the debate illuminating and wish the public could hear more of it. One of the difficulties will be getting the message across to allow the people to make up their minds in a relatively short period. This morning I paid my household charge. As I wrote the cheque I thought of all the people who did not have the €100, who might only have €10 in their pockets. I accept this...

Seanad: Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: Statements (14 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: We will not have much choice but to support the treaty and will be in hock to the European Union for a long time to come. From the first day we joined the European project our sovereignty has been diluted, although the extent to which it has been diluted has been overstated. What we have to do now is give hope to the people once again. If we do not and are not seen to be providing jobs and...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: There are 365 days of the year on each of which we can find reasons to be proud of our achievements as a nation. During the years we chose St. Patrick's Day as the focus for that pride. I was sad the other evening while I was listening to a programme on RTE on which there was a vox-pop. People were asked what St. Patrick's Day meant to them. With few exceptions, drink was mentioned by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Yesterday, the House earned some kudos as a result of the united non-party concern and support expressed for our emigrants. This was in the context of Ministers travelling abroad for St. Patrick's Day. Some of the kudos may have been tarnished this morning. It seems each time we discuss jobs, it is like pressing a button and we go into the mode of name blaming and scapegoating straight away.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: If the thousands of young people queueing up to leave the country saw a replay of the debate this morning, would they consider our concern and support to be real? I believe their attitude could be summed up by: "A plague o' both your houses!" We have said many times that some issues should be set apart from political expediency and the issue of jobs should be one of these. There were...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Mar 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Deirtear go bhfuil thart ar 70 milliún Gaeil scaipthe ar fud na cruinne. Is ionann é sin agus a rá nach bhfuil náisiún na hÉireann ar an oileán seo amháin, tá sé in aon áit a mbailíonn na Gaeil le chéile ann. Tá ard-mheas tar éis teacht ar an tír seo toisc na Gaeil seo a bheith ag feidhmiú thar lear. Níl aon amhras ná go bhfuil siad tar éis cabhrú linn ó thaobh...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I thank the Leader for arranging for Senators to pay tribute to a late and much loved colleague, Mickey Doherty. This House has a good record in acknowledging and saluting former Members who have gone to their eternal rest. It is particularly important to do this, not only for us to pay tribute to them but also to indicate to their families and the wider community the respect we have for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It is generally agreed that a good decision has been made to hold a referendum, which had been requested by all sides in this House, as well as among the public. As public representatives, three options are available to Members. First, they can stay quiet, keep their heads down and let others take the flak. Second, they can oppose it and feed on the anger which evidently exists. However,...

Seanad: Standing Order 18: Motion (23 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I recall what the very well known rosary priest, Fr. Peyton, used to say, that the family who prays together stays together. I wonder if there is a message we can send to the Taoiseach, that the Seanad that reflects together may stay together after the next referendum. I compliment those responsible for what we are now discussing. It lifts my spirits that common sense and self-respect have...

Seanad: Media Standards: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: With the agreement of the House I will share time with Senator Daly.

Seanad: Media Standards: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome the Minister. I found his contribution though provoking. He made a great effort to bring balance into it. That is the experience we all have when talking about the media. On the one hand we see the great good which they do, because most organisations in this country, whether they are political or otherwise, need the oxygen of the media to get their...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: On the closure of the Irish embassy in the Vatican, the intervention by a former Irish ambassador to the United States is exceptional by any standards. The incisive and supportive editorial in The Irish Times brings this issue very much centre stage. Mr. Seán Donlon was one of the foremost and most highly respected members of the diplomatic service. He served in the United States at a...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: We are all aware that church-state relationships have not been good for some time past. People on both sides of the argument have felt hurt in this regard. Often, this comes down to individual families. I believe Senators will have noticed the feeling abroad that it is time to move on. If we do not move on when the opportunity arises, it may not come again in the near future. The...

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 Feb 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I thank the Minister for his presentation. It might be somewhat slack on detail but he sent many positive messages regarding the importance of local authorities. There are a number of words the Minister should consider. Identity is very important so perhaps the Minister would comment on it. Community is also important, and the Minister referred to it a number of times in his contribution....

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: One does not have to be prophetic to conclude from recent events that the EU is at a crossroads, and by extension Ireland is at a crossroads as well. There will be a temptation, in the interests of political expediency, to engage in posturing rather than to act at this time. It would be wrong and disingenuous, however, of any Member of the Oireachtas to play on the fears and suffering of...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The Seanad played a significant role in the work that led up to the peace process, about which we are all so pleased. It held regular and balanced debates and many of the contributions we heard were based on the personal experience of Members from their interaction with their counterparts in the North and its different traditions. The achievements which have flowed from the peace process...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Next June Ireland will host the 50th international eucharistic congress, which will involve 25,000 participants from five continents on a daily basis and culminate in a ceremony attended by 80,000 in Croke Park. We have had a long period of reflection in Ireland on church-State relations, particularly between the State and Rome. Many people believe it is now time to move on. It would be...