Results 5,841-5,860 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: However, there would not be as many. There are differences.

Seanad: Higher Education Grants. (7 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey. He has become a regular visitor to the House in his few months in the Department of Education and Science. Like the issue I raised on the Adjournment yesterday, the matter I raise today relates to a small proportion of the population. I am aware of a student from my own area in County Kilkenny who is in her first year of studies in Trinity...

Seanad: Higher Education Grants. (7 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I would not argue with the Minister of State's response except for the last point about appreciating that the proposal to move to introduce a different method of means assessment or to abandon the means testing requirement for students dependent on those in receipt of State contributory pensions would have significant financial implications. I do not know the figure in terms of the numbers...

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I think the report card would say: "Can do better."

Seanad: Education System: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: He is her husband, not her brother.

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: That explains everything.

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senator McDowell's argument on the M50. I would not necessarily agree with building new motorways but there is an inescapable argument for a new orbital route for Dublin city. The Taoiseach has referred to it on several occasions but no concrete plans have emerged. I would like to see it pursued as a matter of urgency. The M50 is no longer a ring-road for Dublin city and is...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I agree Moate's traffic congestion is bad and I have been caught there several times. However, it is still not as bad as New Ross. I feel sorry for the town's inhabitants who have become prisoners in their own homes. Some time an individual in the town will require an ambulance but it will not reach them because of the long delays. Before the Minister leaves office in the next several...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (6 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Haughey, to the House. The issue I raise on the Adjournment concerns special needs in education. Recently, I was presented with a case in County Kilkenny involving a child with Down's syndrome who attends her local national school. Following much agitation by her parents, she has secured 2.5 resource hours...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (6 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I understand the Minister of State's answer but there are several points I wish to clarify. He stated, "With the thousands of resource teachers now in place in our schools, each school has enough general allocation hours to provide its pupils with a level of support appropriate to their needs." I could mention several schools that do not have access to adequate resources. This statement...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the opportunity to raise some issues regarding the Bill. Previous speakers touched on most of the major issues. I agree with what Senator Leyden said in his opening remarks, that this issue has been long-fingered in recent years, which is a pity in light of the scale of construction that has taken place in the past ten years. I refer in particular to the grading of insulation for...

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: He is in the godfather category.

Seanad: Building Control Bill 2005: Second Stage (6 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: It is essential that those who have full architectural qualifications would be acknowledged, but equally, people who have practical experience of working in the business over many years should also be acknowledged. There will be an opportunity for further discussion in that regard. An area of particular concern to me has been that of enforcement in planning. While there has been an...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I hope my GP is not watching because I am not supposed to be here today. I was somewhat queasy before coming to the House but I am doubly queasy to find that I agree with virtually everything said by the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I have not been in this position since the Minister of State left his former occupation.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the credit union movement and thank Senator O'Toole for bringing forward this Bill. I am in complete agreement with the Senator on the issue of savings protection but do not agree on the mechanisms he proposes. I am thus in a quandary in that regard. I believe everybody would support the principles behind the Senator's proposals because an enhanced...

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (1 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: That is why the Senator is in Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Credit Union Savings Protection Bill 2007: Motion to Withdraw. (1 Mar 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I second the motion.

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (21 Feb 2007)

John Paul Phelan: The Minister has not acted on this for the past ten years.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (21 Feb 2007)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senator Mooney's request for a debate on climate change. I had a discussion yesterday with somebody involved in the bio-fuel sector. The Government is committed to achieving a target of 5.5% mix in all petroleum products of bioethenol. We will have to double our production of grain and grain products if we are to meet that target. There has been no concerted effort so far in...