Results 41-60 of 190 for speaker:Mark Dearey

Seanad: Prohibition of Depleted Uranium Weapons Bill 2009: Committee Stage (17 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I hope the passage of this Bill will encourage other countries to introduce legislation on depleted uranium weapons. A raft of other legislation will probably be required in the future because depleted uranium weapons leave behind a legacy that affect civilians, rather than military personnel. Their legacy is not covered by the Ottawa and Oslo treaties which set out specific requirements...

Seanad: Chemicals (Amendment) Bill 2010: Second Stage (16 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I welcome the Minister of State. I noted and agreed with Senator Phelan's comment that it was important in these difficult times that competitiveness remained a priority. While the explanatory memorandum to the Bill acknowledges there is no cost to the Exchequer, it is important that the burden on business is kept to a minimum. It is important to recognise that, when talking about...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: One of the core principles of the Green Party's philosophy revolves around the concept of living within limits and in a sustainable manner. This means that, in the context of business, transport and production, we must recognise that there are environmental limits which apply. The Green Party also believes that economics also involves respecting limits. While it may have been the intention...

Seanad: Protection of Intellectual Property Rights: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I regularly look back through my record collection. The labels include Two Tone, Terri Hooley's Good Vibrations in Belfast, Stiff Records and Mulligan Records. I revelled in buying albums that did not come from EMI, Warner Music or any of the big labels. There was a real antipathy at the time towards the industry and the punk movement was probably a way of showing two fingers to the music...

Seanad: EU Directive on Temporary Agency Work: Statements (10 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I welcome the Minister of State. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this topic ahead of the consultation process. Speaking as an employer, I highlight the precious nature of a job and the importance of the relationship between the employer and employee. In my case, my relationship with staff is binary, as was the case with Senator Quinn. I thank Senator Quinn for his story, which he...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey: Motion (10 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I second the amendment to the motion tabled by Senator Glynn. I do not want to do down many of the relevant points made by Senator McFadden and all previous contributors, but we must recognise the fact that the Government has stepped up its efforts to deal with this issue. The expert group has been meeting - I understand it met today - and its proposals will be presented to local...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey: Motion (10 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: These issues are being addressed.

Seanad: European Council: Statements (9 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: The Minister of State is welcome. I wish to address two items that were dealt with at the European Council meeting last week, namely, preparations for the climate summit in Cancun and the establishment of a robust and credible permanent crisis mechanism. I shall take the latter item first. It is clear the day such a mechanism will be required has been in the offing for a long time. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I, too, call for a debate on the economy following the visit of Commissioner Rehn. I remind the House that he has said political consensus would be helpful in the situation in which we find ourselves. We all have a duty to take on board what that means. However it is implemented, consensus will help Ireland's recovery. To rubbish it is premature and irresponsible given that the call was...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: The question with the Croke Park deal is whether we can find agreement across the House on its review date. The review date of March next is probably too late. While I appreciate that is what has been agreed, an earlier review would be extremely helpful in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. It would allow us to reconfigure what has been achieved so far. I acknowledge what has...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I would welcome that debate.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I would like to be able to answer Senator Fitzgerald's question. I find myself speaking on the issue of Seanad reform while still learning what the Seanad is about. Perhaps getting the perspective of a Seanad novice might not do any harm in this debate, coming as I did to the House in February this year. A number of things struck me. The first was the resonance the Fine Gael leader's call...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: A certain amount of time filling takes place and there is a leisureliness to the way matters are conducted in the Chamber. I say this with the greatest of respect. I do not understand why we are not dealing with more legislative proposals.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I excuse myself on the basis I am still a relative novice here. I hope Members will excuse me.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: Not forever, but for six months, perhaps.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (3 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: There are occasions when we give our opponents a stick to beat us with and these are errors we could avoid. Even in the restricted context of the present situation, we could generate a much more positive impression of the Seanad. Overall, the wider framework of political reform is the context in which a much more radical overhaul of Seanad procedures and functions should be considered. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I assure Senator Healy Eames that this Government and the Greens within it certainly appreciate the importance of education and the need for it to be at the heart of any economic recovery and the need to keep the cost of entry into third level education as low as is humanly possible. There is no doubt that the registration fee increases have made it difficult for some and that further...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Mark Dearey: I think the Senator will find that part of the political process is to enunciate our position. That is my duty and I am doing it now. I thank the Senator for her advice. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Pat Carey, to the House to talk about the essential area of support for people in receipt of the addiction services around the...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Mark Dearey: I wish to pick up on some of the themes addressed by Senator Hannigan. I welcome his support and that of his party for this document which establishes baselines. With the problems we encountered associated with the financial crash, the property crash that followed and the legacy of ghost estates, the starting point is the question of how many and where? While the figures associated with...

Seanad: National Housing Development Survey Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Mark Dearey: The real blame lies with a planning law that was all about driving development. In so many ways it was a developer's charter. There was a lack of adherence to superior planning documentation and national strategic planning documentation. I find it difficult to believe that such legislation found its way onto the Statute Book, that one could have a statutory basis for the national spatial...