Results 6,001-6,020 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Seanad: Telecommunications Structures: Motion (8 Nov 2006)

John Paul Phelan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Telecommunications Structures: Motion (8 Nov 2006)

John Paul Phelan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senator Browne's point on the Child Care (Amendment) Bill. He is right to oppose the Order of Business. The Bill will be significantly amended in the other House and it is not right that we are expected to rubber stamp it here today without fully discussing amendments to be made later. I am concerned about the plight of middle-aged and elderly men in the countryside who often...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

John Paul Phelan: If Senator Minihan knew anything about rural Ireland he would know that agriculture and rural planning are very much interconnected. Clearly he does not. I second the amendment in the name of my colleague, Senator Bannon and all the Fine Gael Senators. Senator Bannon is correct. It is ironic that we are discussing housing. We have had a number of debates on housing in recent months. Given...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Leader for securing on my behalf a response from the Department of Health and Children about the primary school medical examination. Unfortunately, as is frequently the case with departmental replies, it was wholly inadequate because it did not say anything.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Nov 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children or one of her Ministers of State to the House to debate the primary school medical examination. We must ensure the examination, an important preventative health measure, is used nationwide because its implementation appears haphazard. I support Senator O'Toole's request for a debate on the recent report on global warming. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

John Paul Phelan: Senator Norris outlined pretty well the cohort of drivers involved and it is not long since I was in that age group. As a young man in a rural area, one must have a car to have a life because there is no other way to get around and to do what one wants. Most of the horror accidents occur in rural areas and involve young men. One must have a vehicle to socialise and work. There is a danger...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I support the call for a debate on the salmon drift netting report and I ask the Leader to arrange this as soon as possible. Senator Norris's reference to the dangerously low fish stocks is correct. People involved in snap net fishing on the rivers Nore, Barrow and Suir in my constituency have witnessed low fish stocks in recent years and unless firm action is taken by the Government, the...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on housing. I do not disagree with much of what Senator Ormonde said. While progress has been made, to borrow a phrase, there is a lot done and a lot more to do on the housing market. I recently attended a presentation which outlined some astonishing figures on housing production in this...

Seanad: Energy Resources: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I am glad of the opportunity to discuss the Green Paper on energy and to support the Fine Gael amendment to the Government's motion. The Green Paper is a case of too little, too late and we will not know for some time whether it will bring any changes to our energy supplies. The policies it proposes should have been introduced a number of years ago because we are now faced with continual...

Seanad: Energy Resources: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

John Paul Phelan: We all agree with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (11 Oct 2006)

John Paul Phelan: On the last point, it is appropriate for the Minister to attend the House. It certainly was not spelt out at the start, when the SSIAs were launched, that interest on those accounts would be taken into account when people were applying for third level grants. It is my understanding that in other areas people are losing social welfare entitlements because of interest earned on SSIAs, which...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: The Government still thinks it has something to do with making hay.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: We just want someone to provide the service, it is not a question of comparing.

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I join with previous speakers in thanking the Independent Members for tabling this motion. As one who represents a rural constituency, I come up against the broadband issue daily. I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. He represents a constituency with a large rural area and I am sure he comes up against the same problem. I am disappointed by the nature of the Government...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I wish to comment on the remarks made by Senators Brady and Ó Murchú with regard to the potential for undermining the tribunal's work by the leaking of personal information about the Taoiseach. It has not been shown that this information came from the tribunal or anyone connected with it. Senators should be careful before they express their views.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I am merely responding to the issues raised by two previous speakers, which represent an attempt to muddy the waters. Senators should be careful about the words they choose on this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: It certainly would be a serious matter if that information was leaked from the tribunal but that has not been shown to be the case. The information could have come from a number of sources.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: I have two or three questions to ask, if I am permitted to do so.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2006)

John Paul Phelan: Can the Leader arrange to have the Minister for Finance attend the House at the earliest opportunity to discuss the recent surge in the rate of inflation? Over the past few months, the rate has risen above 4%, which is well in excess of the rates in neighbouring EU member states and is higher than the projection made by the Government at the beginning of the year. I would like to hear the...