Results 6,021-6,040 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan
- Seanad: Pension Provisions. (6 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: The final part of the Minister of State's speech seems to indicate there will be some movement on this issue in the near future and I welcome that. It is important to note that the gratuity payment is only back-dated to May 2000. Perhaps it can be back-dated further.
- Seanad: Pension Provisions. (6 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: There are many former and current local authority members who would have served for many years before May 2000, who would not be covered by such a gratuity. Having said that, I am happy with the last part of the Minister of State's response. I am not hung up on the issue of whether it would be a pension or gratuity and most councillors would not be either. It would allow councillors to have a...
- Seanad: Communications Masts. (6 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: Fine Gael is a popular party of which to be a member.
- Seanad: Pension Provisions. (6 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I wish to raise the issue of pensions or, at least, enhanced gratuity payments for retired members of local authorities. I think the Minister of State may have been a member of a local authority. I was as were Senator Bradford and the Acting Chairman, Senator Moylan. I do not think I am eligible for a gratuity or a pension, however. We are all familiar with people who have given years of...
- Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I also thank Senator Browne for giving me the opportunity to speak on this matter. I wish to leave the Minister of State in no doubt as to the depth of feeling in the country as to where the â¬143 million worth of funding should be allocated. I am firmly of the view that Greencore should not get one cent of that money. Following the privatisation of Irish Sugar, that company now finds itself...
- Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, and his officials. I support the Labour Party motion and commend the party on giving its time to a discussion on this worthy subject. I have never previously spoken on Middle East affairs in the Seanad and I am pleased to have the opportunity. Along with other Members of the Oireachtas, I had the chance to travel to Israel and Palestine to...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I said the number for the south east region is lower.
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: There has been a large increase but the number participating is below the national average.
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I wish to share time with Senator Tuffy.
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I welcome the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, and broadly welcome this Bill. I agree with much of what the previous speaker said. Most of the amendments suggested by my colleagues seem to centre on the timescale for the implementation of the Bill and I know they will be dealt with on the next Stage. I am glad that the issue of people with disabilities seems to have...
- Seanad: Institutes of Technology Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I did turn out well. I graduated in May 2002 and in July I was elected to this House. I want to commend the record of the institutes of technology and the work they have done over the years in different parts of the country. There is an institute of technology in my Carlow constituency, a thriving institution like the Waterford Institute of Technology. I wish to refer to what the Leader said...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I join with others in raising the issue of the report on electronic voting which was released yesterday. Like Senator Norris, I opposed electronic voting from day one. At this stage, the Government should cut our losses and try to sell these machines to the city of New York if it wants them, rather than throw good money after bad.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senators Dardis and à Murchú regarding An Taisce. A prevailing attitude among members of that organisation and other people in Dublin is that we in the countryside live in some type of zoo and that they would like to preserve our quaint mannerisms and activities. Speaking as a rural person, it is important that people continue living in rural Ireland if it is to develop. We...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senator Ulick Burke in respect of Teagasc's report on the World Trade Organisation talks. It is important that the Minister for Agriculture and Food holds the line and ensures no further concessions, which she has done so far. If there is to be a viable rural agricultural enterprise, she has our support.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: It should not have been expended in the first instance.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: The Senator is getting top marks in his summer report.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: He was a Kilkenny man, not a Waterford man.
- Seanad: Financial Services Regulation. (4 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: I thank Senator Bradford for allowing me the opportunity to contribute on this matter. I concur with the sentiments of Senators Bradford and Coghlan. All Members have been lobbied by those involved in the Irish League of Credit Unions on section 35 of the 1997 Act. In 1997, there were probably legitimate and understandable reasons these limits were imposed. Ireland has changed much since then...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)
John Paul Phelan: The Minister for Transport is probably the man responsible for clamping in Dublin. It was the responsibility of the former Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Callely, and may now fall under the remit of his successor, Deputy Gallagher. In the past six months a new company has taken over responsibility for clamping in the city. A serious incident was brought to my...