Results 641-660 of 2,099 for speaker:Ivor Callely

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Ivor Callely: I support Senator Hanafin's views on Irish jobs. It is an issue I already raised in the House. Senator Hanafin is correct on the importance of a debate on this issue at which the Minister will be present in the House. I concur with Senator Coffey's comments on the need for upskilling for those who may change employment in the current climate. I congratulate FÁS and Skillnets on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: Will the Leader consult individuals and political groups in the House to explore what steps we can take to help economic recovery, not just with proposals, policy initiatives or suggestions of such nature, but with our actions? It is important when things are so difficult, and likely to remain difficult for a considerable period, certainly throughout 2009, into 2010 and perhaps into 2011,...

Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I congratulate our colleague, Senator Ross, on bringing the Bill before the House. As he indicated when he introduced it, it is relatively short and simple and should be welcomed. I very much welcome the broad outline of the Bill in the explanatory memorandum, with which nobody could disagree. It is one to which every Member would sign up. Senator Ross and the rest of the Members were...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: Senator Buttimer is a long time on that side.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I listened with interest to the call to invite the Minister for Health and Children to the House to debate these matters. I support that call. I have participated in debates with the Minister in this House on a couple of occasions and I have found her interaction with Members of the House and her frankness on issues most helpful. Of course, there is the issue of whether she is available...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: Need I mention social welfare improvements, free travel passes, free travel companion passes and other benefits? I would welcome our having the Minister present to debate these and related issues as soon as possible. Some Senators might see where I am coming from in asking the Leader my next question, which is related to what I have heard today. It concerns the fact that there is some...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: That is why I am saying it. Maybe the Leader will clarify this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: It is with interest that I hear the contributions of my colleagues after the introduction of budget 2009, with expenditure just shy of €60 billion. Some of the aspects are quite serious——

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: ——but have been overshadowed by one issue. There is confusion, with which I will ask the Leader to assist us. The confusion is over a genuine concern about the proposal to withdraw medical cards from those who, heretofore, qualified for a medical card on an eligibility basis. It is important to send a clear message from this House. I support the views of my colleagues who stated that...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I am sorry. I have raised issues with the Cathaoirleach and the Leader about the HSE. I have stated that the jury is out on certain matters. In March 2007 I raised an issue and was told that my figures were incorrect. I was told this by the HSE and many other authorities. The matter I raised on that occasion has been ruled on this week by the courts and the HSE was found wanting. The...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2009: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I have listened to the various contributions to this budget debate with great interest. I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate at a time when the global economy and the world financial markets are in a state of freefall. The collapsed economy and financial markets are such that the various attempts by governments, the European Union and institutions do not seem to have had...

Seanad: Unemployment Levels: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I welcome my good friend and colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Billy Kelleher, to the House. One of the fundamental indicators of our economy is the level of employment. The most recent data available from the Central Statistics Office indicate employment has increased by 7,000 in the past 12 months, to a total number of people at...

Seanad: Unemployment Levels: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I regret I am running out of time because I would like to expand on this point. I say to the Minister of State, his officials and the banking groups that I would welcome the opportunity, which is merited, to have a think-in to ascertain how we can resolve the issues that exist. The Minister of State referred to the numbers of people affected by the downturn in the construction industry....

Seanad: Unemployment Levels: Statements (15 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: ——leave this room today with agreement to appoint either a rapid response group or a senior departmental official to work with the banking sector and SME representatives along with pragmatic players in the marketplace to help address such important fundamentals especially at this time. I regret I have run out of time, as I would like to continue in this vein.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I congratulate the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Fachtna Murphy, and his Garda team on their response to a botched robbery near my constituency office in Killester last night. A man in his 20s who was involved in a stabbing incident at the scene died later in hospital, sadly. The Garda Síochána has arrested a man in his 30s. I understand good progress is being made with the investigation. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

Ivor Callely: I ask the Leader to clarify the position regarding young people in the 14 to 16 age category who may or may not be deemed to be troubled or who run into some form of difficulty at school and on making a fresh application to another school experience some difficulties in getting back into the education system. I ask the Leader to find out from the Department of Education and Science the...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (30 Sep 2008)

Ivor Callely: We are living in unusual and unpredictable times. We all recognise that conditions have changed utterly. The global turbulence we are experiencing and the statements by legislators, economists and leaders in various fields indicate an uncharted and difficult future. For a considerable period there was tremendous optimism in the Irish economy. Over the past decade, this great country has...

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (30 Sep 2008)

Ivor Callely: I regret that I am running out of time——

Seanad: Economic Situation: Statements (30 Sep 2008)

Ivor Callely: ——but I ask the House to give me a little time to put some facts on the record.