Results 6,581-6,600 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with my colleague, Senator Bannon, on the national car test. I raised this issue last year and requested that the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, come before the House to discuss it. It is time we did so. When the Minister comes into the House, it may be apt to ask him what he proposes to do about continued significant delays between...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

John Paul Phelan: Perhaps she was but it was not on my watch. It would be opportune to invite her to come before us again to discuss comments she made last week, particularly on the crisis in hospital accident and emergency departments in this city and throughout the country. It would also be opportune for the Tánaiste or her colleague and good friend, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, to come in to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Oct 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senator Coghlan's comments on stealth charges. This issue was prominent in some of the newspapers this morning. Most people would be very disturbed to see that we had the third highest increase in stealth charges of the OECD countries. The new Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, would do well to investigate this. Let me raise an issue I raised with the Leader last week. Will she...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

John Paul Phelan: Will the Fianna Fáil Senators make up their minds in calling for a debate on Northern Ireland? Senator Ó Murchú rightly proposed a debate on Northern Ireland moments after Senator Mansergh said we should not talk about it at all for fear of upsetting people.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

John Paul Phelan: They should get on message on this issue. My colleague in the other House, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, released information that the current rate of increase in the number of gardaí is 80 to 81 per year. How does the Government propose to square that with its commitment of 2,000 extra gardaí in its lifetime? At the current rate, it would take over 25 years to reach the figure of 2,000 extra...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: They will still do so.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: Senator O'Meara without interruption.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I remind Members that it is not good parliamentary practice to refer to persons outside of the House while speaking in debate in the Chamber, whether the reference is one of praise or criticism.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: The Leader should vote according to her conscience.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with Senator White's remarks about house prices and the general level of indebtedness in the economy. I also agree with Senator Ross's suggestion that the Governor of the Central Bank be invited into the House. While it is a matter for another body, it is worth considering. It is, however, ironic that the Government is bellyaching about first-time buyers when its actions and those of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: There is a "but" however. It is somewhat surprising that she loyally supports the Bill as a member of the Government. At a time when the public is so cynical about politics——

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: ——that she would say she had serious problems with this legislation and still support it is surprising. I take exception to that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I read in one of today's newspapers about the conditions in which the State pathologist operates. According to the article, her accommodation is a pre-fabricated building in south County Dublin. It is time that accommodation is improved for someone who holds such an onerous and important position and deals with over 230 suspicious deaths every year. Senator Quinn is quite correct to comment...

Seanad: Maternity Protection (Amendment) Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I also wish to compliment the Minister of State and his officials on my own behalf and on behalf of my colleague, Senator Terry, who is unavoidably absent. The Bill will certainly provide increased protection in this area. Senator Cox has raised a good point. We continuously lament the fact that younger women, in particular, are not involved in politics, yet this is an obvious stumbling block...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I echo what Senator O'Meara said. I compliment the Minister of State who seems to have taken on board many of the concerns expressed in the Seanad when this Bill was previously discussed here. I refer in particular to amendment No. 51 which deals with the issue of an accompanying person. This is an area in respect of which all Senators received correspondence. I am delighted the Minister of...

Seanad: Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Minister of State for his work on the Bill to which amendments have been accepted from this side of the House. I thank the Minister of State on my own behalf and on behalf of my colleague, Senator Terry, in her absence, who dealt exclusively with this Bill on behalf of my party when it was previously before the House. I have not previously heard the concerns expressed by Senator...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: There is no question.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2004)

John Paul Phelan: Is the Minister perhaps preparing to shine his light in Europe?