Results 6,921-6,940 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: The Senator must be one of them.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: Two of them were on the television last week outside the gates of the Houses.

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: It is with great pleasure that I will vote against this legislation. I agree with much of what Senator Wilson said. He spoke about consistency, party loyalty and so on, but the word "hypocrisy" sprang to mind when I was listening to him because he will be voting in favour of the Bill. That is disappointing, but it is what we have come to expect. In that past week Fianna Fáil backbenchers...

Seanad: Local Government Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: What about MEPs who may be members of Údarás na Gaeltachta? Will they have to resign their membership of that organisation after the European election? If there is to be consistency in the legislation, it should cover more than Deputies and Senators who are members of local authorities. The legislation is entitled the Local Government Bill, but it is really all about the abolition of the...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (5 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: Will giving power to the managers automatically protect our environment?

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: I join my colleagues in expressing regret at the manner in which the Government is trying to ram the legislation on freedom of information through the House tonight. I agree with the amendment proposed by my colleague, Senator Brian Hayes.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: The Senator has one minute remaining.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: Knowing that many of the Government Senators are probably not used to being up this late I was thinking of proposing that we bring in some hot cocoa and slippers to comfort them.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: Perhaps.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Leader.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: Many speakers have referred to the role of the Progressive Democrats, in particular, and the awkward position in which they find themselves in regard to the legislation. Others have referred to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, who prior to the general election climbed all the lamp posts in his constituency of Dublin South-East and further afield to put up...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: He was not even a member of the Progressive Democrats at the time he launched his wish list; he wanted to be party president and change the name of the party to the Radical Party. He said they had to be either radical or redundant. He is now redundant.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: The electorate will have a different response the next time around.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: The Minister of State will be getting his redundancy papers in the near future – the sooner the better. I read some of the contributions to the debate on the original Act. There was a very interesting statement by Deputy O'Dea, now Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. He was once famously described as Mighty Mouse in Limerick and a church mouse in Dublin....

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: I am glad Senator Leyden brought up that issue, something that is creeping into many aspects of public life. At the council in Kilkenny Fianna Fáil forced through proposals with the help of its Independent allies which will result in people having to pay a fee to apply for the disabled person's grant. Fine Gael opposed this move vehemently. I also strongly object to the possible introduction...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: She stated it in the Chamber as the record will show.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: It was very interesting. I believe the Senator does not know what she is talking about.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: The Senator referred to the fact that two of the Senators who contributed to the debate did not have Irish accents. I have an Irish accent, a south Kilkenny one, of which I am proud. If a person is elected to this Chamber, it does not matter what kind of accent he or she has, be it African or Asian, which many now have. All Senators are entitled to express their views on this important issue,...

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: The Senator said she did not believe in freedom of information. That was the line she used.

Seanad: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (4 Mar 2003)

John Paul Phelan: Perhaps it is symptomatic of what the Government feels about freedom of information.