Results 741-760 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I am very grateful that the Senator would pay the tribute to me that I appear to be more fulsome in my apology. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, I am sure he was also quite fulsome. I just was not there to witness it. Senator Alex White asked why we do not have an independent police authority as is the case in the UK. Given that we have created the Garda Síochána...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Fair dues to the Senator. It is important that we are sceptical of these. However, I believe the Senator knows where I am coming from in that regard. I do not believe I need to add much more. I found most of the contributions very enlightened. It is good to see how the Upper House is performing its duties. I accept that people are acting in good faith. Senator Regan obliquely referred...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Some issues can be handled behind the scenes and flushed out.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I have found over the years that the most difficult dilemma I have faced as a constituency Deputy is what to do when approached by a constituent seeking a social welfare entitlement to which I knew, anecdotally or otherwise through my own sources, he or she was not entitled. What does one do?

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Does one help somebody whose intent is to skew or defraud the benefits system? It is a major dilemma because many Deputies like to secure a vote and cover the situation with a letter.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: One of the issues that has arisen is how a Member handles confidential information.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Nobody has suggested that the then Deputy, Jim Higgins, or Deputy Howlin acted in bad faith, which is the important message we need to get out. We need to be careful to mind our privileges and use them well. I thank the Senators for their contributions. Hopefully, we will never have to revisit this territory again.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The publication of the sixth, seventh and eighth reports of the Morris tribunal brings to a close a six-year investigation into misbehaviour on the part of members of the Garda Síochána in Donegal during a period in the 1990s. On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I would especially like to thank Mr. Justice Morris and his team for producing eight comprehensive...

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Which former Taoiseach?

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: I did so myself.

Seanad: Morris Tribunal: Statements (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: In fairness, Senator Regan——

Order of Business (30 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Deputy Coveney knows this morning that I said I would fully retract it if that was his request. I am delighted to retract it here on the record. I am also delighted Deputy Varadkar is not as precious as his colleagues over there.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Notwithstanding the increase of €302 million in the education budget for 2009, which is a real achievement in the current economic climate, a number of tough and difficult decisions had to be taken. These decisions included reducing the level of language support teachers from a maximum of six extra teachers per school to a maximum of two teachers per school, as was the case before 2007....

Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy needs to check a dictionary. He used to be a teacher for a short period.

Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy's party cannot do its maths.

Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Is Deputy Varadkar writing these scripts?

Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: The Deputy is able to make mistakes as well.

Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: We can bring somebody in.

Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Deputy Varadkar wants to bus them out and segregate them.

Education Cuts: Motion (29 Oct 2008)

Conor Lenihan: Deputy Naughten should talk to his colleague beside him. He wants to segregate them but denies this.