Results 781-800 of 1,637 for speaker:Labhrás Ó Murchú

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The political turbulence of recent weeks is distracting from the main issues that affect people's daily lives. Thousands of people are still in danger of losing their homes. Hundreds of thousands of people have no jobs. There is much confusion and anger because the issues that concern people are disappearing from the radar. The Government has taken determined action where that was...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Is mian liom freisin fáilte faoi leith a chur roimh an Seanadóir nua, a bhean chéile agus a chlann. Tá mé cinnte, ón méid atá cloiste agam, go mbeidh an Seanadóir Dearey in ann seirbhís speisialta a thabhairt don Teach seo. Go raibh rath Dé ar a shaothar. Last week, I discussed the issue of the false passports used in a high profile murder case. I understand from the media that...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: -----and was acting on behalf of its government, we have reached a serious situation.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I hope that, despite the interests of maintaining friendly relations, we will not sideline this issue. I will explain why I am saying this. Once a blind eye is turned in one case, it can be done again.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: If the Irish Government or its agent carried out the same act using passports from another country, one could take it as being certain that it would be viewed as a most important and serious international incident.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The protection and security of Irish citizens at home and abroad should be a paramount consideration of this House. Ireland enjoys a particularly high status internationally, mainly because it never colonised any other country. It has always been seen to be helping with missions, peacekeeping forces, etc. This status has been very important to us. On the issue of Irish passports being...

Seanad: Power Sharing Agreement in Northern Ireland: Motion (17 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I dtosach is mian liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire anseo agus tréaslú leis de bharr na hoibre atá déanta aige. Ar ndóigh thug sé gliondar croí dúinn gur éirigh chomh maith sin leis nuair a bhí na comhráite ar siúl sa Tuaisceart, agus buíochas mór le Dia go bhfuil an dul chun cinn sin déanta. I compliment the Minister and the Taoiseach on the role they played in the recent...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The last time I spoke about the horrific sexual abuse of children I suggested that if we concentrated too much on the resignation of bishops, we could do an injustice to the victims. I believe that has happened. The horrific hurt felt by victims has become secondary to some extent. Even this morning there was a very broad swipe at the Catholic Church, involving everything from the Angelus...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Le blianta anuas, bhí seachtain na Gaeilge againn gach mí Márta. Caithfidh mé a rá gur éirigh go hiontach leis. Tá sé fásta go mór anois. Beidh coicís na Gaeilge againn i mbliana, ag tosnú ar an 5ú Márta. Tá sé suimiúil gur daoine óga, sa chuid is mó, atá i mbun an chlár an-mhaith seo go háitiúil, go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta. I hope that the Leader will...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Yesterday, a new salary and expenses regime for Deputies and Senators was announced. This is an important piece of the economic recovery jigsaw towards which we are all working. It is particularly important that Members of the Oireachtas are seen to be bearing the hurt the same as the public do in so many areas. Some of the difficult decisions made to date by the Government are now bearing...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Yesterday, Senator Mullen raised the issue of the intention of Raidió na Gaeltachta to cease broadcasting the weekly mass. At the end of the month, a delegation from the Oireachtas committee whose remit covers the Irish language will visit the Connemara Gaeltacht in connection with the draft 20-year strategy on the Irish language. Will the Leader ask the committee to meet Raidió an...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I agree with Senator Norris. It was very important that the Garda defended its action in assisting a witness in a recent court case to uphold her privacy. Some sections of the media got particularly animated about that as if in some way a right was being taken from them. The position is clear. The witness was a co-operative witness and at the same time that witness had been paraded...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: If that action had not been taken, can one imagine the media crush outside the court? That misfortunate person has lost her privacy anyway for a long time to come. We should have a debate in this House. I was glad to hear the Garda say it may not be the last time this will happen. This was an exceptional case, but the Garda also said that it was possible in future that the same would...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Supporting home industry and buying Irish-made goods will be an important part of the economic recovery. In recent times many people have been enquiring in shops about Irish-made goods in the belief that they are protecting and maintaining jobs at home. However, it has come to light that the branding on some imported goods is misleading and people are buying goods they believe incorrectly...

Seanad: Water and Roads Infrastructure: Motion (3 Feb 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The Minister without interruption, please.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The damage done to roads by the recent frost is both extensive and dangerous. I am not talking about the normal damage from wear and tear; anyone who has travelled the roads realises that we are talking about a major operation being required to remedy the damage caused. It is difficult to see, however, how the manpower available to local authorities in the short term can remedy the damage;...

Seanad: Haiti Disaster: Motion (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I wish to share time with Senator Daly, by agreement.

Seanad: Haiti Disaster: Motion (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I commend the Minister of State on the role he has played in Ireland's response to this terrible tragedy. We are not strangers to tragedy on a vast scale. It was asked in regard to the Great Famine why other people did not help us in our hour of need. Those who came to our assistance have since become part of our folklore. The full extent of this tragedy and its effect on the people of...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I concur with the views of Senator Cannon on one-off housing. He referred to a conference he attended and the view expressed that one-off housing did not contribute to community life and community spirit, which is at variance with the facts as we know them. In Britain the village concept involves congested housing but in Ireland the traditional village community was always understood to...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2010)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: One hopes that the extension of time which has been granted to the Northern talks augurs well for a possible solution. The mere fact that the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister are attending alongside representatives of the various parties is an indication of how far we have come. We have overcome many historical and political obstacles to reach our current position. If the current...