Results 781-800 of 1,714 for speaker:John Dardis

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: The Senator was speaking about himself.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: While I frequently disagree with him, Senator Ryan hit the nail on the head in discussing the sugar regime within the European Union. He is absolutely right that it is obvious the EU has responsibilities to the ACP countries and poorer regions of the world but it would be completely erroneous to believe those obligations would be fulfilled and the lot of growers in poorer parts of the world...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: He might come to the same end.

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: I want to pick up on the point that has just been made. I was encouraged yesterday to hear the Taoiseach say that the Common Agricultural Policy would be defended. It would be utterly wrong if the policy were to be sacrificed on the altar of trying to find a financial settlement to overcome some of the difficulties that are besetting the Union at the moment. A painful and difficult deal was...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: It would be wrong for the CAP, having been so difficult to negotiate, to be up for grabs again. We must be quite emphatic about this and support the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture and Food in everything they do. I also note that the French Government has taken a similar position on the matter and I hope that position will prevail. Senator Finucane raised the issue of roads and I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: It will only take a few vehicles stopping on a high quality, fast motorway because they have run out of fuel for a serious accident to occur. Then we will clamour in this House for a solution to be found to the problem. The solution should be found now before something like that happens. I recommend to the Leader that we have a debate on the role of the National Roads Authority and on roads...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: While I am not sure about Senator Terry's amendment, it is clear that she has raised an important issue. I was contacted by representatives of the Kildare network of People with Disabilities in Ireland. They said the possibility that the Bill might undermine some of the strengths of the Equal Status Acts is of pressing concern to them. They have called on Senators to keep that possibility in...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: In my experience, it is a standard feature of legislation that it explicitly states there is no financial dimension to it.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: It would state in one of the sections that no cost is incurred by the Exchequer. The unusual feature of this Bill is that there are several Ministers involved and not just one. In other words, if we were discussing the Garda Síochána Bill, we would not need to put this stipulation into it because it is within the budget of the Garda Síochána and the Department. If we do not put it in here...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: The rights are enshrined in the Equal Status Act and other legislation. People want equal rights. As I said on Second Stage, I have not heard anyone say they want superior rights. Equal rights are enshrined in the legislation that surrounds this area, some of which was introduced by a Labour Minister during my time in the House.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: Yes. There must be a stricture. The unusual dimension of this Bill is that it enables Ministers over a range of Departments whereas Bills generally deal with one particular aspect within a Department using that Department's budget.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (15 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: I apologise to the Minister of State and to the House for my absence from the debate on Committee Stage this morning. I attended a meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs and the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government. It is disappointing that we should have to specify any figure, regardless of whether this is 3% or 2%. It is unfortunate that we must do this to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: It is not like that in Killarney.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: I agree with Senator Quinn that we should emphasise people's abilities, rather than concentrating on their disabilities. That is increasingly happening. A Short Title is needed for the Bill, which deals with people who have disabilities. The purpose of Senator Terry's amendment is covered in the Title, which contains adequate details concerning the scope of the Bill. A shorthand Title is...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: Private bodies have obligations, but one cannot institutionalise within the legislation moral obligations for public or private bodies. As the Minister of State noted, the scope of the Bill is already very wide. Under section 2(1)(h), a public body can mean: a person, body or organisation (other than the Defence Forces) established- (i) by or under any enactment (other than the Companies Acts...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: We do not have the power under the Constitution.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: We cannot even amend the Finance Bill.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: I do not disagree that we should examine this issue under Seanad reform. However, this is a ruling from the Chair and is not a matter for debate. It would be entirely wrong therefore if, on the basis of what Senator Tuffy has said, the impression was given that something mischievous was being done to prevent these matters from being debated. I raised the issue of disability on Second Stage,...

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: Everybody should understand that this applies to all Bills and not just this one.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2005)

John Dardis: The amendment is exactly the same as the one adopted by the Dáil, except that is being inserted in a different place. It is now in Part 1 rather than Part 2. It probably belongs more appropriately in Part 1. There has been a difference of opinion among disability groups on the matter. There was a general desire among a number of them to have a three-year timescale. However, I have spoken to...