Results 8,041-8,060 of 9,753 for speaker:Terry Leyden

Seanad: National Consumer Agency: Motion. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: I had no intention of questioning the integrity of the Secretary General of the Department.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: I welcome the Minster of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to the House. The Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005 is important because it will decide the fates of many Members of the Oireachtas, particularly those in the Lower House, in the next general election. The people of County Leitrim have rebelled in light of certain concerns. As the last remaining Oireachtas Member for the Roscommon-South...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: There are constituents of mine in the Visitors Gallery and it seems appropriate to reminisce in this way. I made a strong submission to the commission but it refused my request to be allowed to make that submission orally. How is it possible that the commission could devise the constituency of Longford-Roscommon which is divided by the River Shannon, the longest river in the British Isles?...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: The Cathaoirleach should ask Deputy Cassidy whether it has acted fairly. The Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, has been left in a very vulnerable position as a consequence of the commission's recommendations.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: The terms of reference are very much influenced by the Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: Who decides the terms of reference for the commission?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: Will the Minister of State say who provides the mapping and statistical information to the commission?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: It is very relevant.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: The statistics are also available.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: The decision that County Mayo should consist of two three-seat constituencies had a knock-on effect on Roscommon and resulted in the creation of the new constituency of Longford-Roscommon. I wish to make another observation in this regard.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: I will do so. I wish to disclose to the House that former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and I lobbied a member of the commission to vote against the constituency revision in 1989. A vote was taken on this——

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: I am making the point that the commission had little regard for ensuring that Leitrim should be one county for electoral purposes. I put forward my case on the basis of the information I have as a consequence of putting the same case on previous occasions. The redrawing of constituencies affects the livelihood and future policies of the State and the ability of a person to be elected to the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: Does this mean they can be published? I am delighted if that is the case.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: This is not the first occasion on which I have challenged the commission to allow me to make my submission orally. This is an option that should be available. I put this proposal to the Minister of State although I am aware that none of my other suggestions found favour today. Like many others, I feel aggrieved at the general thrust of the commission's recommendations over the years. Will the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: Longford is relevant to Westmeath and Roscommon is relevant to Leitrim.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: The Clerk of the Dáil told me I should get a boat in order to visit constituents in County Longford.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: The voters of Leitrim have the opportunity to vote for Deputy Ellis and the difficulty will be overcome if they all unite behind him. This will mean Fianna Fáil will have one seat in Leitrim and one in Roscommon while Fine Gael will only have one. This represents a 2:1 advantage and indicates that we will be in a position to form the next Government. It is a simple solution to the problem...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: It is wonderful to play to the Gallery and perhaps garner some votes in the next general election. I wish Deputy O'Donovan every success in that election.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Terry Leyden: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his advice.