Results 841-860 of 1,637 for speaker:Labhrás Ó Murchú

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Let me take up the point made by Senator Francis Fitzgerald on the recent violence in Northern Ireland, which was absolutely shocking. The violence comes as a great disappointment to all those who have invested so much hope in our newly found peace and who believed we had entered an era in which people could sit down and settle their differences as equals. In this regard, one can only hope...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support Senator Cummins's remarks on the announcement by CIE Tours International that it will not include the Waterford Crystal showrooms on its itinerary in future. This is a retrograde step. Waterford has suffered enough, particularly with the closure of the Water Crystal plant and a number of other closures across the county. It is a backward step for the tourism industry because in...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: There has been a shift in recent years where tourism is concerned. There is a greater concentration on Dublin than on the country areas. There is no doubt that tourism faces challenges at present but by withdrawing the tour visits from areas like Waterford, in the long-term-----

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I doubt there will be an opportunity before the summer recess but we must discuss tourism in general because we are facing a serious situation. The message that is being sent out by CIE Tours International is the wrong message at this time. We should be trying to get back to the way we were seven or eight years ago, where every part of the country benefited from tourism. That is not the...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Over a number of weeks many Senators have expressed their concern as regards the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In recent days we have had first-hand accounts of how serious is that situation. Young people in particular are suffering because of lack of medicines and there is no food or proper housing. It is quite clear, based on the responses coming from Israeli sources that there will be...

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: D'éist mé leis an chuid is mó den díospóireacht anocht agus caithfidh mé a rá go raibh sé an-chabhrach, mar bhí tuairimí á nochtadh ar an dá thaobh. Is trua nach bhfuil an díospóireacht á chraoladh ar an teilifís agus ar an raidió. Sin easpa mór a bhí ann le linn an reifrinn deireanach, nach ndearna na meáin cumarsáide iarracht níos mó míniú a thabhairt ar cad a...

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (9 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The Minister without interruption.

Seanad: Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I wish to deal with a procedural matter relating to Bills to amend the Constitution. The substance of the debate on Committee Stage relates to the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment, which is contained in the Schedule to the Bill. The sections of the Bill are merely technical. Therefore, in accordance with long-standing practice, the sections are postponed until consideration...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire arís. Aontaím leis go bhfuil sé tráthúil go bhfuil an rún seo os ár gcomhair. Molaim an Lucht Oibre as ucht an rún a chur ar fáil dúinn. Tugann sé seans dúinn ár dtuairimí a nochtadh. Níos tábhachtaí fós, tugann sé seans dúinn tuairimí an Aire a chloisint freisin. Níl aon amhras faoi ná go leanfar leis an díospóireacht seo go dtí go...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: In normal circumstances, as a life-long trade unionist, I would vigorously defend the trade union movement and support its right to strike. In the case of the current electricians' strike, I accept they have the right to do that, but there is no other way of describing the present strike except as economic lunacy because the number of people who are being directly affected by this will run...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It is not so long since we had a debate on the Middle East during which we pointed to the change in direction of the new Administration in the United States, exemplified by the appointment of an envoy to the Middle East. Since the appointment of President Obama, the US Administration has taken a stronger line on Israel but it is quite evident that the Israeli Administration does not take any...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It responds with absolute impunity. It seems to hold the view that one can starve a population into subjection and deny it necessary medicines and yet in some way succeed in achieving a solution for the future. We know from Irish history that this has never worked. What is occurring is that the Israelis are creating a new generation of Palestinians who will realise that dialogue does not...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: Tá an samhradh ag sleamhnú thart anois agus deirtear go mbeidh reifreann nua againn maidir leis an gconradh Liosbón san fhomhar. Tá súil agam idir an dá linn go mbeidh seans againn sin a phlé anseo mar má tá ceacht le foghlaim ón reifreann deireanach is é sin go gcaithfimid éisteacht leis na rudaí atáá rá ag na daoine atá i gcoinne an chonartha. It is very important that the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support the call for a weekly debate on the economy, which has been proposed here before. It is not sufficient to have a related debate every few weeks on a given issue. If we are to do justice to this House and also endeavour to contribute to solving the economic difficulties, it must be done methodically. It should be possible to reach cross-party agreement as to what that method...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: The trade union movement has played a monumental role in the development of the economy, the creation of employment and, above all, in ensuring stability in industrial relations. We still have a significantly high level of employment but the challenge facing us is to ensure those jobs are protected and to create new jobs where possible. We should acknowledge the courage shown by a number of...

Seanad: Night-time Rural Transport: Statements (23 Jun 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I dtosach, fáiltím roimh an Aire agus an soiléiriú a thóg sé dúinn ar an gcóras iompair tuaithe. Déarfainn gur chuir sé eolas ar fáil dúinn nach raibh b'fhéidir ann go poiblí go dtí seo agus b'fhiú an t-eolais sin a bheith againn chun bunchloch ceart a thabhairt don díospóireacht seo mar is díospóireacht an-thábhactach í. I can recall the famous interview given by...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jun 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: I support the call for a debate on education which should take place in an informed and non-partisan way. If there is a perception abroad that the present debate regarding the Catholic church's involvement in education has its roots in anti-Catholicism then we should ask ourselves why that perception is abroad. One reason may be that the question is generally raised at a time when the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: It is a great source of concern and is very alarming to learn that more than 100 immigrants to the North of this island had to take refuge in a church because they feared for their lives. Among them was a five day old baby. These people have come under sustained, organised attack for a long period of time and it is only by the luck of God that nobody has been killed. It beggars belief that...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Labhrás Ó Murchú: -----in support of the people concerned because it took courage and they also came under attack. One can only imagine what the stories currently going out of this country are like. It is just one country. If we cast our minds back to the early Irish immigrants who went to America, one wonders what it would have been like if that community had come under the very same kind of attack. It is...