Results 8,861-8,873 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome the opportunity to speak in favour of the Bill. We are entitled to bring our Constitution and our laws into line with other European countries' laws on citizenship in order not to create unintended incentives which are unfair to us, our people or other European countries. This Bill will provide that in the case of a child born to non-national parents at least one of the parents must...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The referendum is all about bringing Ireland into line with EU citizenship law. Let us take Australia as an example. There, a child born to parents who are in the country illegally has no claim to citizenship. The same applies in the United Kingdom, in France and Germany. For some strange reason we do not hear people complain that these countries are racist because of their laws. How,...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can only relate the facts as they affect the Southern Health Board. I was chairman of that body for a period. In January 2001, asylum seeker attendance at maternity services amounted to 5% of those seeking the service. In June 2001, that figure had risen to10%, in January 2002 it rose to 11%, in June 2002 to 12% and in February 2003 it had risen to 18%. Part and parcel of the problem was...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: They are also very aware of the value they place on citizenship and the way Irish citizenship is revered throughout the world. The important message I hear from people on the doorsteps is that the sanctimony of that citizenship is all important to them. The referendum is not about race, a particular date or the Good Friday Agreement, despite what those opposite would have us believe. This...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The revelations in the newspaper this morning were interesting. They revealed that the only confused party on this issue is the Labour Party.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: This morning's report in The Irish Times stated that in 1998 the Labour Party asserted that an amendment to the citizens' provisions in Article 9 of the Constitution could be made without reopening the Good Friday Agreement talks process. All of us will know that is contrary to the hot air emitted from the Labour Party yesterday and in the past when it claimed that amending Article 9 runs the...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is totally out of line with its previous policy and the people who read that article and the revelations that emanate from it will be aware that the Labour Party has not been consistent on this issue. It has let itself down badly. We were also subjected yesterday to the usual sanctimonious ranting from the Labour Party. It was the customary mix of insinuation, allegation, whinging and...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Labour Party is not supporting this referendum because it does not want to admit that the Government has got it right on this issue.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The interruption is a further indication that the Labour Party's latest dance is purely motivated by base political opportunism and, unfortunately, it has got it wrong again. It is attempting to whitewash over its previous position on the issue in a desperate attempt to grasp much-needed media attention. In the past, the Labour Party rocked the foundations of the State. There were several...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (17 Feb 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 480: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the first-time house purchasers grant will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [4784/04]

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 504: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is his understanding that An Bord Pleanála should adhere to Government policy when arriving at appeal decisions; and his views on whether public trust will be severely diminished. [3153/04]

European Presidency: Statements. (20 Jan 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Is that agreed? Agreed.