Results 9,101-9,120 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (17 Apr 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Amendments Nos. 3 and 4 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (17 Apr 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Alan Kelly, to the House. Before we commence, I remind Senators that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except for the proposer of an amendment who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. Also, on Report Stage each amendment must be seconded. Amendments Nos. 1 and 71 are Government...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (17 Apr 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Amendment No. 2 in the names of Senators Barrett, Crown and Quinn arises out of committee proceedings. I call Deputy Barrett to move the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Apr 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Will the Leader organise a debate on the farming crisis? As someone who was elected on the agricultural panel I am acutely aware of the difficulties that farmers face after one of the toughest springs on record. March was the coldest month on record. This is a much bigger problem than the one in 2009 when the then Government made emergency funds available to help out the farmers. The...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I will conclude on this point. During the years I have been studying and practising law I have found the quality of the judges who have been appointed in the past 15 to 20 years has improved immeasurably. There are now some excellent practitioners and we have some fine judges in all the various courts, especially in the District Court and Circuit Court. They are very well capable of...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Fianna Fáil has mixed views on this Bill and while we welcome this debate in this House, I will be opposing it because my party probably is more against it than for it. That said, it is an issue that should be debated in this Chamber. Perhaps Members will be able to tease out some of their difficulties in this regard on Committee and Report Stages. At the outset and while I will not labour...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: With all due respect to Senator Bacik, she deviated substantially from the Bill and I-----

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Yes. Are issues of law and order not of relevance to the Bill?

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I said I was not going to dwell on it and-----

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: With respect, as I stated, I simply wished to mention the matter. I am surprised my colleagues have become so hot and bothered. It obviously is a very serious issue.

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I will return to the Bill but I wish to alert the Minister regarding this serious drochmheas, as we call it in west Cork, the rank and file gardaí have on the current ongoing situation. I will leave it at that but I have raised questions in this Chamber on the subject previously and did not get responses. The matter is ongoing and I consider it to be spiralling out of control. It is...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: While I will respect the ruling of the Acting Chairman, when a Minister's presence in the Chamber offers Members an opportunity to raise matters of huge public concern, it is important that they do so.

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: I will return to the Bill. The Fianna Fáil spokesperson on children, Deputy Troy, has published an in camera rule in child care and family law proceedings Bill 2013, which throws open windows on family law proceedings that have remained hidden for too long. This Bill, which is being promoted and advocated by my party, has greater transparency without jeopardising the need for sensitivity...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: That is merely a suggestion. With those few words, I wish Jimmy the very best in his retirement. I am quite certain that we will meet again. Our paths will cross. I sometimes walk in Marley Park but I do not think I could keep up with him. I now ask the Leader to conclude this very lengthy Order of Business, but a deserving one on the occasion of the retirement of our journalist friend,...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: The Leader to respond.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Before I call the Leader, I wish to pay a brief tribute to Jimmy Walsh. I have known him for a long time, as I have been in the Houses for approximately 18 years. I have become a friend of his. We have often exchanged ideas and so on. I am unsure as to whether he would see fit to accept a nomination to the House. If he did, he might find himself the lily among the briars. Jimmy is the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Hayden, without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Colm Burke to conclude, without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2013)

Denis O'Donovan: The Senator is-----