Results 941-960 of 984 for speaker:Aidan Davitt

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Go raibh maith agat. I hope that Senator Coffey will forgive me. I credited him, Deputy Kelly or the Government of the time with 75 houses, but the Minister stated that it was 72. There is a disconnect. I do not want to misquote the Minister, but my understanding is that we are discussing just under 50,000 houses within five years from next year onwards, or a little under 10,000 houses...

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Excellent, I commend the Minister on that practical thinking. Being able to renew a permission a second time would be a step forward. As to the over-regulation of engineering, we all want houses built to a certain standard and our standards are high, but they incur a significant cost on building. Perhaps this issue could be re-examined. The Minister touched on the question of deposits and...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Something caught my eye yesterday and some of the other Senators have touched on it today. We are aware that we have a horrific record in relation to refugees and we have debated it on numerous occasions. I have witnessed this at first hand in Athlone and again in Mosney. I could only describe them as detention centres. I was concerned yesterday to read that the Minister for Justice and...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2016: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: In Cavan.

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2016: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Quite a few Senators have mentioned the GDP figures, but by the Department's own admission it is a distorted figure. We are talking about approximately 20% of the 26.3% being down to multinationals and inversion deals.It accounts for a huge part of the GDP figures. Many of these companies are locating in Ireland because of the low corporation tax rate. We need to think outside the box and...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I raise an issue that has been raised by a couple of my colleagues in the House and I call on the Minister to come to the House as soon as possible. There is great concern about the inversion deals and companies, as has been alluded to, using Ireland as a base for tax reasons only. I know there has been some limitation in America to try to stop some of these inversion deals but the figures...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I welcome the Minister of State whom I know well. He is a neighbour and a hard-working and diligent Minister. I have no doubt he will look at Seanad reform and all the nuts and bolts that go with it. I pay tribute to Senator Michael McDowell. The ferocious fight he put up for the retention of the Seanad has to be appreciated. Many political parties wanted to win a fight and thought it...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I like the honesty of my colleague, Senator Richmond, who said he would prefer to be a Member of the other House. It reminds me of my mother when I was growing up. She always wanted me to play football for Kerry but I was born in Westmeath and for whatever it was worth I had to play for Westmeath.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: We cannot change the cards we are dealt. On a serious note, there is no doubt this is substantial legislation. Change is needed, nobody disputes that. We are all aware of that. Some very good measures have been proposed, such as the diaspora having a voice and possibly an all-Ireland vote. As I have stated here the people have already spoken in respect of the Seanad. The people voted...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I congratulate the Minister on his new post. I will keep this quite simple. I have known Senator Dolan and all the great work he has done for people with disabilities over the years. I often hear people in my locality speaking fondly about Senator Dolan and the work he has done. I am certainly delighted to support his motion today. People with disabilities should be prioritised in any...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I shall pick up where we were interrupted yesterday. I was delighted to second the motion, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, on pay and conditions for councillors. Having come through the town and county council systems, no more than Senator Murnane O'Connor who spoke about the same issue, I am acutely aware of the distressing circumstances in which councillors find themselves....

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: The Leas-Chathaoirleach is letting me speak now because my contribution was cut short. Yesterday, I did not get to speak on this matter because we ran out of time. I wish to finish my contribution.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I appreciate that. I wish to say two lines about the matter and then I will be finished.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. On behalf of the Seanad, Senator Diarmuid Wilson represented the all-party group. I appreciate the time and shall finish where my contribution was cut-off yesterday. I am surprised that the Leas-Chathaoirleach has asked me to move on but I am also surprised by the comment made by Senator Conway-Walsh. The highest rate of child poverty in the UK can be...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: When Senator Ardagh spoke, nobody interrupted her. I let Senators talk, without interruption.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Nobody answered when Senator Conway-Walsh spoke. Fianna Fáil never heckled her or whatever else so I ask for a little bit of fairness.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: As a result of the fact that Sinn Féin Senators do not want to put up their hands and say something constructive, they piggy-back on everything else. I am very disappointed at such behaviour.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Sinn Féin, in order to hold on to power in Northern Ireland, has cut carer's benefits and returned disability assessment to Westminster. Plus, 20,000 public service jobs were cut.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Before Sinn Féin lectures us-----

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Aidan Davitt: -----and starts talking about Fianna Fáil-----