Results 1,101-1,120 of 1,677 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I am happy to answer the Leader. Every schoolboy knows the expression.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: If one's hand is in the till, it means one has been caught red-handed doing something.

Seanad: Membership of Committees: Motion (19 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: My point of order has been made by Senator Ó Murchú. I was also going to ask whether it would be in order for the Attorney General to be called here to deal with the Leader and the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I second the Senator Mullen's amendment to the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I join others who have expressed deep concern about bypassing the selection committee. It is another example of the creeping arrogance we are witnessing all the time. The Leader needs to take on board the statement made by the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Chairman of that committee, Senator O'Donovan, who is a moderate man. On the theme of arrogance and coercion, a report in today's Irish...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: He obviously succeeded in getting turkeys to vote for Christmas, but now he wants them to chop their own heads off.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I have referred a number of times to the poor platform crossings in rural railway stations. As I was waiting for my train in Charleville last Tuesday morning, I witnessed two elderly people with luggage trying to mount the metal bridge to cross from one platform to the other. I went to their assistance. It is ridiculous in this day and age that lifts cannot be provided in rural railway...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I do not have a lot to say as it is a bit after the event and anything I would say is probably obair in aisce. However, I would not let the occasion go without saying some few words. This is probably the saddest day in my lifetime in politics. I came into politics at a very young age. I was born into a political family and was the secretary of my local Fianna Fáil cumann at the age...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Like other Senators, I express my deep disappointment at the decision by the religious orders not to pay their share to the compensation fund for their victims. It is really regrettable and one wonders if these people have learned anything, because it sends out a very bad message. Is it that they do not have the funds, or are they are not prepared to cough up? Now that we are coming to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: In the interests of democracy - we have been joking about the burning of the Reichstag but we are coming close to that type of climate - it is essential that the Minister, Deputy Bruton, comes to the House, before we go any further in considering the Bill to abolish the Seanad, to explain the rationale behind his assumption that the Bill would be passed and the arrogance of that, which is an...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (15 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I dislike using a scripted speech, but this matter is too important for ad-libbing and I want to be sure I say exactly what I want to say. I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome the opportunity to discuss this Bill and give my opinion on it. I have listened to the debate in the Lower House, I have assiduously followed the TV and radio debates and I have studied the various articles...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: That information will have to be made known because there will be other debates in which this group will get involved. What amounts is it spending? We must account for what we spend in even a town council election. These people are spending millions of euro more than any political party ever spent on a referendum or general election. I want to know from where that money is coming.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Yes, a little. However, I am crediting the Taoiseach's courage on this issue.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I will conclude shortly.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: While the Taoiseach often does what is right, his judgment on this matter is off as everybody in this House and in Government, including Cabinet Ministers, knows. The statement by a former Senator and colleague that abolition of the Seanad would result in savings of €50 million was repugnant and subversive in its own way.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: I will not use the word used by Senator O'Brien as it is unparliamentary. It was certainly a shocker and a whopper. It, too, has not been mentioned since. The two main issues put forward thus far by the Government in support of the abolition of the Seanad, including the creation of a star chamber as proposed by the Taoiseach and that €50 million would be saved, as suggested by...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: One does not destroy it in one fell swoop. The history books show us that those who subverted democracy did so in an insidious way by inches. All of a sudden, one woke up in the morning to find one's parliament was gone. For our ancestors in the cave, there was no democracy. The biggest caveman with the biggest club became the tribal leader and everyone else did what he said. To a...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Yes. In more modern times, we have seen how fragile democracy can be. With the exception of the French revolution, which was an overnight and sensational affair, other governments were gradually taken over. The classic example was the fascist movement. Mussolini appeared to be a man of the people at the beginning, but he then decided to usurp control and famously marched on Rome,...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Ned O'Sullivan: Very relevant, because it is about democracy. As Senator Walsh and others have stated, it is about opposing "abolition day". I rage against that expression. It will be a day of shame.