Results 11,361-11,380 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I support the Bill and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Mary White. I believe this is my first time to speak before her in this Chamber. I wish her luck in her new brief, in which I am sure she will be a breath of fresh air. I refer to an ongoing debate in this Chamber in which I have yet to speak, namely, the role of women in politics and so on. In that regard, it is a major plus...

Seanad: Business of Seanad. (28 Apr 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: As Acting Leader, I propose, with the permission of colleagues, that we extend our debate for 15 minutes in order to conclude Committee Stage. I know we will not be able to deal with Report and Final Stages, but it would be helpful if we were able to complete Committee Stage.

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed). (28 Apr 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: On Wednesday, 5 May 2010.

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: These are worrying times. The fishermen in the State must still go out and cast their nets. The farmer must tend his sheep and cattle this morning, irrespective of the financial disaster that has been outlined here today. Unfortunately, much of what has been outlined is true. I rise today in the midst of this crisis to speak about something close to my heart. I was promised a debate on...

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I do not have a prepared script but I have a significant interest in this area. I encourage the Minister of State to tackle this appalling vista as soon as possible. I do not know where we are going in our lives. I felt like quoting something from Thackeray but I thought I would bore the House. There seems to be a phenomenon about getting...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I also think it is an important point. I welcome the amendment because I have already raised the matter in the House. In Dublin, a number of people are registered as attorneys-at-law. In one instance, where a serious professional negligence issue arose, the Law Society told a particular client, who came to me as a constituent, that they had no recourse whatsoever. There are two if not...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (11 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: Would the definition include banks or lending institutions, or limited companies or associations? I often wonder about the relationship between a customer and a bank. Throwing my mind back to the famous tax amnesty, although I will not go into the rights and wrongs of the situation, I recall that the banks carried out a unilateral disclosure with a settlement, which was not always in the...

Seanad: Head Shops: Statements (Resumed) (11 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: It is like a menu for a Chinese restaurant.

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: On Tuesday, 23 March 2010.

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I have great empathy for the proposal being brought forward by colleagues on the opposite side of the Chamber. The Law Reform Commission indicated in its report that imposing a 5% levy would be a good step. I am somewhat enamoured of the concept. The Minister and his advisers and officials have probably considered the matter from various angles. I am sure he would be prepared to engage...

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: This issue was brought to the Minister's attention and I compliment him on taking the points made on Second Stage on board. The amendments allay the anxieties of those who spoke and I support them. Amendment agreed to.

Seanad: Multi-Unit Developments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (10 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome this amendment and thank the Minister for introducing it. I shall begin by make some brief comments on the amending of the original Bill to include mixed use developments. As my colleague stated, this situation is not confined to the greater Dublin area. There are examples in many towns throughout the country where a ground floor of a relatively new development might be for...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: Senator Bacik would like that parcel.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009: Second Stage (2 Mar 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I also welcome the Bill which is another bow in the armoury of those fighting organised crime, with which we have to deal. As the Minister said, the main purpose of the Bill is to transpose into national law the third EU money laundering directive which was introduced in 2005 and the associated implementing directive. It should...

Seanad: Harbourmaster Appointment (25 Feb 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to accept this motion on the Adjournment. He is familiar with the circumstances of the situation in Castletownbere. Substantial business is being lost to the town and to the peninsula because we do not have a full-time harbourmaster. An investment of almost €40 million has been made in Castletownbere Harbour, which is of significant importance...

Seanad: Harbourmaster Appointment (25 Feb 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Minister for State. I understand from what he says that the moratorium is tying his hands. I hope he can use his influence with the Minister for Finance to establish the exception he suggests in his reply and that the post will be advertised and filled before the longest day of the year.

Seanad: Arbitration Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Feb 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Bill and thank my colleagues on the other side for its speedy passage. It is important legislation that can have a critical impact on our commercial sector, nationally and internationally, in the future. I thank the House for passing this Bill. I thank the Minister of State for dealing with the matter in a swift and efficient manner. While I welcome balanced remarks on...

Seanad: Ferry Services (23 Feb 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment as it is extremely important. The ferry in question is due to have its inaugural sailing on 1 March, which is next Monday. There has been a ferry link for over 60 years from Cork to different parts of Wales, including Pembroke, Swansea and, before my time, Tenby. The service is worth approximately 1,100 jobs...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I call for a debate on the separation of powers. In the previous Dáil, as Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, I publicly and strongly put forward the suggestion that any interference or contact by Oireachtas Members with members of the Garda Síochána in particular should be outlawed. At that stage there was no cross-party support for such a move. It is an...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2010: Second Stage (17 Feb 2010)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and compliment him on the significant and magnificent work he is doing in the area of mental health. I support the Bill. The Minister of State through his portfolio has taken brave and strident steps in the area of mental health, in particular through the programme, A Vision for Change, which is magnificent and bold. All manner of road blocks...