Results 11,541-11,560 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I would be very reassured then.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: At least the Minister of State would assuage public fear.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Cad é sin?

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Will the Leader ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House in the near future to deal with an issue about which I feel strongly, namely, the persecution of Christians throughout the world? There is an organisation in Ireland called Church in Chains. It came as a shock to me when I did some research on the issue that in many countries there is both a failure to have regard for...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: The Kenny report.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Feb 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank my colleague for the opportunity to speak first as I have another commitment. This issue concerns an outstanding scheme in Courtmacsherry and Timoleague in west Cork which has been committed to for many years. We were told money was ring-fenced for it. When is it likely to begin and is that money ring-fenced? When will we have progress of this scheme? At local authority level, it...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: On the issue of child protection and the proposal for a referendum on the rights of children, I was the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Constitution when it was asked by the then Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, to examine the issue of children's welfare. The committee unanimously agreed that the current constitutional protections of the rights of the child within the family was...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: ——stymie and could destroy any potential. I am seeking a debate on this, possibly a four-hour debate like we had yesterday on Bantry Harbour.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: It is like the smoke in a beehive.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I am back to the grindstone. I wish I had the same faith in the issue. It is important to refer to a report commissioned by the Bantry Harbour board from Raymond Burke, a consultant with departmental expertise who is acknowledged as a leading light. The report was published on 16 October 2006. He examined the current set up in Bantry Harbour, the socio-economic profile of the area,...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I always resented people calling quora. I thought people who did so were a nuisance but this quorum gave me the opportunity to get a small breath of fresh air and allow the poor bee who was smoke-filled to get a breath again. Returning to the demise and the bequest of Bantry Harbour, Bantry Port and Bantry Bay to Cork, I quote from the report of Mr. Raymond Burke. It is imperative that I...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I move amendment No. 8: In page 17, to delete lines 23 and 24. The taking of amendments Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, will make life easier for someone. It is probably unusual in Parliament that a Government Senator would table amendments to legislation proposed by his or her own Government. I have been 15 years in the Oireachtas and this is my first endeavour. I do not do this lightly....

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: I will refer to two more pages of this report and then I will hand over to the Minister of State. I will need a break because I am getting a bit tongue-tied. I appreciate the Cathaoirleach's efforts. People wonder about the financial viability of any port. In 2002, the board engaged a very professional group, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to look at the financial viability of Bantry. Obviously,...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: To resume on my amendments to section 18, especially concerning Bantry, I will continue with the quotation from the report. It states: These responsibilities require that the Port should have facilities of appropriate standard. Moreover, the terminal operators have a requirement for the loading and unloading of larger vessels of 320,000 DWT resulting in the most economic and full commercial...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: To deal with the issue of Government funding, the PricewaterhouseCoopers report states: The projections disclose a capacity to generate profits and cashflows over the ten years ended 31 December 2011 under review but also a requirement for an up front capital injection to finance the Port's proposed capital expenditure programme of EUR 6.3 million in relation to the New Pier Project. It goes...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: That is correct. There was no Labour Party Senator.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Not at the time in 1986 when the commitment to provide £5 million or £6 million was made. The report further states: The Commissioners aspire that the remaining state funding of EUR 2.8 million would be funded through a combination of allocations from the National Development Plan, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands and further allocations from the Department of the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: Unfortunately, despite my best efforts I was unable to attend the Second Stage debate. Most of my amendments are, however, rolled in together which is an advantage. I have the right, if I were so inclined, to insist on each of my amendments being taken separately. In that case, it would probably take us until the summer recess to complete Committee Stage. I am trying to be kind to the...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: He is welcome to do so. I am nearly halfway through this report.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Denis O'Donovan: In one sense the Minister of State has agreed to accept the amendment tabled by Senator Donohoe. I will not dilly dally too long on this issue. I am glad Senator Donohoe was successful in respect of inserting the right to consult in this process. On 8 January we celebrated the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Betelgeuse disaster at Whiddy Island. I will not go into the history...