Results 11,601-11,620 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: This letter, which is dated September 2004, further states: As was agreed at our meeting, Mr Michael Guilfoyle, Assistant Secretary General, will work with the Commissioners in identifying the issues to be addressed in relation to the pier development and the future of the harbour. He would envisage, as agreed at our meeting, meeting the existing Board again (or a subgroup) on these issues...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: In case we have lost track of what has happened since we last debated this two weeks ago, the amendment proposed by Senator Donohoe states that "public consultation" means a publicly advertised invitation for submissions from stakeholders and the public. I am support this issue and I spoke about it with some brevity on the previous occasion. In case I had the wrong meaning of the word...

Seanad: Radon Protection Measures: Statements (13 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank Senator Brady for allowing me to say a few words and welcome the Minister of State to the House. I would prefer to discuss issues such as fishing, farming and tourism because I do not know a great deal about radon gas. I confess, however, that the woman with whom I share a home has two devices for measuring radon gas, one suspended from a light fixture and another in the bedroom....

Seanad: Irish Agriculture: Motion (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome this debate. I spoke earlier on rural Ireland and the fishing industry. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, who has strong links with Drimoleague in west Cork, where I believe he joined the Green Party. I would have encouraged him to join another party but he slipped through the net. The allocation committed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in...

Seanad: Criminal Assets Bureau Annual Report 2007: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I compliment the Minister on a fulsome debate on this important issue, at a most appropriate time given the unfortunate and tragic incident that occurred in Limerick. A point was raised by a colleague, and is often put to me, that it is perceived by the general public that some of the more reputed criminals find shelter in places such as Spain. I accept that CAB cannot do anything about...

Seanad: Criminal Assets Bureau Annual Report 2007: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister. I am glad we are having a debate on this important issue. Setting up the CAB is one of the success stories of the country from the point of view of dealing with organised crime. I accept Senator Regan's comment that the CAB legislation was introduced and passed by the rainbow coalition led by Fine Gael when former Deputy Nora Owen was Minister for Justice. I remind...

Seanad: Fishing Industry: Statements (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House. I do not want to go through the history of the fishing industry and the raw deal we got in 1973 where we ended up with 4% of the quotas with in excess of 20% of the coastal waters. For every 1 tonne of fish caught by Irish vessels over the years 20 tonnes were taken out of Irish waters by other EU vessels. That is historical...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Leader for his graciousness in allowing these debates. If we could have a debate on farming, fishing or other issues once or twice a year, I would welcome them, even if they occurred in lieu of legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I had the view when I came into this House almost 20 years ago in 1989 that Senator Norris was a very intelligent, witty, gregarious and broad-minded person. I take offence, however, at his condemnation yesterday of a debate the House is having today on the fishing industry. I have waited nine months for this debate and gave way on the matter last July. I appreciate and wish to thank the...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I respect and am delighted that these debates take place. Why not have a debate on fishing instead of one on extraordinary rendition? The fishermen are on their knees at present. I respect Members on the other side of the House who want debates on education, health or——

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: With all due respect, these debates were belittled.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I join my colleagues who condemned the appalling cold-blooded murder of Mr. Shane Geoghegan in Limerick. I know other Senators have spoken passionately, but as regards gangland crime I have no problem with the reintroduction of the Special Criminal Court. I know it is a serious step but it appears that a certain element involved in the drugs trade has no respect for jurors. Most people who...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: If that is the pressure being put on me, I have another way out of it by calling a vote and then taking a stance. However, I gave a commitment yesterday that I would not do that today. The Minister of State should not tempt fate because I feel very strongly about this. I will not be silenced, a Chathaoirligh, with all due respect. I am responding to the points made by the Minister of...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I will take what the Minister of State says in good faith. We are talking about a horse of a different colour. The Department's ports policy statement was published in 2005. The harbours listed are: Annagassan Harbour, Arklow Harbour, Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour, Kinsale Harbour, the River Moy Harbour, to which the Minister of State referred and which is under way, Sligo Harbour,...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 11 November.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The Acting Chairman may be able to envisage a layer of silt and gravel two and a half times my height. That is what has to be dredged. Then we can bring in boats and make Bantry an operating facility. I cannot forget the Costello report. I will bring it in the next day and read a good part of the contents because it is a historic report. Legally, we cannot ignore it because somebody will...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: As the Acting Chairman appears to be tuned in to me, I will try not to repeat myself.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I accept the Acting Chairman's point but I will return to this subject. Barack Obama had a dream and his dream is fulfilled. People in Bantry had a dream also. I want to read into the record a press release that appeared in The Cork Examiner in January 1985. I was a mere garsún then. That was the year I first got elected to Cork County Council. It was written by an eminent reporter with...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The article further states: She said the tests carried out yesterday would be used as a basis for making a submission to the EEC, and within 15 months, a scale model, costing about £20,000, would be submitted. It was hoped that the construction of the model would be carried out as a UCC post-graduate project. "What is being done today will lead to an analysis and from there to proper...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I understand the comments of the Minister of State, Deputy Ahern, and I am glad of his response. However, it is like the tale, The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Eventually people are asleep when the wolf comes and then the sheep are gone. The Minister of State referred in his response to the 1999 report, A Review of State Regional Ports and Harbours, also known as the KPMG report. There was another...