Results 11,681-11,700 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2008: Second Stage (9 Jul 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Like the previous speakers, I express my sincere sympathy for the family of Séamus Brennan, former Senator and Member of the other House. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy John Curran, to the House. This is the first time I have spoken here while he has been present...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: On the points made by Members of the Opposition regarding the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, I, as spokesperson on justice, would have no problem if the House were to sit next Tuesday and Wednesday to conclude the legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: Perhaps it should be considered by the Whips. My learned colleague, Senator Regan, mentioned the legislation primarily concerns public order. I do not disagree entirely, but I must state that the question of the 170 theatre licences issued this year is being ignored. Unscrupulous people are taking advantage of a loophole in the existing legislation to obtain licences that were never...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank the Cathaoirleach who is a most indulgent and patient man. I ask the Leader if there is any possibility, given the difficult situation in the fishing industry, of having a brief debate on the issue before we conclude this session next week. In particular, I am concerned about the fact that most, if not all, crewmen are self-employed and they seem to have been ignored by the Cawley...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jul 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: It is an inhabited island off west Cork. The man in question is getting his house built for €127,500. In that context, are we getting value for money? I believe the point speaks for itself.

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I thank my colleagues on the Opposition side for their support for the Bill, by and large. I thank the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, for listening to the concerns of my colleagues and for tabling appropriate amendments to clarify some small issues. This is an important Bill which recognises the role of the Irish language in the legal profession, which includes both barristers and solicitors....

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I support my colleagues who have raised the issue of over regulation. When regulations come down the track from Europe we, as a country and as a people, seem to automatically accept them. We should have a debate on this issue and I ask the Deputy Leader to facilitate that. For example, a farmer can produce 50 free-range eggs. I know a particular family which produces free-range eggs and...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: That might not be enough.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: That leads me to a point on planning permission. The area of planning in rural Ireland is another on which I also ask for a debate, although not before the end of this session. I have discovered in the new county development plan that three quarters of my entire electoral area, the Bantry electoral area, which has 16,000 to 18,000 people, covering all of the peninsulas, can never be built...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: There is a credit crunch taking place that we have not yet even seen where the banks are squeezing and squeezing, and yet, as Senator Ross has stated, some of the directors are being paid annual earnings of €4 million plus. They are thinking selfishly. If the banks do not play a role in the economic recovery it is time the Government told them to come on board on this one or else the ship...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: It will be like hitting the——

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: ——iceberg and holing the ship. The banks cannot selfishly walk away from the situation which they are responsible for creating over the past decade.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I raise the old chestnut I have raised from time to time. Will the Leader arrange a debate on the fishing industry? Unfortunately, the industry is in deep crisis. There is a major problem and some fishermen are on the verge of bankruptcy. We can talk about the rising cost of fuel, other costs in a tightening economy, such as payments for boats, etc., but in my lifetime — I come from a...

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Second Stage (14 May 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: Next Tuesday. Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, 20 May 2008.

Seanad: Economic Outlook: Motion (14 May 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome the new Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh. I congratulate him on his elevation and wish him the best of luck in his new brief. I am sure he will fulfil it with great passion, as did the previous Minister. It is great to see Members of the House get elected to the Lower House and then climb the ladder. In the past we all had those ambitions but some of us took a step forward and...

Seanad: Rural Development: Statements (14 May 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this important issue which is close to my heart. I wish the Minister, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, well on his re-appointment. He is a former Member of this House, having served here with me from 1989 to 1993. I acknowledge his tremendous work on behalf of rural communities. We hear much about the disadvantages of living in rural areas, and...

Seanad: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill 2007: Second Stage (14 May 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív. Tréaslaím leis de bharr a bheith ceaptha mar Aire arís. Tá áthas mór orm go bhfuil stádas á thabhairt don Ghaeilge sa Bhille seo. Thug an Taoiseach spreagadh mór don Ghaeilge le déanaí. With my colleague, I too support the Bill. I am delighted the Minister, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, is present in the House again, as he has a...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I would like the Leader to ask the new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to have a debate on agriculture and the WTO. I have been involved in a number of public meetings on the Lisbon treaty in my constituency. While five weeks remain before the referendum on the treaty will be held, there is grave concern among the wider agricultural and rural communities regarding the talks...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 May 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I wish to put on the record, briefly, my sadness that our Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, is moving on today. There is sadness because of his close connections to west Cork. His mother hailed from Bantry, his father from Tracton and his grandmother came from Whiddy Island. In that regard it is a sad day for my part of the world. I wish him luck in his retirement. I also add my voice to...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The Seanad is an institution, not a club.