Results 11,721-11,740 of 11,812 for speaker:Denis O'Donovan

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: It is like the line written by the great poet, Anois teacht an earraigh beidh an lá dul chun síneadh. It is now spring and we should recognise the potential of such activity that is unique to this country. There are cultural aspects to such tourism and the Heritage Council is involved. We should promote and embrace our beautiful amenities and sites instead of jetting off on sun holidays...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I rise again to ask the Leader if we could have an urgent debate on the future of the fishing industry vis-À-vis the restructuring plan announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Food yesterday. I accept that under the Cawley report, which was the plan for fishing going forward, the fishing industry has, by and large, agreed to the decommissioning of its vessels. However, in this...

Seanad: Forestry Issues: Statements (20 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: "Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmaid? Tá deireadh na gcoillte ar lár." This is true in contemporary Ireland. Our philosophy in the 1930s was one more cow, one more sow and one more acre under the plough but that has changed over the decades. This is a different Ireland under the EU. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, with whom I had many dealings in her former...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I support previous speakers and the call for a united motion by both Houses of the Oireachtas to advance the cause of this tragic situation. I grew up in an era when hostilities in the North began to evolve, initiating with the civil rights movement. At that time Catholics were treated as second class citizens in the North and they showed their anger through a kind of uprising, using the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I endorse and echo the sentiments expressed by my colleague, Senator Paul Coghlan, and will say no more on the matter as I have raised it before in the House. It is ludicrous that the likes of Valentia and Malin Coast Guard stations will be closed purely for the purpose of centralisation. If it not broken, do not fix it. Having these stations where they are gives confidence to coastal...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: One might ask why such fundraising is necessary but it put a spotlight on a remote hospital that is hugely important to me. It forced the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the Minister for Health and Children, who subsequently had to visit the hospital to launch the CT scanner, to examine the importance of such hospitals in Ireland, including areas like Letterkenny. Approximately...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill 2007: Second Stage (13 Feb 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I welcome to the House the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brendan Smith. This is the first occasion on which I, as my party's spokesperson on justice, have had the pleasure to be present when he has addressed the House. I compliment him on the excellent job he has done on his brief to date. Even though I have known the Minister of State for many years, he has...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: I wish to raise a number of matters. First, I would like to issue an SOS call. I have asked the Leader on three or four occasions about the long awaited Cork-Swansea ferry service and I am seriously concerned that the route may not materialise this year. We were without a ferry last year and the service is of critical importance to the local economy in Cork and Kerry and the tourism...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: That is my reading of the judgment if the decision on costs is appealed to the Supreme Court. I fully empathise with the family who have my full compassion. Third, I refer to an issue close to my heart. I wish the negotiators and the mediator in the Cork GAA dispute every success. It would be a travesty of justice for the county that has won most All-Ireland medals that it will be unable...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Denis O'Donovan: The Cathaoirleach's heart is close to the matter I raise. It would be serious if Cork was out of the fray in the forthcoming league or championship. It would be a travesty of justice and the All-Ireland series would not be complete without the team.

Seanad: Defamation Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: One could argue that in any instance, be it personal injuries or defamation of character, a lodgement denotes an admission of liability and is in some way an apology. I have some support for Senator Walsh's argument. Defamation is a tort and an unusual hybrid creation from a legal perspective. For the first time in our legal or political lifetime, we have a chance to deal with this issue...

Seanad: Defamation Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: I take a slightly different view from my colleague in that I regard the press council or press ombudsman as having the role of monitoring the conduct, code of ethics and standards of the media. When we talk of giving powers to the press council, I envisage its role as one of admonishing a certain newspaper, radio station or television channel, pointing out it has sinned and crossed the...

Seanad: Defamation Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: The press council is in a test mode at this stage. There has been a debate for the past 30 to 40 years about freedom of speech and all the trappings that go with that, as well as the natural curtailment to ensure that people are not defamed and that freedom of speech is not abused. I accept that the press council must act independently of this House, but the spotlight will be on this...

Seanad: Defamation Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: Next week.

Seanad: Defamation Bill: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: Last week I called for a debate on the question of the Cork-Swansea ferry. As I am not sure whether it is too late for such a debate, I ask the Leader to urgently intervene with the Minister in question since I understand a boat has been identified and there is a window of opportunity. We missed the boat, so to speak. The situation has cost the west Cork and Kerry economy upwards of €70...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: Tá an t-am nach mór istigh. I do not want to labour the point but I concur with Senator Norris's comments about the other example. I picked the case of the reporting of the late Liam Lawlor's death. I will clarify my point. I only met Liam Lawlor's widow on one occasion and I would not know the lady very well. Responsible journalism should have reacted at editorial level in the...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: I am sure the Minister is more capable of responding to this amendment than I but I support the gist of it. Defamation can cause a great deal of damage. I raised in this House the case brought by a Ukrainian interpreter against a number of newspapers after the death of our former colleague, Liam Lawlor. The accident happened at a weekend and that Sunday morning a most appalling story was...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: I accept what the Minister said earlier that the Bill did not fall out of the sky or originate as a result of a considerable media lobby. There has been considerable thought by successive Governments and the Law Reform Commission. The Minister also mentioned Mr. Mohan's input on the matter. We are enlarging on the old phrase, "justification". I may be wrong in this. However, my...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Denis O'Donovan: I understand the reason Senator Norris tabled this amendment. In effect he asks for the removal of all protection from the Judiciary, which would be similar to taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. However, I can see where he is coming from. I refer to the court case yesterday involving three ladies who were taking drugs back to County Cork and who went astray. The judge made certain...