Results 1,181-1,200 of 1,714 for speaker:John Dardis

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: As someone who stood in two European elections, I can inform the Senator he is wrong.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: He is just against the Government as always.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I hope there will be a few cells for Senator Bannon.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: They might come up with a policy about something some day.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I thank all the Senators who participated in this debate. I also thank the Minister of State for doing as requested by the motion and bringing us up to date on the decentralisation process. It is an achievement to have identified four locations and to have a further 20 under negotiation within a six-month period. This indicates the timeframe, which I regarded as ambitious when the...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: Through the Chair, the Senator was probably on the reasonable end of the scale.

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: Senator Finucane said he was delighted that decentralisation will happen. This seems to be in marked contrast to what other members of his party had to say and to what has been said on the Order of Business in recent weeks where one would get the impression that this is the worst proposal ever. I am pleased to hear that Fine Gael has nailed its colours to the mast and that it is in favour of...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I welcome the announcement made by the Minister of State with regard to the Curragh and Defence Forces headquarters. It is my contention since I entered public life that Defence Forces headquarters should be in the Curragh. It did not make sense to me that many people travelled from Kildare to Defence Forces headquarters in Dublin when most of the activity was in the Curragh. It makes sense...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: With modern communications all this is possible. In my town a large company, Oral B, which is part of the Gillette company, interacts daily with its people in America through video link which works perfectly well. The technology is there. We have moved immeasurably from where we were ten years ago in terms of having systems that work effectively for both oral communication and the transfer of...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I move: That Seanad Éireann— —conscious of the benefits to communities and the regions outside of Dublin; —aware of the need to reduce congestion and to restrict housing cost increases in Dublin; —recognising the need for career opportunities in a revitalised Public Service; and —conscious of the capacity of modern communications systems to effectively link offices and businesses...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Motion. (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: He is very good.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: Did the Senator say "in modesty" or "immodestly"?

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, and thank him for attending to listen to the debate. It is a privilege to be a Member of the House and the national Parliament. We should be conscious of that privilege and the responsibilities it carries with it. I am fortunate to have been the first member of the Progressive Democrats to be elected to the House and to be nominated on...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: Given the vocational system that emerged, it was understandable it would become a political instrument and that the political parties would take it over because the electorate was political. There is no difficulty about that; the House is political. I do not see anything wrong with a House of Parliament being a political House. If the intention was to have vocational representation, it was...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: My party's position is that it would have been preferable to have universal suffrage for the whole of the Seanad, in other words, that there would not even be a university panel and everybody would be directly elected. The conclusions of the report represent a reasonable balance. However, the universities, as a separate constituency, still present a difficulty. The only defence for university...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I hope we never demolish a room as distinguished as this one. It was proposed to abolish the Seanad. There are precedents for the removal of the second chamber, such as in New Zealand and other jurisdictions.

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: I note the report states that in the absence of reform, that might be considered. The Seanad performs a valuable role. It would not surprise anybody that because I am a Member I am not particularly in favour of abolition, and have not been for some considerable time. I do not see an inconsistency with having an abolitionist attitude and participating. The Seanad is a very important political...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (2 Jun 2004)

John Dardis: That would be important for the way the business of this House is conducted. I agree that senior public appointments should be subjected to scrutiny by the House or at least by a committee of the House. The report is quite radical and forward looking, and I say that as a member of the sub-committee. I hope there will be progress in implementing its main conclusion.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

John Dardis: It was the Minister for Finance.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 May 2004)

John Dardis: It was the Minister for Finance. While I am sure the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would love to address the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, fortunately he was not invited.