Results 1,201-1,220 of 1,714 for speaker:John Dardis
- Seanad: Order of Business. (26 May 2004)
John Dardis: The train was on the tracks.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)
John Dardis: Flattery will get the Senator nowhere.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)
John Dardis: Led by one particular association.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)
John Dardis: The Senator should remember that the enemy is behind him.
- Seanad: Business of Seanad. (20 May 2004)
John Dardis: The House should acknowledge the work done by Commissioner Byrne and wish him well in his retirement from the EU Commission. When he was nominated to the office, there was much criticism about it in that it would be a lame duck job and that it was not a position of stature within the Commission, but he has proved otherwise in the way he managed the BSE crisis, foot and mouth disease and so...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (19 May 2004)
John Dardis: Everybody shares the view that this is an extremely important issue. Everybody agrees it is essential we do nothing that would be prejudicial. We are entering uncharted waters, as has been stated, and we need guidance and advice on how to sail through them. If this matter was discussed on the floor of the House, someone could inadvertently say something prejudicial. It is essential we do not...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (12 May 2004)
John Dardis: There was an expectation that the introduction of e-mail, lap-top computers and so on would lead to the use of less paper. It is a curious fact that the opposite has happened. We seem to be felling forests by the new time in verifying what is on a computer screen in front of us. I am not convinced of the need for what Senator Bannon proposes. Many of the points being made in this debate could...
- Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)
John Dardis: Leave us bask in the reflected glory.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)
John Dardis: Of course, the Opposition never tables condemnatory motions.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)
John Dardis: I thought Senator Norris was a teacher.
- Seanad: Order of Business. (12 May 2004)
John Dardis: The Senator spoke for too long.
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: I agree with the Minister of State but I raise a small point regarding the clarity of the language in the instructions given to presiding officers and returning officers, which officials might bear in mind. At a polling station at a European Parliament election, I saw a lady arguing with the presiding officer. When she left I asked the presiding officer what was the problem and I was told...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: I do not see a need for the Ombudsman because the commission is qualitatively different from the other bodies which have been mentioned. However, cognisance should be taken of the additional duties which are falling to the Clerk of the Seanad. Since I came to the House, the functions and role of the Clerk have become a burden. She is a member of the Boundary Commission and the Referendum...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: We could have interesting debate on the origins of the commission but it is a separate matter. The question was asked as to why the electronic aspect should be included in the legislation. This is entirely prudent because virtually everybody agrees that electronic voting will be introduced and is desirable. The only question to arise concerns the accuracy or value of the system selected. It...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: There is certain merit in Senator Brian Hayes's argument that there should be some sort of independent body to conduct elections. I had the privilege of meeting the election commissioner for India and I am grateful to the ambassador for India for circulating to the members of the Committee on the Environment and Local Government, if not all Members of the House, a document called "Celebrating...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: What a load of nonsense. Every day in Europe we are being encouraged to have qualified majority voting and to eliminate vetoes. The Senator's amendment proposes to reintroduce a veto. This will give one party or perhaps a small group of Independents an effective veto. Our parliamentary democracy does not work on this basis but on the basis of a majority. This amendment would confer on a...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: This is not the same kind of matter as was addressed by the committee on the Constitution.
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: It states "all parties".
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: I wish to clarify the reference to the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution of which I was a member. Senator McCarthy was correct that the committee produced a report on property rights which reflected a consensus. Nobody had a veto in that case and what emerged from the committee was a balanced view across all parties and independent members. That is not the same as what is...
- Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (11 May 2004)
John Dardis: It may have originated elsewhere.