Results 1,241-1,260 of 1,677 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I was disappointed to notice on my way to work this morning that the Government Publications Sales office on Molesworth Street is to close. Senators know this is an important repository of Government publications such as Bills, tribunal reports and election results. Will the Leader ascertain what proposals are in place to find an alternative outlet for such important publications? It was...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I am addressing it to the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Nobody in the Chamber has higher respect for the returning officer than I do, but it strange that it has not been published, if I am allowed to say so.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome this because all Members would like to be able to verify they were elected and look at it at their leisure.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Thank you very much.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Many local authority members would welcome a copy of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I know this and look at it occasionally to cheer myself up.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Yesterday, Senator Landy raised his concerns about the tardiness of bringing forward the electoral boundary review. I was glad to hear the Leader state the commission has been appointed. I still have serious concerns because such a review will take time and a rushed job is a botched job. Is the Leader aware of a fallback in the event the commission will not be able to report in time? What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Preservation of Historic Buildings: Discussion (8 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Everyone will understand why a building should be preserved, in so far as it can be, if it has unique architectural features or because of its antiquity. What is the professor's position on retaining a building that, in itself, has no architectural merit whatsoever but because of something that occurred in it? Is it as important to retain such a building as the Acropolis, for example?

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: They made me feel rather guilty.

Seanad: Alcohol Consumption: Statements (Resumed) (7 Nov 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Alcohol has been available either as a product or a commodity for as long as people have been on the planet. These statements are on alcohol consumption as opposed to alcohol abuse. I would, therefore, like to consider some of the positive aspects of alcohol before I focus on the downsides. I am partial to a drink. When consumed properly by adults, alcohol can be of benefit both socially...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Comprehensive Action Programme for the Reform of Local Government: Discussion (23 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I failed to get an answer to my question on the large reduction in the number of councillors. Like the Minister, the Department is clearly sanguine about a reduction in democracy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Comprehensive Action Programme for the Reform of Local Government: Discussion (23 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank the Chairman because I was in first and had not developed a few of my ideas at the time. In respect of a point made by Deputy Flanagan about lack of trust in councillors, I return to my opening remark. No matter what configuration one has in local government and there are many good ideas in the document, none of them seem to be predicated on reducing the number of councillors so why...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Comprehensive Action Programme for the Reform of Local Government: Discussion (23 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: The Chairman took me a little by surprise there. I welcome the delegation and thank Mr. Dowling for his presentation. Is it fair to say that this policy, as enunciated by Mr. Dowling, has been in the process of being developed for the past ten or more years and that the officials' predecessors in the Department have been generally working towards this outcome? Is that one of the reasons we...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: Obviously we cannot have it today but there must be such a debate. I ask Members on the Government side to look into their hearts and not to allow the Government to go any further in diluting democracy in this country.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: It is a well known fact that we in Ireland are the most unrepresented country in the whole of the EU in terms of local government. On average, it takes approximately 2,500 people to elect one councillor in this country compared with 1,000 people to elect a councillor in Denmark and much fewer than that in most other countries, in particular France. The UK, which is second to us, is a good...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I will outline some facts. A total of 114 authorities will be reduced to 31. Approximately 1,600 elected councillors will be reduced to 950. Eight regional authorities-assemblies will be reduced to three. We have already had changes to the representation of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I am making an important point. I will not let you down, a Chathaoirligh. The Government is also threatening to abolish the Seanad. What does the Government have against the people that it wants to take away their voice? I served in local government at county and town level for 22 years. Unless one has been a town councillor one does not know the importance of such a role and function,...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I put a question to the Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2012)

Ned O'Sullivan: I want more than that. The hearts and souls of most of the Senators around me who came through local government are with me on the issue. Is the Leader not concerned that what is there, namely, representational democracy, will be exchanged for rule by, in many cases, the unelected authorities and quangos which continue? Considerable amounts of both European and State money are invested in...