Results 12,961-12,980 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 Nov 2004)

Joe McHugh: I agree with my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, on the issue of the smoking ban. It is appropriate to the Border counties where business has been affected given that the smoking ban operates on the southern side and not on the northern side. Given the importance of maintaining the momentum of the peace process the uniformity of the smoking ban needs to be addressed. I agree with my colleagues,...

Seanad: Public Private Partnerships: Statements (Resumed). (17 Nov 2004)

Joe McHugh: I concur with Senator White that it is good to highlight a success story such as that whereby a public private partnership was sorted out within 18 months. Fine Gael believes the public private partnership system is the way forward. The Senator referred to a figure of €51 million but the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, beat that record by...

Seanad: Public Private Partnerships: Statements (Resumed). (17 Nov 2004)

Joe McHugh: While it is a separate jurisdiction, Senator Mansergh has been working very hard regarding it. We are spending considerable money on cross-Border bodies and ministerial councils. Any dummy can spend money. The €50 million, which the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, spent in such a short time, would have been better spent if it had been given...

Seanad: Cancer Treatment Services. (3 Nov 2004)

Joe McHugh: I have been approached by relatives of cancer patients in Letterkenny and relatives of people who have since passed away. The oncology unit in Letterkenny General Hospital is second to none. There is a dedicated, professional team in place there under the stewardship of Dr. Karen Duffy and Mr. Chris Lyons. However, there is a problem with regard to the fast-tracking of cancer patients for...

Seanad: National Sports Facilities: Statements. (3 Nov 2004)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, and, somewhat belatedly, congratulate him on his new post. The Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, and himself must have been contemplating and working behind the scenes around this time last year.

Seanad: National Sports Facilities: Statements. (3 Nov 2004)

Joe McHugh: I wish to make a few points on sports capital projects in County Donegal. When Deputy McDaid was Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation he delivered, which I acknowledge. The people of County Donegal will always acknowledge that during his tenure as Minister, they did well in getting a substantial amount of funding for voluntary organisations at grassroots level ranging from snooker clubs...

Seanad: National Sports Facilities: Statements. (3 Nov 2004)

Joe McHugh: The GAA is quite capable of looking after its own shop and should not be interfered with. In time, matters will evolve. Mr. Kelly even put it on record that in time we will be looking at a situation in which Croke Park will be open to other sports. I asked the GAA president about the proposed stadium in Northern Ireland currently being mooted. It is important that we remain closely involved...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: People are being wrongly accused.

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is the first public opportunity I have had to congratulate him on his new post. It is nice to have a fellow County Donegal man in Government. I am also delighted with my party leader's stance on the marine on which he has provided a full brief on the Front Bench to Deputy Perry. The Fine Gael Party supports the Bill. It is sensible, logical,...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator. The Fine Gael Party welcomes the Bill; it is non-contentious. We are discussing dumping at sea but we should put down a marker with regard to Sellafield. It is not related to this legislation but we should keep an eye on what is being dumped in Irish waters from Sellafield. We should be stronger on that issue. There are many concerned families in County Louth who have...

Seanad: Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2000 [[i]Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil[/i]]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed). (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: It could be south-west Donegal.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the decision of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to seek approval for 2,000 extra gardaí to increase the strength of the force to 14,000. He needs to be aware of some reality checks, however. I recently raised the issue of morale within the Garda. The Morris tribunal in Donegal is doing a job that has to be done, but it is inadvertently having a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: I am making a very serious point.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: A young garda was shot in the hand in the early hours of this morning. Senators would have been up in arms and calling for debates if he had been more seriously maimed. I call on the Minister, Deputy McDowell, to introduce clear and unambiguous protection for Garda personnel.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: Such protection would be timely because the need for it is imminent. This is the start of something very serious within the force. As legislators, we have a duty to stand behind the Garda Síochána, rather than going up against it, and it is time we did so.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: Many social economy projects are coming towards the end of their three-year lifespan and there is grave concern that they will come to an abrupt end and that FÁS is looking for an exit strategy. A total of 64 jobs are at stake in Inishowen in a social economy project involving Tullyarvan Mill, Greencastle Maritime Museum and Inishowen Community Radio, in regard to which a public meeting is...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: I wish to follow on from Senator Ulick Burke's concerns in regard to Hanly II. We have grave concerns in the north west because of the new alignment of the health constituency base which extends from Malin Head to Thurles in County Tipperary. The people of the north west are not convinced this is a natural region and the matter needs to be examined. Any health board review has to take into...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister. I am delighted he accepted a common sense amendment tabled by Deputy Jim O'Keeffe last week. The 10 p.m. time restriction should not be set in stone for all time. Time will prove there is much off season tourism in remote places. The west and Donegal already have off-season tourism when people bring families on holiday. We need to keep an open mind on the legislation...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Joe McHugh: They do not want to be with adults. We do not want to go back to the days of youth clubs where young adults were under the supervision of parents, volunteers or the local parish priest. We must afford young adults the opportunity to be under supervision in a controlled environment but with young people, perhaps 18 to 21 year olds, working with them in a paid capacity. Pubs are seriously...