Results 13,201-13,220 of 13,270 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I am pleased to be in the Seanad to report on the amendments made to the Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 during its passage through the Dáil. I have said that some time has passed since the Bill was passed by the Seanad. Senators will recall that it was passed by the House in May 2000 and it passed Second Stage in the Dáil in February 2001. An issue arose at that point, however,...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: On the question raised by Senator Bannon, the Commission advice was solely on administrative details and clarified how other member states proposed to deal with the administration. Changes that have taken place since the Bill was initiated in the House, such as those pertaining to radioactive waste, are totally outside its scope. The legislation is unaffected by the delay in its passage. It...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I will now elaborate on some of what can be regarded as the more substantive amendments. Some of these are a consequence of other amendments. In saying that they are of a more substantive nature, I am assured, on the basis of legal advice, that they do not alter in any way the original thrust or scope of the Bill. Amendment No. 4, which has been categorised in the second group of amendments,...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: We debated the penalties in detail on Committee Stage. The level of penalties laid down in the legislation has been endorsed by the Department's legal advisers. It fits the crime whether on summary conviction or indictment. When Senators raised the issue of the appropriate level of fines during the debate on other legislation, the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2001, I informed the House that...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: The Bill includes a section on administrative issues. The term "materials" is straightforward and refers to materials of a nuclear—

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: Although we are incorporating the protocol into our legislation, thankfully we do not have the materials to which the Deputy refers, apart from a small amount in some of our universities, namely Cork University and, possibly, University College Dublin where they are handled transparently. When one considers the materials used by the nuclear industry, the world would be a safer place if all...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: Senator Brady's response adequately addressed Senator Bannon's concerns on my behalf. The materials referred to by Senator Bannon do not come within the scope of the Bill as they are regulated already under other legislation and orders. The matter to which he refers is a responsibility of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Question put and agreed to. Question proposed: "That...

Seanad: Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000 [ Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil ] : Report and Final Stages. (12 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate on this legislation. The amendments proposed in the Dáil and accepted in the Seanad have improved the text of the Bill, consistent with the requirements of the protocol and our national position on nuclear non-proliferation. This is important legislation which has benefited from the consideration given to it in both Houses. The enactment...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Arts Funding. (11 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I welcome the opportunity to address the Members of the House on the topic of funding for the arts and I thank Senator Bannon for raising this important matter. The funding allocated to the Arts Council in 2003 was €44.1 million, which represented a reduction of €3.568 million or about 7% on the Arts Council's provision in 2002. Naturally, it would have been better to avoid any reduction...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Architectural Heritage. (11 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Henry for raising this matter. The order to which the Senator refers is the National Monuments (Approval of Joint Consent) Order 2003 made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 3 July 2003. This was laid before each House of the Oireachtas, as required by section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended. Either House of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Swimming Pool Projects. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Kitt for raising this matter and affording me the opportunity to outline the current position on the application for funding to provide a new local authority swimming pool in Tuam. The aim of the local authority swimming pool programme administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is to help local authorities to provide swimming pools. The Minister wishes me to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. The latest phase of my Department's water services investment programme for 2003 to 2005 was published last August. The programme provides for the construction of the Castlebar environs sewerage scheme at an overall cost in the region of €55 million.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: It is at the early stages. I attended a conference some months ago which was attended by all the stakeholders. It will ensure that we have a seamless transition through design, build and operation for a period of 20 years. Under a DBO contract, the contractor, usually a consortium which designs and builds a treatment plant, also operates the project for 20 years. The local authority recovers...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (5 Nov 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the current position in regard to the application for permanent accommodation for St. Patrick's national school in Diswellstown, Castleknock. St. Patrick's national school is a new school under the patronage of the Archdiocese of Dublin, which opened in September 2001. Enrolments at the...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Motion. (4 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: The purpose of this resolution is to reconstitute the membership of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments and ensure the tribunal will be able to get back into public session immediately. When resolutions have been passed by both Houses, the Minister will make an instrument under the Tribunals of Inquiries (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2002 to give full effect to the...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Motion. (4 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank all Members who contributed to the debate on this resolution. I am pleased but not surprised at the general support for the terms of the resolution. In dealing with this matter during the past few weeks, the primary concerns of the Government were to facilitate the continued operation of the tribunal and to ensure its future operations are conducted in a manner so as not to give rise...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages. (3 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I am pleased to be here to report on the amendments that were made to the Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 during its passage through the Dáil. However, before I do that, I wish to make two broad comments. First, the Bill has genuinely benefited from the consideration given to it in both Houses. This has resulted in significant amendments to the text by the Government but also as a...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages. (3 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: In my introductory statement I stated clearly that I would focus on amendments other than those of a technical, textual or consequential nature. Examples of such are amendments Nos. 1 and 2. Since the Bill was first introduced, the title of the Minister has changed to include heritage. Amendment No. 4 is a correction to the text – it is more appropriate to refer to the 1992 Act as a whole...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages. (3 Jul 2003)

Pat Gallagher: Making the design of waste management plans an executive function has already been discussed at length in both Houses. Our approach is fully vindicated by the recent attempts on the part of a small number of councillors to undermine their own waste and development plans in Galway. We cannot allow further stalling. The plan currently in place must be implemented as soon as possible. We simply...

Seanad: Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements. (10 Jun 2003)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senators from all sides who, I understand from my colleagues who were present prior to my arrival, made a very constructive contribution to this most important debate. I congratulate the Seanad for taking the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive discussion on this important issue and I thank it on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, in that regard. Senator Ormonde and...