Results 121-140 of 891 for speaker:John Minihan

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I raised this issue last night as I did three years ago. The triple lock is a necessary mechanism to deal with our own insecurities about neutrality. Let us call a spade a spade. That is the reason we had to do that. It is a question of having a more mature debate about what our neutrality means and the real crux of the issue for me is the power of veto. We are not in a position to change the...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: What the Senator is saying is irrelevant. There will be no negotiations between Fine Gael and the Labour Party.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I thank the Minister for the clarity of his response to a number of the issues I raised. Section 3(1)(f) had not slipped past me. I clearly see that we have the ability to deploy, which means that we would not have to succumb to NGOs. However, someone will have to make a decision on what is humanitarian and what is not. I presume that it will be made by the Government and by the Department of...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: There could be civil unrest.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (28 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I thank the Minister and his officials for facilitating us in this debate. It is unfortunate that more debates on defence matters are not held. The role of the Defence Forces is widely acknowledged as a source of pride among the public. The Defence Forces have undergone a significant transformation over the past number of years and I commend the Minister on the leadership he has given in...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I also welcome the Minister and his officials to the House. The opportunity to speak on this topic is a particularly welcome one. It is said that things come in threes and as far as this issue is concerned, they certainly do for me. It is almost three years to the day, 25 June 2003, since I first raised in this House the specific concerns which I still have today. In addition, the Bill has...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I welcome this Bill for what it includes, allowing for participation in field exercises, more appropriate wording to reflect common practice and participation in certain humanitarian missions. However, I am disappointed with what it does not include, which is an amendment to reflect what I believe is the view of the Irish people, that specific nations should not unilaterally be able to hold...

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: She is doing very well and should keep going.

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State and her officials to the House. I also welcome the statements I have heard today. In April of this year, I voiced serious concerns in this House about adult and further education. I sneaked my comments in under the radar when statements were being made on youth affairs. I would not have done so had I realised today's debate would take place. During the earlier...

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: Senator O'Toole had a very significant contribution to make.

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I know that the Senator will take credit for all of the successes and disown the failures.

Seanad: Adult and Further Education: Statements. (21 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: He should let us have our say now. It has been estimated, in consultation with management and staff interests, that the recommendations for staffing would involve, at a minimum, the creation of at least 800 new posts at a cost of over €48 million. While this level of additional provision cannot be considered in isolation from other areas of education, I am worried that it is not being...

Seanad: Use of Irish Airports: Motion. (14 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. I am grateful to have this opportunity to speak again on this important topic. It is less than four months since this issue was the subject of a Private Member's motion in this House and the reality is that not much has changed in that time. What is new is the publication of the Council of Europe Report on CIA Rendition Flights,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: Senator Norris is obviously going sailing with Senator O'Toole.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I support the statement by Senator Brian Hayes on the unprovoked attack on a member of the fire service. We should have strong laws to protect those working in our emergency services. It is not unusual for false calls to lure Garda cars, fire engines or ambulances into an area where they can be attacked by people. A clear message must go out on this issue. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate...

Seanad: Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: On behalf of the Progressive Democrats I would like to express sympathy to the family of Charles Haughey, particularly his wife Maureen, his children Eimear, Conor, Ciarán and Seán, our parliamentary colleague in the Dáil. This is a sad time for them, the wider Haughey family and his colleagues in Fianna Fáil. Our party leader said this morning that when Mr. Haughey retired as Taoiseach...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (7 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I join with previous speakers in welcoming the Minister of State and his officials to the House. Just three weeks ago, we discussed ageism. In my contribution, I referred to research that noted the perception that the State does not do enough for older people. I said there was an onus on all of us to take steps to counter ageism, as well as highlighting the positive steps that are being taken...

Seanad: Health (Repayment Scheme) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (7 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: I am waiting. I have been listening.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: It had nothing to do with the Minister, he does not lay down the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Jun 2006)

John Minihan: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has nothing to do with the Order of Business.