Results 1,421-1,440 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: This is still a prosperous economy.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: It is far more prosperous than many of our neighbouring and competing economies.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Anyone who is involved in political debate should honestly admit that.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Senator Ormonde mentioned the impending legislation on alcohol, which has been raised on the Order of Business before now, particularly the report of the alcohol advisory group. Senator Mullen referred to the recommendation of the Road Safety Authority concerning the blood-alcohol level. It has been widely accepted that a debate on this issue would be useful. I will discuss with the Leader...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: The issue of how boards are appointed and who appoints them is open to political debate. Members should be aware that the forthcoming broadcasting Bill will include a provision for the involvement of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in appointments to new State bodies in the broadcasting sector. The committee will be the vehicle for making those...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: Today's business is No. 1, the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 (Reform Treaty) and No. 2, the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2008. It is proposed that the 28th Amendment of the Constitution Bill will be taken at 4.15 p.m. and will adjourn at 6.15 p.m. if not previously concluded. The spokespersons may speak for 15 minutes and all other Senators for ten minutes....

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement and Lisbon Treaty: Statements (24 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: The Taoiseach's presence today allows us to acknowledge his ongoing public service on behalf of the State. He has spoken on two issues that are important for the future success of the country, and his role in both must be acknowledged. It is for the electorate to adjudicate on the Lisbon reform treaty. The Taoiseach's role, under Ireland's Presidency of the EU, in securing agreement on a...

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement and Lisbon Treaty: Statements (24 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: At 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 April.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (24 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: I welcome the Minister to the House and I congratulate him on his achievements in this brief in the ten months since the Cabinet was established. He has brought with him the experience of his previous briefs, which number four or five, and has achieved much in each of the respective areas, arts, sports and tourism. The statements he made today doubtless outline the need to re-examine the...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: I welcome the statement by Senator Jim Walsh. The absolute privilege we enjoy in this House allows us to express our strongly held opinions in a way that is not available to other citizens in this State. We should always be aware of the context in which we use that privilege. I agree with Senator O'Toole that there is a need for a debate on the report of the alcohol advisory group. The...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: I appreciate the presence of the Minister of State for this debate and that of the Minister earlier. The Government amendment states a number of facts. More money is being spent in Department of Education and Science than has ever spent previously. More money is being spent on the schools building programme. More new schools are being built and more schools are being maintained than ever...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: I can cite an example of a public meeting I attended on 14 April concerning the Star of the Sea school in Passage West in the area I represent. Five Dáil Deputies and two Members of this House were present at that meeting. An expectation had been created regarding that school in 1999 when two primary schools merged, but it has still not been met. It is the fourth such public meeting I...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: If a team manages to win a game once every four years, the nature of that win, in school terms is that a design team has been appointed. That is the case of the school in Cork in respect of which several of us attended a public meeting the other day. That is the essence of the frustration experienced by all public representatives. It is not so much the matter of the banding system but the...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: The appointment of a design team or any stages in the building programme should be accompanied with a minimum and maximum time period. People should know how quickly a project will be completed or how long it is likely to take to complete it.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: These are the types of information systems we need. To achieve these, there is a need to build on existing resources. The programme for Government that I helped negotiate——

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: That would help as well. I noted the Senator's earlier contributions.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: The programme for Government that I helped negotiate sought a frontloading of funding in education which was meant to be €350 million in the first year.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: We are in a period of economic adjustment. The frontloading was €125 million this year.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: That expectation to deliver on the €350 million funding still exists and, as far as we are concerned as a party in Government, it will be delivered upon. When delivered, it will provide the seed capital that will bring about the changes we need in terms of resources to try to complete the school building programme in the shortest possible time.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects: Motion (23 Apr 2008)

Dan Boyle: I understand that. I accept that the wider problem is people not having knowledge of where their schools are placed on the programme and the fact that expectations, where they exist, are not being met or cannot be met because the system does not allow for people to know on foot of full information. The amendment proposed by the Government includes the key commitment of working towards...