Results 141-160 of 190 for speaker:Mark Dearey

Seanad: Public Service Agreement 2010-2014: Statements (13 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: -----nomad for the past month, since my arrival. I was enjoying my new surroundings when I noticed a sticker on a window across the courtyard saying: "Don't blame me - I voted Labour". That bumper sticker was clearly a back reference to the local elections or the last general election. The Labour Party should be aware there will be the father and mother of a blame game if this deal is not...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: On behalf of the Green Party, I wish the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Paterson, MP, the very best in his new role. He will have a particularly tricky task at a time when the deficit in the United Kingdom is about to be addressed. We understand details will be announced within 50 days of the formation of the new government. It seems inevitable that the block grant will...

Seanad: Code of Conduct for Civil Servants: Motion (12 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I second the motion. I want to address the issue of a cooling off period from the perspective of local government, which has been my touchstone since I arrived in this House for reasons which Members will appreciate. There are particular problems when people are moving from the public service to the private sector without any cooling off period, as is currently the case. It is possible...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I agree, in some respects, with Senator Fitzgerald that a debate is necessary on the implications of the measures to protect Economic and Monetary Union which were announced at the weekend. One of the assurances provided during the second referendum campaign on the Lisbon treaty was that it would not pave the way for European Union interference in Ireland's tax affairs. Another such...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: A wide-ranging debate is commencing on the decisions taken by EU Finance Ministers at the weekend. This matter must be addressed by the House at an early stage, but I do not necessarily believe we should discuss it today. I agree with Senator Quinn on the issue of competitiveness. All of the innovation reports and stand-alone initiatives in the world will not do any good unless the cost of...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2010)

Mark Dearey: I ask for a debate on economic recovery because there are indications that we can begin to hope that the extreme pain the contraction of the economy has caused to those in the public sector in terms of wages and pensions and to those in the private sector in terms of job losses and pay cuts and the process we all have experienced and suffered looks like it could be coming to a close. I do...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on nuclear power. "The Frontline" on RTE on Monday night did an assessment of the best options for Ireland in terms of its energy future. It was very interesting and rigorous. However, I detected an underlying subtext that it was time for Ireland to grow up and go nuclear. I challenge the notion that the maturity of a nation can be judged on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I am outlining the issues a debate should contain. I call for an urgent debate to allow all parties to engage honestly on this issue which is problematic in the extreme. Strategically, it is not in Ireland's interests to go down the nuclear road.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I thank the Cathaoirleach for affording me the opportunity to raise the issue of the recent elections in Sudan. Last January, on a bitterly cold day in Dundalk, I was proud to witness the departing troops on their final inspection by the then Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, before they took up their role in Chad, which primarily was to deal with the humanitarian crisis that has been...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (29 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I thank the Minister of State for that detailed response, some of which alludes to what I and my party would like to see happen post the referendum in southern Sudan next year, which is the development of new scenarios to help stabilise the Darfur region in particular and develop democracy in the country. This may sound cynical but I urge the Minister for Foreign Affairs to use the leverage...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I welcome Mr. Boucher's forgoing of his pension top-up and his decision to work beyond the age of 55. Senator Hannigan is right to recognise that it is an example of some leadership, albeit belated. At the same time, however, the door is still open in terms of how these types of bonuses may be given in the future. For that reason I reiterate Senator Boyle's call the other day to the effect...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: The improved standards and regulations that will follow the passing of the Bill will benefit the entire sector.

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: Will the Leader allocate time to discuss the issue of planning reform? There has been an extraordinary situation in Dundalk in the last few days. Hundreds of people have discovered they have made formal objections without their knowledge, with the accompanying €20 payment to the planning authority, to a very large leisure resort being built beside the dog racing stadium which many Members...

Seanad: Order of Business. (22 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: We are talking about a sum of between €4,000 and €6,000 having been paid. It is important that we examine this issue in the context of a discussion on planning reform.

Seanad: Death of President of Poland: Expressions of Sympathy. (22 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I join with the Leader and my colleagues in expressing my sorrow and the sorrow of Green Party Members at the death of President Kaczynski, his wife and the 94 others who died at the plane crash in Smolensk on 10 April. Poland has lost its President and all nations grieve when they lose their president. Our thoughts are with the Polish people as they come to terms with this tragedy, one of...

Seanad: Fines Bill 2009: Second Stage. (22 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: It has been interesting to listen to the contributions of Senators in the legal profession speak about their experience of how the system works downstream of the law. I wish to make a brief contribution on my experience as a councillor in recent times. The Bill will be welcomed the length and breadth of Ireland by councillors who continually have to deal with very distressed individuals...

Seanad: Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010: Second Stage (21 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I welcome the Minister. I thank the Irish Family Planning Association for its briefing. I found it extraordinarily helpful over recent days when I was preparing to make my contribution, which I am happy to make on behalf of the Green Party. I support the Bill, as amended, from the Labour Party. When we dealt with the Prohibition of Depleted Uranium Weapons Bill some weeks ago I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (20 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: It has been an interesting hour and a quarter, with good ideas coming from all sides, two of which concerned action rather than debate and which I want to pick out, in particular. I support the calls for action on the Boucher payment which I found deeply disappointing and which demonstrated a breathtaking level of arrogance. We all have our responses to the various revelations about the...

Seanad: Insurance Industry: Statements (1 Apr 2010)

Mark Dearey: I wish to outline a couple of the critical contexts in which this is happening. I will also address the substantial question of the authority of the Financial Regulator to do what it has done. I will also consider the best way of giving Quinn Insurance a fighting chance of emerging intact from the situation if faces now that this action has been taken. The primary context to which I refer...

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Mar 2010)

Mark Dearey: Senator O'Toole's initial comments were an honest appraisal of the apportioning of blame in this regard. Members on all sides of the House and people across the political spectrum generally have had a role to play in landing us where we find ourselves today.