Results 1,581-1,600 of 4,085 for speaker:Dan Boyle

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2008)

Dan Boyle: It is important the agreed all-party motion gives equality of importance to the issues of alcohol misuse and illegal drug use. In the past we have tended to portray the situation in regard to illegal drug use as a crisis while the abuse and use of alcohol has been seen as a minor problem and some type of local difficulty. The reality is that alcohol, as a legal drug, contributes to most...

Seanad: The 70th Anniversary of the Constitution: Statements (30 Jan 2008)

Dan Boyle: It is proper that the upper House takes this opportunity to mark the 70th anniversary of Bunreacht na hÉireann given that it is a creature of that document. We need to use this opportunity to examine in a positive and, in so far as we can, critical way the value of the basic law of the country. It is our second constitution since independence. A close debate took place on whether the...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) and Subsequent Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: It is significant that we are debating the Appropriation Bill today because the Dáil chooses not to debate it every year and because we have an early day motion — one of the functions of the Seanad — to facilitate this important legislation connected with the budget. It gives us an opportunity to examine details on which previous speakers have commented. The most pertinent theme,...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: Look at the lights.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (20 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: A rescue.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: Where would we be without them?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: I am not sure whether Standing Orders allows for votes of confidence but it seems that the Opposition's litany of complaints today should be tested by such a measure. Government exists to perform in several modes, it can impose decisions, or propose them for public debate and consideration and react accordingly. I am glad to be part of a Government that on two issues, the water charges and...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: We might remedy the lack of consultation on the Standards in Public Office Commission by proposing Senator Regan as a member of the tribunal in which he is excessively interested.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: I am next to speak.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: The Senator should wait for it.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: I am especially grateful to be able to respond so soon to Senator Buttimer, who seems very anxious to hear what I have to say in this debate. The Social Welfare Bill builds on the announcements made in the budget, and Senator Buttimer and others are correct in that I have had the opportunity for the past five years of being an Opposition spokesman trying to dissect proposals and make better...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: The four budgets introduced by this Minister for Finance have started to address this. Each one has been more balanced to the more needy in our society, and that has not always been the case. Given the budgetary choices available, I am glad this budget has erred on that side of the social equation as well. The increases granted are the maximum which could have been sanctioned given the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: ——with regard to proper wealth distribution in our society. I have had many arguments in the past regarding the definition of poverty. Although Government policy is that we should use the measurement of consistent poverty, the concept of poverty is relative. We are a relatively rich society but the extremes of wealth and those without in our society is still unacceptable. We should...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: In answer to Senator Bacik's request for debates this week, the Leader of the House will respond to the status of the motion relating to Íngrid Betancourt and I will take responsibility for responding to Senator Bacik's Private Members' Bill on targets for climate change. Contrary to what is being said elsewhere, in particular by Friends of the Earth in current e-mails, it was not a promise...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: The Senator has made a second contribution and any additional Government time will be to allow her to finish her contribution and no one else will be allowed make a contribution. A decision must be made on whether the Bill can proceed to Committee Stage and the Cabinet has not made that decision. I am happy to put the record straight.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: I second the amendment to the motion. The motion is stark and simple and is difficult to argue against in its own terms. I suggest the motion should not be taken in terms of the historical situation, because that is as it is. We are below average and behind where we need to be, and we need to improve our game by putting in place the communication infrastructure that will allow us to have...

Seanad: Small and Medium Enterprises: Statements (12 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We served together on the Committee of Public Accounts for five years, during which we learned the value of spending public money wisely. While this is a virtue in the running of any business, unfortunately it is not always properly recognised in the expenditure of public moneys. I represent the Green Party which, through political discourse,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2007)

Dan Boyle: I make two requests to the Leader for possible debates in the near future. On the conclusion of a court case yesterday involving the unnecessary death of a man's wife three years ago, through medical negligence, I seek a debate on how medical negligence is dealt with, how people receive information and whether such information is of a terminal nature. I have worked directly with the man...