Results 1,601-1,620 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Free Speech, Homophobia and the role of the State Broadcaster: Motion [Private Members] (18 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Like my colleagues on this side of the House, I support the concept of equality and inclusivity. Fianna Fáil policy is already well enunciated in this regard and we look forward to an enlightened debate on the question of marriage equality. I intend, however, to pick up on comments by my colleague, Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, in regard to what he considers certain failings...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, to the House and remind Senators that they may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. Also, on Report Stage each amendment must be seconded.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Do not forget Northern Ireland.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I say that with a tear in my eye.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I believe that most Members have received over the last few weeks telephone calls and other correspondence from very concerned postmasters and postmistresses, particularly in my own part of the country, where predominantly rural post offices operate. Their main concern is that there is a real threat to the withdrawal of business from post offices, as a result of the Government's policy on...

Seanad: Political Reform: Motion (12 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I am sure it is himself.

Seanad: Political Reform: Motion (12 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe. This debate will afford him an opportunity to hear the collective wisdom of the House on both the motion and the amendment. There is a historical context to all this talk about reform. The worldwide economic crash in 2007 and 2008 coupled with the erosion of trust in State institutions and the abuse scandals in the church shook the Irish...

Seanad: Political Reform: Motion (12 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Senator. In the 2011 general election, having been elected party leader, one of his first commitments was the abolition of the Seanad. However, there was a caveat, because it was in the context of overall parliamentary reform. He did not agree that the Seanad alone should be taken out of the equation, but that there should be overall political reform. Of course, he was a...

Seanad: Political Reform: Motion (12 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Wiser counsel has prevailed with the electorate. I appreciate that I only have six minutes so I do not wish to waste much time on that, but I was anxious to outline the historical context. Very progressive reforms have been brought forward by the Leader of the House, as outlined in the amendment, but ultimately power still resides in the Executive. In the reform proposals for this House,...

Seanad: Recent Flooding: Statements (12 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I compliment the Minister of State on his initiatives and that he was out in the communities, which I know was deeply appreciated. Fortunately, those of us in Leitrim escaped the worst excesses of the flooding on this occasion, although in previous years Carrick-on-Shannon had been isolated to some degree, particularly on the relief road, because of its close proximity to the Shannon,...

Seanad: Recent Flooding: Statements (12 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I applaud the Government's response to the plight of people in Cork city. It is essential that our second city should be spared the worst excesses of flooding in the future and I suggest that whatever resources are available should be prioritised in regard to Cork city. Works carried out here in Dublin on the Dodder and the Tolka have gone a long way to alleviating the problems that arose....

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (12 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I wish to join in the tributes from all sides of the House to a giant of a man. I had the pleasure of serving with Tom over a number of years. I remember in particular his period as Government Chief Whip, as alluded to by Senator Bacik. The job of a Whip, as Senator Coghlan will know, is not the easiest job in the world, and one needs a particular type of temperament. Senator Coghlan...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I have raised the issue with the Minister in the past and he responded adequately to the query about the number of unmarked Garda speed detection vehicles on major roads. I instanced an example on the N4, on which there is a speed limit of 100 km/h for the entire length from Dublin to Sligo, with the exception of a number of towns and villages. It is not until one comes to Longford that one...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Will the Minister communicate with the Minister for Justice and Equality or is it necessary to do so? It is promoted that people can access on-line the locations of GATSO vans, which encourages them to slow down. I am asking the Garda authorities to indicate where these cars are located. This is not being done on a one-off basis, as the cars are located there regularly. It might not be as...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: The GATSO van network is already accessible on-line. I am asking for it to be extended.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I understand there may be operational and practical reasons for not doing this. It is, nonetheless, a frustration. I agree that there might be issues if people knew where the vans were. I know the locations are available on-line, but I do not log on to find out what they are. I try to ensure-----

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I try to keep my speed down.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I do not want to delay the Minister, but I wanted to take the opportunity to raise the point. Perhaps in his ongoing discussions with the Garda authorities the matter could be debated in the context of penalty points, speeding, etc.

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I support my colleague, particularly in respect of his first contribution about slow drivers syndrome. In his response, perhaps the Minister can indicate whether any analysis has been carried out. What level of Garda Síochána prosecutions takes place? Are they significant or infinitesimal? One hears a great deal about the emphasis on speeding and the danger it causes to other...

Seanad: Youth Guarantee: Statements (5 Feb 2014)

Paschal Mooney: She was down there last weekend.