Results 1,641-1,660 of 1,837 for speaker:Eamon Scanlon

Seanad: Order of Business. (31 Jan 2007)

Eamon Scanlon: I support Senator Daly's call for a debate on nursing home subventions. A number of families have contacted me, particularly since the start of the year, when the cost of nursing home care increased substantially in some cases. There does not seem to have been an increase in the subvention paid to such families, however. In recent days, I came across an anomaly whereby an elderly person...

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy (31 Jan 2007)

Eamon Scanlon: I echo the sentiments of all speakers and, as a Sligo person, convey my sympathy to the late Senator's wife and children on behalf of the people of the county. I had the honour of meeting Michael Yeats on several occasions, most notably when he was made a freeman of the Borough of Sligo. It was always very nice to meet the man, since he was a genuinely warm and pleasant person to talk to,...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I support Senator Leyden's call to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, to the House for a discussion on the issue of water charges. I attended a meeting in Roscommon on Monday last at which 1,200 farmers were present. There is no doubt this is a serious issue. As Senator Leyden stated, County Sligo is one of the dearest counties at €5.14...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I support Senator Browne's call for a debate on farm inspections. In the past 18,000 inspections were carried out annually but that number has reduced to 8,000. The Minister for Agriculture and Food has been in discussions with the German Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Horst Seehofer, prior to Germany assuming the EU Presidency on 1 January 2007. He is a...

Seanad: Partnership Agreement with the Farming Pillar: Statements (16 Nov 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the ratification of the new social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, by the farming organisations represented in the social partnership process. We should acknowledge the work done on this by the Minister and by farming organisations such as the IFA, the ICMSA, ICOS and Macra na Feirme. The outcome of several months of negotiations is a package of measures which aims to ensure...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I wish to raise a matter brought to my attention by two families who contacted my office in Sligo yesterday. They have elderly family members in St. John's geriatric hospital in Sligo town, and they wish to take them home but cannot do so without getting home help. Apparently, there is a dispute at present — it is a national problem — where the people who organise the home help are in...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements (12 Oct 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Minister of State and I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this issue. I recognise what the Government has done, especially in my county of Sligo which has received over €9.5 million for the building and purchase of new homes for people. That is a 100% increase over a few short years. However, there are problems and issues. I wish to raise an issue which bothers...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: On decentralisation, there is a success story in Tubbercurry, County Sligo, where 75 people from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are located. The office is, however, temporary as it is intended to move the jobs to Knock. Another 75 people are due to move to Tubbercurry and they would do so tomorrow morning if they could but the space is not available at present....

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (11 Oct 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: As regards Senator Brian Hayes's comments on the SSIAs, my understanding is that what is taken as reckonable income is the interest earned in the year one applies for the maintenance grant.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (11 Oct 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: If one is talking about an SSIA account maturing in 2005, the interest earned would be about €200. That is the only income that is reckoned in education maintenance grant applications.

Seanad: Office of Tobacco Control Annual Report 2005: Statements (27 Sep 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, to the House. I congratulate the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, on implementing the ban on smoking in workplaces. At the time of implementation I did not agree with him and if I had a free vote at the time I would have voted against the measure, as I used to be a smoker. I know what the addiction entails. I used...

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: Not Sligo.

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As previous speakers have noted, everybody welcomes this Bill because we are all aware of people who have had bad experiences with regard to stage payments. In the 1980s and early 1990s, this was the only way to build a house. People found that difficult because they had to take out full mortgages as well as pay rent. I am glad the Minister of...

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: The Senator is a nice man.

Seanad: A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland: Statements. (28 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, to the House. This debate touches everybody. When I was 17 years old and the eldest of six children, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I remember the trauma in our house at that time. I am delighted to say she is alive and well in 2006. It certainly brought it home to me and I have never forgotten the effect the longest day I have ever...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I support Senator Feighan's call for a debate on the courts and their operation. The waste of Garda time in courts is unacceptable, with cases not being heard for weeks or even months when gardaí are called to the courthouse. Juries can also be called into courts to wait for up to three days and the court might never be called again. Something must be done to streamline this process. People...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: May I share time with Senator Cox?

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion. (7 Jun 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I am glad to have the opportunity to comment on this issue. I acknowledge the allocation of housing grants to Sligo County Council and Sligo Corporation in recent days. Sligo County Council received €11.6 million, while Sligo Corporation received €11.5 million. This is a total of €23 million for house construction and purchase. In addition, Leitrim County Council received €6 million....

Seanad: Energy Strategy: Motion. (17 May 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: I commend the Independent Senators on proposing this motion on an important issue. The increasing price of oil, the need to significantly reduce our carbon and greenhouse emissions and the growth of dynamic new economies has placed the need for alternative energy firmly on the Government agenda. The Government is aware of the importance of the matter and has made progress on it. The €27...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 May 2006)

Eamon Scanlon: Following on from Senator John Paul Phelan's comments on decentralisation, we noted with interest the Taoiseach's remarks at the weekend that perhaps the timeframe was ambitious. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which is to move to Knock, has acquired temporary accommodation in Tubbercurry, County Sligo. The Office of Public Works will take over a building on 1 June...