Results 1,681-1,700 of 1,714 for speaker:John Dardis

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: – and there has been a massive increase in funding for the health service, with a particular emphasis on the needs of people with mental and physical disabilities. When the Progressive Democrats Party was founded in 1985 it was said and repeated on all sides of this House that reducing tax would mean reduced levels of social provision. We were roundly condemned for our stance but the...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: The challenge now for the Government is to protect the progress that has been made and to ensure the public finances do not slip back into the mire of the mid-1980s. The challenge is to ensure that we never again return to the scourge of mass unemployment, emigration and the prospect of the International Monetary Fund taking over the management of the economy. The best way to meet that...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: That has not happened. The Government has taken firm and decisive action at the first available opportunity. Yes, it has involved tough decisions and the ending of the first-time buyer's grant is one of those tough decisions.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: I recognise this may come as a blow to young people setting out to buy their first home but let us avoid getting swept up by emotion, as we have seen this evening, and instead look at the facts.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: Who benefited from the hand out? This grant was effectively from the Government to house builders and it was adding to house prices. All experience has shown, and experts agree, that builders rather than first-time buyers were reaping the rewards of the scheme. Peter Bacon is one such expert. The National Economic and Social Council argued as far back as 1993 that such grants were an...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: This is the same situation. The money is given away.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: It was Senator Bannon who mentioned manners earlier. The first-time buyer's grant dates back to 1977 when the economy was completely different, with low house prices, crippling interest rates and tax rates as high as 60%. It was introduced at a time when only 18,000 new private houses were being built each year because we did not need them when so many were forced to take the boats. Last...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: Senator Ross has enough experience of my contributions to this House to know that I do not have to read a speech.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: I will read around the notes I have.

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: In an ideal world the Government would prefer not to have to take decisions of this kind but politics, ultimately, is about choices. Governments can choose between fiscal responsibility and irresponsibility and this Administration and the Minister for Finance have clearly chosen the former. The Government has made hard choices about how and where to spend money when resources are tight and,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: There are a few "quare hawks" up there as well.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: Wishful thinking again.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (12 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: I was shocked and saddened to hear of Dick Hourigan's death. I shared a similar background to him both in the farming sector and from having served with him on these benches from 1989 to 1992. Dick Hourigan was a formidable figure in Irish agriculture and it could be said that the IFA was, in many respects, a product of his energy and enthusiasm. It is not readily appreciated that he was one...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: I thought that was what the tribunal was about.

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: I agree with Senators Hayes and O'Toole that it would be appropriate to debate the issue of racism and our attitudes to those who come here to work or seek refuge. The House could usefully confirm that some of the recent myths regarding how some of the people concerned are dealt with are myths. There was a degree of xenophobia in some circles when the Nice treaty was being debated and we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: I suppose the Senator comes to Dublin on the train from Killarney every day.

Seanad: Agriculture and Food: Statements. (6 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: We are required to declare an interest at the outset of these debates, so I declare my interest as a tillage farmer in County Kildare. I used to farm beef until I saw the light of day and was no longer financially able to sustain a beef enterprise. The industry is facing several huge challenges. There is the challenge of enlargement, and how we are going to deal with countries where a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits: Motion. (6 Nov 2002)

John Dardis: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

John Dardis: This is not the first time I find myself in agreement with Senator O'Toole.

Seanad: Parliamentary Committees: Motions. (17 Oct 2002)

John Dardis: There are several issues to do with the manner in which committees are formed. In the case of joint committees which are made up of Members from both Houses then there has to be some overall co-ordination. It is a different matter when it is a select committee of this House. It is then totally within the reserve of this House and it should be dealt with solely by this House.