Results 1,721-1,740 of 1,838 for speaker:Eamon Scanlon

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I congratulate the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, on his first budget. It was a big day for the Minister and we all appreciate that he has done a good job. I also wish the former Minister, Deputy McCreevy, well in his new portfolio. As stated by Senator Ross, Deputy McCreevy and the Government set the tone for this budget, for which the work was carried out over many years. I welcome the...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (1 Dec 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: The money is for the child. In many cases, it is not the fault of the child if he or she is not at school. From my experience of voluntary organisations, I know what can happen. I spent many years involved with that great organisation, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which often dealt with alcohol-related problems in homes where no responsibility was taken for ensuring children attended...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I support those speakers who have asked for a debate on housing. Some local authorities have fulfilled their obligations, with Waterford achieving 104%. County Sligo is also well up there. Local authorities can buy houses but the price ceiling is set at a very low level, although it is acceptable in County Sligo, where a three-bedroom semi-detached house can be bought for €155,000. I am...

Seanad: Public Private Partnerships: Statements. (17 Nov 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, and am delighted to have an opportunity to speak on the issue of public private partnerships. I have experience of such schemes with regard to a school in my constituency. This project, which had its critics initially, was part of a European-wide competition for a company to build five schools. The successful company was Jarvis and it built one...

Seanad: Public Private Partnerships: Statements. (17 Nov 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: More than €100,000.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: Following on from the issue of high insurance premia that was raised, I have recently heard of another related issue. Young motorists who take out insurance pay probably two thirds of the premium up front and the balance in instalments over five to six months. Two people recently told me that they had missed their final payment on the fifth month and their insurance was cancelled. That means...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Bill and congratulate the Minister on listening to the concerns of people. I come from a rural area where the only place open to organisations such as the GAA, soccer clubs or whatever to run a function or disco is the local bar. There is no hall available and I am glad that this situation is being sorted out. It presented a problem in certain areas and people were somewhat...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: That is correct. Sadly, the tax take on all this will have a significant effect on Estimates, perhaps not this year but in years to come. I welcome the Minister and the Bill. It is a step in the right direction.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: It is a great honour for me to welcome the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, to the Seanad today. While it might be Cork's loss, it is certainly the north west's gain. I congratulate her on her appointment as Minister. I listened with interest to the Minister's speech which indicated that the farmers of this country owe a great debt of gratitude to the politicians who set up...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: We had two colleges, but to be honest there is room for only one. It happens there was one in Sligo and I lobbied for it. There is no need to ask the Minister to talk to the board and the staff of St. Catherine's, although I am sure she would have no problem with that, and to ensure the staff are facilitated. The decision has been taken and there is no going back on it. It has come as a shock...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I extend a warm welcome to the Minister for Education and Science and congratulate her on her elevation to the Cabinet. I propose to share my time with Senator Feeney.

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: There is no doubt that St. Catherine's College was a fine college with excellent staff. Nobody can take that away and I congratulate the college on the work it has done over the past 90 years. However, the trustees and the Dominican Order announced that they were not in a position to retain the college in its current form for financial and other reasons. The former Minister for Education and...

Seanad: Educational Facilities: Motion. (6 Oct 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: The right decision was taken as there was spare capacity in St. Angela's. I know of qualified home economics teachers who are finding it very difficult to get a job. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that there should be more emphasis on home economics teachers and the work they do. Unfortunately, however, there are qualified people who cannot get teaching work in this subject. There is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: Like the previous speakers, I welcome Senator Kate Walsh and Jody Blake back to work. As part of the debate on the involvement of public private partnerships in the construction of certain schools, I wish to state that I have served on the governing body of such a school in Tubbercurry, County Sligo. The developers, Jarvis, acquired the land and built the school on time and within budget....

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I am. In response to Senator Ryan, I would like to point out that I received a telephone call from a constituent as I made my way to Dublin today. I spoke to the father of a young family whose wife has a job. He applied for and was granted social welfare between social employment schemes. He discovered recently that he has received a social welfare overpayment of €52,000 and has been asked...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I support Senator Bannon's request for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to come to the House. It should be put on record that in 1992 the Departments of the Environment and Agriculture and the IFA, representing farmers, signed up to a document, Good Farming Practice. It was accepted at the time that 170 kg. per hectare would be the target. The country has ignored that directive for the...

Seanad: Commissions of Investigation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (1 Jul 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: The Commissions of Investigation Bill provides an essential and valuable alternative method of investigating matters of public concern. It establishes a body whose brief is to find the truth and deliver justice. The issues of public concern the commissions will investigate will not be trivial matters, but serious issues that could have long-term effects on Irish society. The Bill originates...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jul 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: With reference to Senator Ryan's point on the cost the National Roads Authority pays for land, it is not excessive in my area. While I have heard figures of €30,000 to €40,000 per acre being paid for land, no money could compensate many farmers for having their farms divided. I know of old homesteads which have been separated from young families living on the land. Farmers do not want to...

Seanad: Autism Services: Statements (Resumed). (19 May 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I welcome the Minister to the House for this important debate on autism. The issue must be addressed. Additional funding amounting to €643 million has been addressed to health-funded support services for people with disabilities since 1997. This includes an additional €25 million in current expenditure, which the Minister for Finance made available in 2004 budget for services for people...

Seanad: Public Finances: Motion. (12 May 2004)

Eamon Scanlon: I concur with Senator Leyden's statements about the rural renewal scheme in certain areas of Roscommon, Leitrim and south Sligo. This scheme has benefited the people of the area in which I live. It has been an excellent scheme which has rejuvenated the area. In my home town of Ballymote, a house had not been built for 20 years but nearly 150 houses have been built in the last three and a half...