Results 1,741-1,760 of 4,953 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Sinn Féin has been in government in the North, most recently with the Democratic Unionist Party. There are regional and district rates in the North. The regional rate is set by the Assembly and the district rate is set by the councils. Sinn Féin, along with other parties, has presided over double taxation. It has set a district rate to cover items such as education and health,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Let us get clarity on where exactly Sinn Féin stands on water charges.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Let us get clarity on where exactly Sinn Féin stands on general taxation.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Clarity is all I have asked for. As one of the slow learners that Senator Gavan referred to, all I want is clarity on something that seems incoherent to me.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I live quite close to the North and visit it daily.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Like others, I call on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to intervene as a matter of urgency in the Bus Éireann dispute. Members of the various unions involved in this strike will protest outside the House later while the Minister addresses the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport. He should not only address the committee; he should address the unions and the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Senator Billy Lawless has indicated that he wishes to share time with Senator Gerard Craughwell. I think Senator Lawless is wise to go first. The Senators will have four minutes each.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Go on.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I commend Senators Warfield and Ruane and their colleagues on putting forward this legislation this evening in the Seanad. As somebody who worked for almost 25 years with young people, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years of age, I am certainly not afraid of giving them a vote.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am very proud of the fact that I worked alongside them. I have no doubt that if they had a vote at the time when I stood for the local elections I would have doubled my vote on that occasion.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am not afraid to give the franchise to 16 year olds in this country.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I will certainly not be lectured to here by those who have come late to the democratic process on our island.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I will certainly not be lectured to here by those who claim to be liberals, yet have been part of a Conservative Government that rules the Six Counties of this island for Britain.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: If one wants to hear the truth, then let us hear the truth.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: Some people stand up here and say, "Let's not politicise this thing", and then they continue to politicise.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: We, as a party-----

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I listen to everybody's point of view here, without interruption, and I would like the same courtesy afforded to me. Regarding the proposal before us, what Senator Gavan and some of his colleagues said is true. It is part of Fianna Fáil policy and it was in our manifesto for the last general election. That is correct and nobody has denied it. I am in favour of affording the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: -----then it is not worth the effort. That is my firm belief. As has been pointed out by some colleagues, it is necessary to hold a referendum to roll out full voting rights.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: I accept that this House has no power in that regard.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Diarmuid Wilson: It is not that long ago since the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 years. It was in 1973 after a referendum was conducted in 1972. The proposal was passed by over 300,000 votes. In May 2015, a proposal was put, by way of referendum, to reduce the age of persons deemed eligible to stand for a presidential election from 35 to 21 years of age. The proposal was overwhelmingly defeated by...