Results 81-100 of 33,712 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: That may be my fault for not advising the Chair. Ar dtús báire, ba chóir dúinn a aithint go bhfuilimid ag caint faoi eachtraí inar chaill daoine a saoil. Tá teaghlaigh agus cairde na daoine úd ag gortú go fóill. Níl an fhírinne mar gheall ar na heachtraí sin faighte acu fós. Caithfimid aird a thabhairt ar sin. Bhí an ceart ag an tSeanadóir Walsh liosta na ndaoine a chaill a...

Seanad: Economic Outlook: Motion (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I listened with interest and wondered if it was 1 April when I heard comments that privatisation is good for public services.

Seanad: Economic Outlook: Motion (20 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The slowdown of the economy is no surprise. It has not been helped by our dependence on the US economy which has been on a downward slide since the sub-prime crisis broke. Neither has it been helped by the failure of the Government to intervene as the competitiveness of the Irish economy has been eroded. Our ranking in terms of global competitiveness has fallen since 2000. There are...

Seanad: Matter Raised Under Standing Order 31 (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Tá mé iontach buíoch go bhfuil deis agam an tábhar seo a phlé os comhair an tSeanaid inniu. I am glad to have the opportunity to raise this issue, and that the Minister for Education and Science will hear my comments on the matter concerned, which is the need for the Government to promote the wearing of the Easter lily as a symbol of commemoration to all those who gave their lives in...

Seanad: Matter Raised Under Standing Order 31 (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Today, republicans continue to wear the lily to commemorate all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom throughout each period of struggle for that freedom. Will the Minister take this on board?

Seanad: Matter Raised Under Standing Order 31 (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The Chair makes a ruling on time in the House and I would appreciate if other Senators allowed the debate, permitted under Standing Orders, to take place.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (Resumed). (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Phelan. I commend the parents of children with special needs and their support organisations who have been making such determined efforts to ensure education rights for their children. I refer in particular to parents of children with autism, who have been telling their stories and making the demand for the most appropriate methods of education to be...

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Curam fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. My motion on the Adjournment of the House relates to the need for the Government to progress a plan to bring rail to County Donegal, connecting the town of Sligo and the city of Derry through Donegal. This would see rail reintroduced to Donegal through the towns of Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Donegal town itself, Ballybofey, Stranorlar,...

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister of State went off point. I have travelled throughout the country many times. There are airports and motorways in different regions. While the Government's investment in the dual carriageway is welcome, only the Aughnacloy-Derry stretch will be a dual carriageway. It is right that the fourth largest city on the island is connected to the largest, Dublin, because every other...

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: It was a "Yes" or "No" question.

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: We are in government in the North.

Seanad: Rail Network (21 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: It was a personal question. Does the Minister of State support the demand?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I agree with those Senators who have raised the dispute between the pharmacies and the HSE. Boxes of letters are being distributed to Deputies and Senators outside the gates of Leinster House. They contain 475,000 signatures from people throughout the 26 counties calling for intervention in this dispute. It is amazing and crazy that almost half a million people are demanding action yet we...

Seanad: Coast Guard Stations: Statements (Resumed). (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing his time with me and I agree with his comments. The Government has embarked on a ridiculous policy by trying to close the Valentia and Malin Head marine rescue co-ordination centres. When I first asked for a debate on this issue last October, a debate on Seagate, which was withdrawing from the north west, was taking place. I stated that given the...

Seanad: Civil Marriage: Motion (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: Sinn Féin fully supports the right of same-sex couples to marry and found a family, including by adoption. We also support the right of unmarried and same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships, to which the motion refers. Sinn Féin was the first party to try to enshrine this right in legislation, when former Deputy Seán Crowe tabled an amendment to the Civil Registration Bill 2003...

Seanad: Civil Marriage: Motion (27 Feb 2008)

Pearse Doherty: The current law contains an exemption which allows such institutions to discriminate on the basis of a person's sexual orientation or family status. This is unacceptable particularly in publicly-funded schools in the 21st century. The exemption means that even if the Government introduces a civil partnership Bill, it would be useless for many gay and lesbian teachers who would be afraid to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I concur with Senators in their request for a debate on the Middle East and the ongoing conflict there. It has been a long tradition that we have a debate on the Six Counties and I am aware that one will be facilitated this year. Does the Deputy Leader know when that debate will take place, especially given that a number of events are being organised internationally and at home to mark the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: That is what I am saying.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: There is ongoing debate in the media as to whether Ian Paisley will be First Minister next year. It would be apt that this would happen given it is ten years since the Agreement. I agree with the call to have the Minister for Education and Science come to the House to debate the issue of funding for primary level education. This State is at crisis point with regard to primary education....

Seanad: Pharmaceutical Pricing: Statements (4 Mar 2008)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the Minister, who has at long last come before the House to discuss this issue. A Senator from the Government benches wondered whether we are rushing under pressure or have been lobbied intensively to speak on this issue. I was the first person to speak on this issue in the Seanad and since the resumption of the Seanad and Dáil last year Sinn Féin has called on the Minister to...