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Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

John Ellis: Like my colleagues, I would like to be associated with the vote of congratulations to Senator Cummins. I do not doubt that he will make an excellent Leader not only in the short period before the Seanad election, but also in the future. I am sure all Members of this House are quite willing to recommend to the Taoiseach that he should reappoint Senator Cummins as Leader after the election.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2011)

John Ellis: Senator Burke is going to higher office. This is probably the last chance some of us will have to say something in this House. I would like to make some final remarks after 30-odd years in the Oireachtas. Every citizen of this country has a duty to support the Government as it tries to ensure our 12.5% corporation tax rate is not changed. If it is changed, this country's chances of...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2011)

John Ellis: I congratulate Senator O'Brien on his appointment and congratulate those who have been elected to the Dáil. I used the same route to the Dáil and I am using the same route out of the House. Before we leave this House, we need to put a few things on the record. Senator O'Toole signalled that we must make haste slowly when it comes to abolishing the Seanad or other forums available to the...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (8 Mar 2011)

John Ellis: I welcome to the House the many friends, colleagues and family members of former Senator Willie Farrell and wish to be associated with the words of sympathy extended to them. The relationship between the late Willie Farrell and me dates back to the early 1980s when County Leitrim re-joined the same constituency as County Sligo. At that time, we had the benefit of Willie's wise counsel on...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2011: Second Stage (28 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: This probably is a nostalgic occasion because it more than likely is my last statement on a Finance Bill in this House. I have been in the Oireachtas for at least 34 or 35 such Bills since 1977 and while there have been severe budgets that were perceived by the public as being too harsh, none has been as harsh as this one. Harsh budgets have been introduced previously and as a political...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (26 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: I have a distinction not shared by any other Member of the House. I served with Senator Séamus Dolan and had the honour of supporting his candidacy as Cathaoirleach in 1977. This is a sad day, and we welcome Bríd and the Dolan family to the House. For them, this is the closing of a chapter. His membership of the House, which lasted for more than 20 years, was as important to them as it...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: I have to laugh at the political posturing by individuals in both Houses over recent weeks. Some are shouting they want an election but do not have the guts to vote for the Finance Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: They want the current Government to introduce it so they can have a clean slate, as they see it, when they get into power. People must examine the sincerity of what was said by some politicians of all parties over recent weeks.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: I did not interrupt Senator Norris. It has never been my practice to interrupt others if I can avoid it. I am sick and tired of some of the stuff being put out by political parties which want to be in government but whose policies are diverse as Sunday and Monday. There are others who have left government but now feel, because they are outside, they can play an independent role claiming...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2011: Second Stage (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: Like Senator Donohoe, we all welcome this legislation. I ask the Minister to clarify some points. The discretion for the initial testing of a person involved in a collision will lie with the Garda Síochána, unless a person has been seriously injured. Who will determine the seriousness of the injury? What training will be provided to the Garda Síochána? I am acting as the devil's...

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: If we are going to go further than our European colleagues we will have serious problems with regard to our future competitiveness. As I said before Senator Bacik's intervention, world hunger exists and we are entitled to make a contribution towards its alleviation. Should we tie people's hands and prevent them from producing more food in this country? The most productive part of our...

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: No. I have a little rule which I observe unless there is some serious reason to break it and after 33 years I have not broken it. The House should have a full debate on all the areas covered by the Bill, not alone the consequences of climate change but the need to consider the new technologies. Such a discussion would result in a very constructive Bill which would have the approval of all....

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: We all understand the need to protect our environment under various headings, but climate change is only one heading and we must consider the other initiatives. We must also consider the consequences of drastic changes to the way in which we deal with the situation. I have expressed to the Minister of State in private my views on and some of my problems with the Bill.

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: As I was saying before I was interrupted-----

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: I have reservations about the Bill, given the number of problems it will cause for agriculture and industry. Let us be fair. Will a Bill introduced by current Members in the dying days of this Government tie the hands of future Governments, irrespective of their shade? I am not saying this with any disrespect, as the Bill is part of the programme for Government and the issue in question...

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: The consequences will be more serious than many imagine. We discuss world hunger. What we are doing through this Bill will tie future production levels.

Seanad: Climate Change Response Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: I did not say whether I support the Bill. However, I will comment on it on Second Stage. That is my right as much as it is Senator Bacik's, yet I did not interrupt her.

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (12 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: We all welcome the opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the local authority workers for the effort they put in during the recent crisis. My own local authority responded as best it could to every situation and very few people were left without water for a long time. That shows the commitment of the local authority staff involved. The Opposition has tabled a motion calling for the...

Seanad: Water Services: Motion (12 Jan 2011)

John Ellis: On a point of order, that is a recommendation only.

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