Results 281-300 of 405 for speaker:John Ellis

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (5 Mar 2008)

John Ellis: I may welcome this motion more than any other Member of this House because I have often raised this matter on the Order of Business. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Trevor Sargent, and understand that the Minister left the House with good reason. I welcome the Minister's statement of intent regarding the electoral system. I have a...

Seanad: Health Services (20 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher, to take this motion on the Adjournment. I raise the matter of a capital project, which has been proposed by the HSE, and formerly by the North-Western Health Board, entailing the provision of a community care facility and small hospital in Ballinamore, County Leitrim. This was sanctioned in 2002 and was given the go-ahead then....

Seanad: Health Services (20 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: If there is no move on this project by the date given — we were promised it would be commenced by certain dates twice previously — I will raise it again in the House and will continue to harass both the HSE and the Minister until the project gets to the building stage.

Seanad: Forestry Issues: Statements (20 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: Senator Bradford finished on a point I was going to make. I attended many public meetings — I am sure Senator O'Reilly was also called to many — on the problems caused by private afforestation companies backed by pension funds and other operations which did not need to make a commercial return. They forced a number of farmers out of business by being able to pay more for land for...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: I congratulate the Garda on its action at the weekend in introducing checks for drugs at some of its checkpoints for alcohol. That is a welcome move and something on which this House should compliment the Garda. I have raised that question here on a number of occasions and I am delighted the Garda has now taken action on it. The Garda should also consider the possibility of introducing...

Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (14 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, who is substituting for the Minister, who I believe is ill. I take this opportunity to wish him a speedy recovery. We come in here to speak about the problems facing us because of waste which are obvious to us every day. Waste from packaging and other products comes into our homes and businesses on a daily basis. Many of these products are...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: Members are aware of the debate in the House last week on transport and the serious situation prevailing with regard to defective vehicles. Has the Leader heard from either the Garda authorities or anybody else with regard to the queries raised? They were raised in all sincerity to prove to the public that there is a need for action to be taken to deal with this situation. Is it possible to...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: Deputy Healy Eames — I am sorry, I mean Senator Healy Eames. No more than myself, she failed the last day out. If we are not getting responses from the HSE as elected public representatives, there is a need for something to be done, even if it means amending legislation. The HSE can make reports to us in the audiovisual room here in Leinster House but it seems to forget about us as soon...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: Before Christmas I raised the issue of local radio stations being taken over by various groupings. Since then I have received a number of representations from people involved in local radio stations outlining that on the takeover, the commitments given in the original granting of the licence disappears. It is imperative this issue is debated and I ask that the Minister is invited to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: There are young people who want to get involved in broadcasting and many others got into it through local radio or even through the pirate stations in the old days. The salaries now being offered to some of them are below the minimum wage and this needs to be investigated urgently. The Leader should arrange for the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to come to the House and debate this. I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

John Ellis: We have had much talk on road safety. We need to ensure many of the bangers brought into the country from eastern Europe and which are being driven by eastern Europeans who, in many cases, have neither tax nor insurance, are taken off the road by the Garda. The Garda must up the ante on the vehicles many of these people drive. In some areas it is being done and I hope it becomes...

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2008)

John Ellis: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, to the House for this important debate. We do not realise the type of social problems being created for our young people and among families by alcohol and drugs abuse. Senator O'Reilly has pre-empted me in some of his comments but I reiterate that off-licences have become a problem. We know many rural pubs have disappeared and their licences...

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2008)

John Ellis: ——see it as trendy to be regularly involved in cocaine use, which is frightening. Cocaine sniffing has now become almost as acceptable as snuff was in the early 1900s. We must tackle this problem. Everyone can say who is using it and who is pushing it. In fact, certain sections of our society are very much involved in the transportation and pushing of drugs in the community. They...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

John Ellis: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

John Ellis: Will the Leader of the House arrange a debate in the new year on local radio? A new phenomenon is arising whereby one radio station seems determined to take over all other local radio stations throughout the State.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

John Ellis: Newstalk would do fine. I congratulate Senator Norris on handing over his papers to the National Library of Ireland. Thank God he did not hand in his notice.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

John Ellis: The ethos of local radio is being attacked. No single local radio station should be allowed to control other local stations. One group controlling three or four stations is not in the interest of local radio, nor is it in the best interests of communities which depend on local radio to air local grievances and issues. I note that programming is being changed by the new owners, especially...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (4 Dec 2007)

John Ellis: Like my colleagues, I express sympathy with the family of the late Seán Keegan. I had the pleasure of serving with him in the Oireachtas from 1977 to 1982. He was a true and perfect gentleman. I also had the privilege of sharing an office with him for a short period. I learned from him that one must do what one is asked by one's constituents or else face their wrath. I wish to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2007)

John Ellis: I am delighted that Senator Norris is going to welcome others to the register of voters on the university panels. I refer again to the debate I have sought with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government concerning constituency revision and the Constituency Commission's report. I note that we will have a debate this evening on the university panels for the Seanad. I...

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (Resumed) (14 Nov 2007)

John Ellis: We all welcome the opportunity today to have a debate on road safety. As Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport during the last Dáil, I had the privilege of working with a number of groups and organisations and making various contributions in respect of what could be done in this area. Last year was probably the best year for road safety in a long time, with a serious...