Results 1-20 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

European Presidency: Statements. (20 Jan 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (3 Feb 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 504: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is his understanding that An Bord Pleanála should adhere to Government policy when arriving at appeal decisions; and his views on whether public trust will be severely diminished. [3153/04]

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (17 Feb 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Question 480: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the first-time house purchasers grant will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [4784/04]

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I welcome the opportunity to speak in favour of the Bill. We are entitled to bring our Constitution and our laws into line with other European countries' laws on citizenship in order not to create unintended incentives which are unfair to us, our people or other European countries. This Bill will provide that in the case of a child born to non-national parents at least one of the parents must...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The referendum is all about bringing Ireland into line with EU citizenship law. Let us take Australia as an example. There, a child born to parents who are in the country illegally has no claim to citizenship. The same applies in the United Kingdom, in France and Germany. For some strange reason we do not hear people complain that these countries are racist because of their laws. How,...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I can only relate the facts as they affect the Southern Health Board. I was chairman of that body for a period. In January 2001, asylum seeker attendance at maternity services amounted to 5% of those seeking the service. In June 2001, that figure had risen to10%, in January 2002 it rose to 11%, in June 2002 to 12% and in February 2003 it had risen to 18%. Part and parcel of the problem was...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: They are also very aware of the value they place on citizenship and the way Irish citizenship is revered throughout the world. The important message I hear from people on the doorsteps is that the sanctimony of that citizenship is all important to them. The referendum is not about race, a particular date or the Good Friday Agreement, despite what those opposite would have us believe. This...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The revelations in the newspaper this morning were interesting. They revealed that the only confused party on this issue is the Labour Party.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: This morning's report in The Irish Times stated that in 1998 the Labour Party asserted that an amendment to the citizens' provisions in Article 9 of the Constitution could be made without reopening the Good Friday Agreement talks process. All of us will know that is contrary to the hot air emitted from the Labour Party yesterday and in the past when it claimed that amending Article 9 runs the...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is totally out of line with its previous policy and the people who read that article and the revelations that emanate from it will be aware that the Labour Party has not been consistent on this issue. It has let itself down badly. We were also subjected yesterday to the usual sanctimonious ranting from the Labour Party. It was the customary mix of insinuation, allegation, whinging and...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Labour Party is not supporting this referendum because it does not want to admit that the Government has got it right on this issue.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Yes.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (22 Apr 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: The interruption is a further indication that the Labour Party's latest dance is purely motivated by base political opportunism and, unfortunately, it has got it wrong again. It is attempting to whitewash over its previous position on the issue in a desperate attempt to grasp much-needed media attention. In the past, the Labour Party rocked the foundations of the State. There were several...

Written Answers — Fire Safety Personnel: Fire Safety Personnel (12 Oct 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: At 31 December 2002, the latest year for which statistics are available, the numbers of fire services personnel in the fire authorities in question were as follows: Fire Authority Full-Time Posts Retained Posts Cork City Council 141 1 Dublin City Council 926 52 Galway County Council 39 101 Limerick City Council 65 0 Dublin City Council provides fire services for Dún...

Seanad: Report on Seanad Reform: Statements (Resumed). (21 Oct 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is very pleasant to be back in this House. I enjoyed my stint in the Seanad from 1989 to 1992 and I look forward to the interaction we will have in the Chamber in the future. I commend you, a Chathaoirligh, on the even-handed and progressive way in which you direct the proceedings of this House. I would like to refer to my predecessor and Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher. He said at the...

Asbestos Waste. (2 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Deputies Kenny, Flynn and Cowley for raising a matter that is obviously of major importance to them. I am aware from media reports of the apparent intention of a company to seek to develop a waste facility for asbestos in County Mayo. I understand also that the proposers of the project have had discussions with the local authority. There is nothing to prevent individuals or companies...

Seanad: National Sports Facilities: Statements. (3 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Also the education in north County Dublin obviously.

Seanad: Road Safety. (10 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: I thank Senator Kitt for raising this issue. The Roads Act 1993 is now the overall responsibility of the Minister for Transport. Under section 13 of the Act, road authorities are responsible for the maintenance and construction of non-national roads. Section 70 of the Act obliges the owner of any structure to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the structure, or use of the structure, is...

Seanad: Road Safety. (10 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Section 37(1) of the Local Government Act 1994 empowers the local authority to: make a bye-law for or in relation to the use, operation, protection, regulation or management of any land, services, or any other thing whatsoever provided by or under the control or management of the local authority or in relation to any matter connected therewith.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (23 Nov 2004)

Batt O'Keeffe: Approval in principle has been granted for the proposed replacement fire station in Westport which is included in the fire services capital programme as a priority project. Some €445,700 has been recouped to Mayo County Council to date to meet expenditure already incurred in respect of the site and fees for this project. My Department had requested Mayo County Council to review certain...