Results 101-120 of 13,185 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I thank all the Senators who took part in the debate. I will not be drawn into responding to the issue of electronic voting to which only one Member referred because we had a very comprehensive debate yesterday by way of statements. There may be other opportunities to discuss it in the future. This Bill deals specifically with the implementation of the constituency commission report of 2003...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Yes and that is sensible.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I have not seen any of the major parties trying to remove an Independent or an Independent representing a group from the council by way of vote in many years. The position is the same for a Member of the Oireachtas. However, under the Local Government Acts, a Member of an Oireachtas or an MEP cannot stand as a candidate at a local election. As Senator Brennan is aware, that matter is...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: A person can stand for both, but he or she must choose one.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: We are trying to resolve that.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: On the one hand, we do not favour the dual mandate at national and local authority level, yet we favour the derogation for practical purposes. Only two countries secured a derogation — Ireland and the UK — with specific reference to Northern Ireland. This would not have been necessary had the intentions of two sitting members of the European Parliament, Dr. Paisley and Mr. Hume, been...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: It is fairly well understood that the three counties of Ulster comprise the Ulster constituency. While I appreciate the Acting Chairman has a view on this, I ask Members to remember there is a legal requirement for the adoption of this legislation two months before the effective date for enlargement, which gives us until the end of February. I would not be honest if I were to say I would...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: At the behest of Senator Daly, I made strong representations to have Clare included for Objective One status. I believe the views of the Senators are serious and genuinely held, and need to be considered in the future. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that the independent commission has served us well. At all times we have accepted the recommendations of the commission and have done so again...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The people of Connacht-Ulster were still very discerning and intelligent. We will consider that matter.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I would not want to give any commitment. I thank the Senators for their views and their general acceptance of this legislation, which is largely technical and implements the commission's report of 2003 and the Council's decision of June and September 2002. Europe has played an important role in the development of our country. In 1979, Ireland had a per capita income of 55% of the European...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: That can be the interpretation. However, the Government has decided this derogation will not last in perpetuity. The derogation is until the next Oireachtas elections after which there will be no further dual mandate.

Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (17 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The primary purpose of the Bill is to give legislative form to the increases in motor tax rates and trade plate licences which were contained in the financial resolution on motor tax passed by the Dáil on 25 November 2003. The resolution and the Bill provide for a standard 5% across the board increase on motor tax on all classes of vehicle....

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: Amendment No. 1 seeks to define 'Act of 1992', 'Act of 1997' and 'Minister'. The amendment is unnecessary as the Minister is defined in section 2 of the Electoral Act 1992 and in section 2 of the 1997 Act, which is being amended. The addition of the words "Electoral Act 1992" is unnecessary as section 6 the Bill is cited together with the European Parliament Elections Act 1992-2003 and they...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I am sure everyone thought about the possibility of changing name by deed poll from time to time in order that they might appear further up the ballot paper. That is just not possible. I tried to have the returning officer in Connacht-Ulster accept my name as Cope Gallagher but he did not do so. I appreciated his decision because my name appears as Gallagher on my birth certificate. Even if a...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: We will examine the matter but without making a commitment on it. Senator Brian Hayes knows what I mean by that. If parties or individuals wish to make submissions to me, I will gladly consider them. I was being somewhat facetious when I referred to the Seanad election and Senator Brian Hayes used the word "discerning" about the electorate. I am sure no Senator would tell me in all honesty...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The Senator might tell me the first preference, but he would not go down the list. Within the relevant constituency, a candidate must have the signatures of 60 people to take part in a European election, 30 for the Dáil and 15 for a local election. That is the provision in law. I will not say much about it because, as Senators probably know, the Cian Cooney case is before the courts.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I will deal first with the contribution of Senator McCarthy regarding section 48. I said, and I still believe, that the Minister has the power to extend the voting system to all the other electoral codes, whether they be local, European or Presidential, by order under section 48 of the Electoral Amendment Act. The matter was raised by Deputy Gilmore, the spokesperson on this issue for Senator...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: It is wrong to say that the system has not been used. Holland, which has a population of 15 million, has been using the system for years. On the matter of the former Leader of Fine Gael writing to the Taoiseach, the fact of the matter is that the leaflet is in the public domain stating that electronic voting is like one, two, three. I rest my case there. We are not in favour of Internet...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: The EU directive which sets down the requirements in this area specifies that resident EU citizens wishing to vote in their member states of residence must certify their nationality, address and any other details required. The EU directive states they must do this by way of a formal declaration which, if inaccurate, makes the person concerned liable to penalties in accordance with the new...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Pat Gallagher: I take it the Senator is outlining Fine Gael policy. If Senator Bannon takes this view, I presume it is also the view of Senator Higgins, Ms Madeleine Taylor-Quinn and Deputy Coveney. However, the formulation of Fine Gael policy is not a matter for me.