Results 1-20 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach. (12 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: I join others in thanking you, Acting Chairman, for taking the Chair, if only for ten minutes. Your remarks reminded me of the great speeches Fidel Castro used to make to the Cuban assembly.

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach. (12 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: We have listened attentively to what you said but we will go out and do something else entirely. However, I thank you. The Fine Gael group does not oppose the nomination of Senator Kiely. He is an experienced Senator, a person of the utmost integrity and a fair man. He is the person we need in the Chair of the new Seanad. His fairness, impartiality and understanding of the dignity of this...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach. (12 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his election and pay tribute to him in his capacity as Senator over the past 25 years or so. He follows in a long line of distinguished Cathaoirligh of the Seanad such as Senator Brian Mullooly, Senator Liam Cosgrave and the late Senator Liam Naughten. In his capacity as Cathaoirleach, Senator Kiely will bring the dignity...

Seanad: Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy. (12 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Leader for the warm tributes she paid to two of our colleagues, David Molony and Michael Queally, who died tragically recently. I did not know David Molony well, although in recent years I got to know him a little better. His death at the age of 52 was a tragic loss for his family, the Thurles and Tipperary North area and particularly for Fine Gael. We feel a great sense of loss....

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: We agree with the Order of Business proposed by the Leader. The Nice treaty debate is an important matter. Many Senators on all sides of the Houses want to contribute to the debate and we support the proposal put by the Leader. I ask the Leader to consider making time available tomorrow for a short debate concerning the issues that surround the national stadium project. As the Leader will be...

Seanad: Retirement of Superintendent of the Houses. (13 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: On behalf of the Fine Gael group I would like to concur with the remarks made by the Leader of the House in marking this time and registering our thanks to the Superintendent of the Houses, Éamon O'Donohoe. It was only in the past two years that I got to know Éamon's name; until that time he was known to me as the Superintendent, but I have come to know and respect him and the work he does...

Seanad: Retirement of Superintendent of the Houses. (13 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: I believe it is the latter, given all the truculence and the difficulties that Members present to him from time to time. As the Leader stated, Éamon is a gifted horseman and a former Olympian. Throughout his time in Leinster House he has been courteous, efficient and helpful to all the Members and the various groupings. One of the great tributes to Éamon O'Donohoe is the fact that the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: Before we agree the Order of Business, I would ask the Leader to give a commitment, following yesterday's Order of Business and the debate which ensued, that the House will sit again very shortly. There are a number of matters of great national importance which need to be debated in this House. Yesterday, there was a call for a debate on the impending situation in Iraq, a debate on the...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim (Atógáil). Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: I thank Senator McHugh for his generosity.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim (Atógáil). Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Sep 2002)

Brian Hayes: I congratulate Senator McHugh and other colleagues who spoke so eloquently yesterday on their maiden speeches in this House. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, to the House and congratulate him on his appointment. I think he is the right person for this job at this time. I have known him for a number of years; he is combative, tough and will get his point across. It is important...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: Will the Leader of the House consider amending No. 1 in order that, after the address and questions to the President of the European Parliament, the House will be given an opportunity to debate in a very concise way developments in Northern Ireland? She will no doubt agree that all Members wish the Taoiseach well tonight in his discussions with the British Prime Minister. Given the crisis...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: The Leader's hands are full.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: Very briefly—

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: I do not want to oppose No. 1 but I seek clarification of it. I respect what Senator Dardis said in relation to Northern Ireland, but I ask the Leader to reconsider this matter given its urgency and the fact that the House will not be in session tomorrow afternoon.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: I am not being disorderly. Order of Business agreed to.

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: I am delighted to second the motion. The Fine Gael Members of the Seanad very much support the motion originating from the Committee on Procedure and Privileges which calls for the establishment of a sub-committee on Seanad reform and we encourage other Members to do likewise. When the committee began to debate this issue we felt that the most appropriate way forward in dealing with the issue...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: When the sub-committee is established it is vital that it be well staffed by a group of people who can work to its agenda alone. The officers of the House are inundated with work and it would be totally unfair to ask them to take on this additional burden. The Leader should do everything in her power to ensure that extra staff requirements are met before the establishment of this...

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: I ask other colleagues to reflect on that. If the House has a definite function in our Constitution to review legislation, we must not be as party political as we were in the other House. The Seanad has been successful because of its independence. I have three problems with the current situation. The first, which all parties and Governments experience, is that there is too much legislation....

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: It is not a good sign that Members cannot make a contribution without a script. I ask the Cathaoirleach to enforce this rule. It is better to make a short contribution than to read from a prepared script. I accept, however, that there are times, on sensitive matters such as Northern Ireland—

Seanad: Sub-Committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion. (9 Oct 2002)

Brian Hayes: —when Members will want to place certain facts on the record. There may well be a number of well defined areas where this could be established. Scripts are bad for Parliament. Watching Members read from scripts when the proceedings are broadcast is awful. I ask that it be changed. My next proposal is that this side of the House needs more Government time. As the Fianna Fáil Party has 30...