Results 141-160 of 13,262 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: There are positive aspects in terms of better local government, but also many shortcomings, such as in planning, which both sides of the House raise as a very important urban and rural issue. Planning at local authority level is under-resourced and under pressure at the moment. We had a public announcement by the leader of the Fianna Fáil Party after the Ard Fheis, at which the Cathaoirleach...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: —about addressing planning. Another of the party's Ministers, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, got 20 minutes on the "Six One News". Bryan Dobson travelled to Galway to talk about how they were going to address the problems in planning, especially in rural areas. However, I am bemused by the recent stealth tax announced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: Ordinary people in rural and urban areas will be waiting up to a year and a half to get their planning through.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: We are restricting, not encouraging planning, which is completely against the Taoiseach's announcement.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: On a point of information, I am still a member of the local authority.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: It now takes two years to get planning permission.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: Each local authority has different ways of promoting tourism. The catchy slogan of Donegal County Council is "Up here it's different" and this has worked well over the years. Following on from the remarks of Senator Brian Hayes, I want to raise what is happening at national and local authority levels. This week the Bill introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: This tells local people that the Government is treating them like mugs. It thinks they are stupid and that they are not able to interpret what is happening.

Seanad: Order of Business. (26 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: To return to the tourism slogan, this issue might actually shed some light on why it is different up there – the Government acts differently there compared to here.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Capitation Grants. (26 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have called on the Minister for Education and Science to outline the plans in place to increase the capitation grant to voluntary secondary schools to meet the cost of insurance. I have raised this issue because I have been contacted by the management of the Catholic Secondary Schools Association and by my local secondary school, Loreto College,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Capitation Grants. (26 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: Good news is rarer than hens' teeth at the moment.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Capitation Grants. (26 Nov 2003)

Joe McHugh: Níl mé an-sásta. There is something amiss here. Last October, I received a letter from representatives of all voluntary and Catholic schools, while last November, I also received a letter from a secondary school. The Minister of State digressed when he referred to what he described as the unbelievable increases in funding to this area since 1997. The voluntary schools seek an increase of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: As today is budget day, which will involve considerable debate on both sides of the House, I do not want to go into this matter yet. However, the staff at Letterkenny General Hospital are experiencing a serious work overload. The nurses there are working at 110% of capacity. For the past two days they have had to close the day care unit because they do not have 40 beds which were promised by...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: While I agree this might be suitable for discussion on the Adjournment, it is serious. Even if money is thrown at us following today's budget, it will not solve the problem. There is an infrastructural deficit concerning beds that should have been provided. I call for the Leader's intervention.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: Tá failte roimh an Aire go dtí an Seanad agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Bhille seo. Tá brón orm nach labharfaidh mé as Gaeilge inniu ach tá mé ag dul go rang seachtainiúil. B'fhéidir go mbeidh tuilleadh muiníne agam an bhliain seo chugainn. I welcome the Minister and this timely Bill, with which my party has no difficulty. I also welcome the fact that the Minister spoke as Béarla. I...

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: There were problems before the rainbow coalition came to office.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: It is outrageous behaviour.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: From a health point of view.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: That is why they brought in the chemist.

Seanad: Order of Business. - Budget Statement: Motion. (3 Dec 2003)

Joe McHugh: The Senator should mention Deputy Perry also.