Results 61-80 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Nursery Closure. (16 Oct 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I have raised this matter because of the crisis in child care and the need for emergency funding in the Ballyfermot area of Dublin. It involves a child care facility that was only opened two or three years ago, which caters for approximately 45 children every day. It has been primarily funded through grant aid and facilitated by statutory and local community bodies. A crisis has now emerged...

Seanad: National Development Plan Mid-Term Evaluation: Statements. (5 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to the House for the debate on the mid-term review of the national development plan. This report is one of the most important to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas for some time. The national development plan is the Government's investment programme for the period 2001 to 2006 and covers most major investments in physical infrastructure by...

Seanad: Insurance Industry Reform: Motion. (5 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State. The speech made by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on behalf of the Government tonight was one of the most important made in this House since I came in here 18 months ago. It is far reaching, affects every system and should be applauded by all sides of this House instead of being condemned and noted by members of the Labour...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (5 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I refer to the provision of a primary school in a fast growing area in my constituency. St. Patrick's national school in Diswellstown, Castleknock, has been operational for three years with a complement of 280 students. Next year, because of constraints of space, the school will be able to take in just two classes. The Department of Education and Science must make provision for a site and...

Seanad: Tax Compliance. (11 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister for Social and Family Affairs for taking the time to reply to my Adjournment matter. Although it may be a complex issue I raise this matter for a simple reason. Suppliers of goods and services to the State must supply a tax clearance certificate if the good costs in excess of €6,500. In the case of people who provide professional services to the State, such as...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. - National Drugs Strategy: Motion. (12 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I thank Fine Gael for tabling this motion, which allows the Minister of State to put forward the Government's proposals for dealing with the drugs problem. The level of drug taking is, in some part, due to the prosperity we have witnessed in the last number of years. With that prosperity has come a level of spending by our young people never...

Seanad: Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. - National Drugs Strategy: Motion. (12 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: What type of message does that send out to our young people? Is this the type of activity in which they should be taking part? I am surprised that Mr. Dunphy's statement was not more roundly refuted by everyone involved in this area. Drug taking is devastating for any young person, his or her family and the wider community. We have often seen communities refusing to facilitate services for...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill 2003: Second Stage. (20 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I am delighted to be here to participate in this debate. I welcome the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The commitment of the Government to insurance reform is evidenced by the Minister's presence and by the contents of her speech. There are times when the general public and the business community express dismay at Government inaction. Sometimes that inaction is the result of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I wish to raise the issue of the overturning of the conviction of a former Christian Brother, Paul Farrell, two days ago by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: I have a question for the Leader on this. Paul Farrell gave 30 years of his life to teaching in an institution and was principal of an inner city school in Dublin. He was convicted on the flimsiest of evidence and the judge was found to have erred in three matters of fact—

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: That is not the point I am making. Some years ago, the Taoiseach rightly made a full apology to victims of institutional abuse in this country. This case is an example of similar institutional abuse of a former Christian Brother. I ask the Leader to consider asking the Taoiseach if he will make an apology to people who have been similarly abused by the institutions of this State.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: On your bike.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Tom Morrissey: Like other speakers I welcome the Minister and commend him on bringing the Bill before the House. It has been a tough week on solicitors. Between the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Bill and the Road Traffic Bill solicitors will find very little to challenge in future when they go to court. This Bill will also make it tougher on drivers and rightly so given that the Minister said that...

Seanad: Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Local Authority Funding: Motion. (10 Dec 2003)

Tom Morrissey: The suggestion that the Government has presided over a trebling of house prices is a cheap shot. The reality is that in 1995, housing output comprised 30,000 private and public units. Less than 4,000 houses were built in the public sector in 1995, compared to 6,000 in 2002, from a total of 55,000. Some 67,000 houses will be built this year, which is a dramatic figure by any standards across...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Tom Morrissey: Insurance was mentioned again this morning, an issue that has been raised in this House many times. The comments by the Tánaiste that people should shop around have been widely remarked upon in the media. Good news should also be put on the record. For the past couple of years, for small businesses, the arrival of a renewal notice heralded higher prices. This morning, however, my renewal...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Tom Morrissey: The comments of the Tánaiste will stand the test of time. The Tánaiste is well aware of the issues related to work permits. I agree with Senator Finucane about permits for the spouses of nurses and the Tánaiste is addressing the problem.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2003)

Tom Morrissey: By shopping around.

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jan 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I refer to the threatened strike by Aer Rianta workers tomorrow. I support the calls by other Members for the Minister for Transport to attend the House to debate this issue. Aer Rianta was not established as a job creation or a job retention agency. It was given a management function to look after our airports, a critical part of the State's infrastructure. At a time when record numbers of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jan 2004)

Tom Morrissey: They do not have job security, which is demanded by Aer Rianta workers. I seek a debate on this subject.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Tom Morrissey: As someone who has taken a slight interest in the stadium proposal that was announced yesterday, I congratulate the Government on the decision that has been taken at long last. More importantly, congratulations should go to the FAI and the IRFU on their far-reaching agreement on the management of the stadium. These two large sporting organisations, seen as competitors, are now united in...