Results 101-120 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: Smoking Ban: Motion (31 Mar 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Fianna Fáil group for tabling this worthy motion tonight. I thank the Ministers of State, Deputies Tim O'Malley and Brian Lenihan, for being here to listen to the debate. I congratulate the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, on his tremendous success in introducing the workplace ban on smoking. We have all known for a long time about the health effects and the costs...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (6 Apr 2004)

Tom Morrissey: My reason for tabling this motion is that Castleknock Educate Together school has experienced tough beginnings in temporary places of accommodation over the past four or five years. Thankfully, within the last three years it has been provided with proper temporary accommodation on a school site at Beechpark in Castleknock. That school site was bought in 1981 and there is a long history...

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Tom Morrissey: Some two to three weeks ago I, and representatives of all other political parties in the Oireachtas, attended a meeting in the Shelbourne at which we signed an agreement to have a non-racist local and European election campaign. In view of that, I do not see why some Senators continually refer back to what happened two years ago. All parties in the House have now signed up to that campaign.

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I hope the local election candidates will have more on their minds than this issue over the next 65 days. European election candidates should certainly have much more on their plates, with the enlargement of the EU and all that brings with it. We cannot go around with our eyes closed. There is a problem in our maternity hospitals. I and other Senators have friends working in Dublin maternity...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I will not detain the House for too long. The Minister has sat here listening to the debate for many hours, which is something not many Ministers do. I congratulate him on sitting here all day and listening to everybody's contribution. It is a Friday and not many other Ministers have done that in my experience. The Minister has put himself at the disposal of the media in answering all the...

Seanad: Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Apr 2004)

Tom Morrissey: This is not about numbers, it is about integrity. Perhaps the Labour Party is not aware of the legal loophole which exists. However, the Government is aware of it and is attempting to close it. It is the function and responsibility of Government to do so. A master of one of the maternity hospitals stated that women have arrived in Ireland in advanced stages of labour and that luckily there...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Jun 2004)

Tom Morrissey: Will the Leader arrange a debate with the Minister for Health and Children, prior to the summer recess, to discuss the ever-growing epidemic of queues of people in A & E departments waiting to get on to trolleys? This phenomenon is usually experienced during the winter months but it is now happening during the summer. What is the Government doing to remedy it? Each day, millions of euro are...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Tom Morrissey: Less than a week ago I raised on the Order of Business the subject I am addressing in this debate. I am pleased to see it has been so quickly put on the agenda by the Labour Party, perhaps as a result of my having raised it.

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Tom Morrissey: The day I raised it I asked that the Minister should come to this House to tell us what the Government was doing. I welcome the Minister to the House. He has outlined clearly in his speech what the Government has been doing in this and the previous term of office. There has been greater processing of patients through our hospitals as a result of investment. The Minister has acknowledged that...

Seanad: Hospital Services: Motion. (30 Jun 2004)

Tom Morrissey: Every councillor in Dublin 15 at the time voted against that proposal. I accept problems exist in accident and emergency departments and that we must do something in terms of how people are treated once they present there. I suggest that one area that might be examined is the junior doctor service provided at accident and emergency departments. I was told today that contracts for junior...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I wish to raise the issue of the economy. Two nights ago, during Private Members' time, Senator Ryan lambasted the Minister for Finance, stating that in his experience he was the worst Minister for Finance the country ever had. The figures published yesterday by the CSO and the Department belie that fact.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I compliment the Minister for Finance. All the money the Opposition parties would like to spend is being collected by the Minister for Finance.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I hope there will be a debate on the issue in the early autumn. God help us all if there was an alternative Government and the Labour Party took over the Department of Finance.

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I commend the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the passage of the citizenship referendum by a margin of four to one. The early indications are that the number of asylum seekers has fallen by a further 50% since the referendum was passed and prior to legislation coming before the House. When the Opposition parties are asked to negotiate the terms of reference for the...

Seanad: Rail Services. (7 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister for his attendance in the House to deal with the matter of the extension of the Maynooth railway line from Clonsilla to Clonee. I congratulate the Minister on the launch of Luas which goes through his own constituency. I am struck by the great similarities between this matter and the Luas line. The Luas line runs on the old Harcourt Street line which was closed down in...

Seanad: Rail Services. (7 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister for his comments. I look forward to Irish Rail's formal presentation to him when it completes its feasibility study. I hope funding will be made available for its proposals. Money is no longer the problem. Value for money will always be an issue but the line will come up trumps in any cost benefit analysis. I ask the Minister to approve the proposal to assist the future...

Seanad: Quality Bus Corridors. (8 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister for Transport for coming in the House to reply to his Adjournment matter. With the advent of the Luas light rail it is clear that people can be attracted to public transport when it is properly provided. For many years we have had a bus network which has had to fight tooth and nail for every foot of QBC. That is due to the arduous nature and procedure which has to be gone...

Seanad: Quality Bus Corridors. (8 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive report on quality bus corridors and compliment him on the significant ongoing investment which has increased from last year's €16 million level. I would now like to see a focus on the pinch points on existing quality bus corridors to which the Minister referred.

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister. This is the third time in the past week he has been here listening to debates on transport. The introduction of this Bill focuses attention on the independence of Cork, Shannon and Dublin Airports. Cork and Shannon will be able to operate autonomously and generate their own level of activity in a competitive environment. The debate on this Bill has concentrated mainly...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Second Stage. (13 Jul 2004)

Tom Morrissey: Aer Rianta, and I hope, Aer Lingus, in future.