Results 141-160 of 349 for speaker:Tom Morrissey

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Oct 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I apologise. I called for such a debate following a presentation to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport. Yesterday, a further presentation was made to that joint Oireachtas committee, which I can only describe as a whinge. People who came before the joint committee yesterday asked a basic question. Given the basic nature of the question the Minister must come to the House to outline...

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Oct 2004)

Tom Morrissey: We require the Minister to come to the House to outline the position.

Seanad: Kidnapping of Irish Citizen: Motion. (21 Oct 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I take the opportunity with other Members to express my solidarity with the family of Mrs. Hassan at this dreadful time. I compliment the Minister for Foreign Affairs wholeheartedly on his endeavours in this situation and in the recent case of Mr. Kenneth Bigley where, upon assuming office, he immediately entered into negotiations to seek the release of that unfortunate hostage. I share the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Oct 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I concur with previous speakers regarding the problems of the lack of signage for the Luas. We have spent €800 million on providing this system in our city. Before we embark on further extensions, it is important that people have confidence in the safety and the reliability of this system. I visited one of the locations yesterday and there is no signage there. We all know how many crashes...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: An article in one of today's newspapers outlines the report of a coroner on the unfortunate death of an elderly gentleman in north Cork who was killed by an articulated truck. The coroner reported that everything, including mirrors, was in order on the truck. However, the report recommends that additional mirrors be fitted to trucks and suggests that the recommendation be passed to the...

Seanad: National Sports Facilities: Statements. (3 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: With the permission of the House I will share my time with Senator Brennan. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House and for the paper he has delivered. It contained very little with which any Member could quibble. Indeed, I am pleased to hear the Minister make a commitment to carry out an audit of sports facilities throughout the country. One of the purposes of that audit, once...

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I wish to share time with Senator Ormonde.

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Callely, and I look forward to having good working relations with him and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen. The Minister stated earlier that public transport in Dublin faces a number of challenges. That is certainly the case. I am a fan of Dublin Bus and of public transport in general. There has been a great deal...

Seanad: Public Transport in the Greater Dublin Area: Statements. (9 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I guarantee if any Member looked at a super-cube and an ordinary lorry, they would not be able to see the difference in height. Goods are leaving the country in super-cubes and there are jobs which depend on those goods being delivered to foreign markets at a cost competitive price. Those who say they should be banned are not living in the real world. Should the business be transferred to...

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements. (10 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister of State to the House, and congratulate him on his promotion. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Martin, for his contribution. Senator Ryan spoke of a compassionate model and said we should not look 3,000 miles away, or to our nearest neighbour who does not have a model to show us either. The model of a successful economy is the country in which we live. This country has...

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements. (10 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: Competition is not evident in all areas, but it is in many. I witness it on a daily basis. With regard to telecommunications, not a month goes by without my business receiving a call from a telecommunications provider offering lower charges. I have lower charges year on year by changing providers, not by being loyal to one. On a monthly basis, we are asked by telecommunications providers to...

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements. (10 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: The NCC's benchmarking exercise has raised many interesting issues. The council acknowledges the tremendous success of the Irish economy over recent years, much of which can be attributed to the success of policies taken by Government. For example, the benchmarking exercise ranked Ireland second after the US out of 16 countries in terms of GDP per capita above Switzerland and Denmark; first...

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements. (10 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: The international benchmarking exercise suggests that, on aggregate, Government policies proved a significant competitive advantage to firms operating in Ireland. Our key strengths are apparent. Ireland's standard rate of corporate tax, 12.5%, is the lowest out of 16 countries and has been a key factor in Ireland's success in attracting high levels of inward direct investment over the past decade.

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements. (10 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: On the issue of taxation, the council commends Government on changes to the structure of the Irish tax system, and in particular the lowering of direct taxes on both personal income and corporate profits. These changes have supported competitiveness and have been important factors behind our economic success over the past 15 years. Ireland is ranked as one of the most open economies in the...

Seanad: Competitiveness and Consumer Protection Policy: Statements. (10 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: The report ranked Ireland as the most expensive country in the euro zone, on a par with Finland, and significantly more expensive than the next group of euro zone countries. In the area of taxation policy, the council points to the need to reinforce and sustain the advantages which our taxation system has generated for the economy, growth and employment over the past 15 years. I agree with...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs. (10 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I wish to share my time with Senator O'Toole. I welcome the Minister for Education and Science to the House. Perseverance pays off because this is the fourth time I have submitted this matter over recent weeks and I am delighted it is being taken tonight. I hope the Minister has a good reply to it. Seldom since I became a public representative, either on my local authority or in the Seanad,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: Some weeks ago I spoke in this House about the political mugging I witnessed at an Oireachtas transport committee meeting. I suppose the chickens came home to roost less than 48 hours ago and Mr. Willie Walsh and his colleagues will no longer be part of the management team.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: The management team will no longer be there to kick around. The position of the Progressive Democrats is that a decision must be made on the future of Aer Lingus. Some people, including the unions, believe that the job is over because Aer Lingus was saved from bankruptcy. The job is just beginning in terms of driving the airline forward in order to continue to compete. This House must ensure...

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: There was more discussion at the transport committee about the shamrock than about Aer Lingus customers and how the airline was selling itself. The Irish people are flying much more than they have ever done. As an island nation, Ireland has not lost out in the European and world context, and we must move on from this hang-up with a national airline.

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (18 Nov 2004)

Tom Morrissey: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on his appointment to this new portfolio. I also thank Senators, particularly Senator Terry, who made the case for this debate. I agree with Senator O'Toole. People have stopped putting money into pensions and have put that money into housing because of the difference in returns in the past 15 years. That is why the housing boom has had...