Results 41-60 of 78 for speaker:Francis O'Brien

Seanad: Outdoor Education Centres (5 Dec 2006)

Francis O'Brien: Like Senator Wilson, I wish to impress upon the Minister for Education and Science the importance of this venture on the Cavan-Monaghan border. As Senator Wilson stated, the Tanagh outdoor education centre has been operating there since 1992 and has grown to a position where it attracted 10,000 visitors this year. Over 2,000 others were turned away from it in 2006 due to a lack of capacity....

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (13 Dec 2006)

Francis O'Brien: I join in the tributes paid to the late Andy O'Brien who I knew for the past 30 years. I always enjoyed his company when I met him at different conferences, football matches and other events in Cavan. His passing is a great loss. He enjoyed a long life. His wife and family will miss him most. He was a wonderful support to the Fine Gael Party. There is no question he was a Cavan man...

Seanad: Food Safety: Statements (8 Nov 2007)

Francis O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, to the House. I will take my first opportunity in the House to congratulate him on his position and re-election to Dáil Éireann. It was a wonderful victory. I disagree with Senator Buttimer's statement to the effect that we used to produce good food. He should rephrase his statement, as we are still producing excellent food. Good food...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2008)

Francis O'Brien: I join other speakers in extending good wishes to the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Séamus Brennan. Yesterday, when the Taoiseach met the First Minister, Dr. Ian Paisley, at the Battle of the Boyne site, was a great day for Ireland. I was one of the lucky few to be present and it was wonderful to be there. It was a wonderful day for all...

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements (Resumed) (21 May 2008)

Francis O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Trevor Sargent, to the House to discuss this important issue. I take the opportunity also to congratulate my constituency colleague, the new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, on his appointment, which is richly deserved. The Lisbon reform treaty would leave the position regarding the World Trade Organisation...

Seanad: Report on European Union Scrutiny: Statements (3 Feb 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am delighted to be here as it is my first time to speak while the Minister is in the House. The aim of this proposal is to modernise and improve EU food legislation rules so that consumers have all the vital information they need to make an informed choice when they are buying. It also attempts to ensure that all consumers have similar...

Seanad: Death of former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (17 Jun 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I join previous speakers in extending sympathy to the family of Michael Howard with whom I served in this House from 1989 to 1997. As Senators have most eloquently noted, Michael was a gentleman through and through who enjoyed the respect of Senators from across the political divide. He was an honourable and great man who had many friends in County Clare and throughout the country. As his...

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I wish to share my time with Senator Ellis. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen. It is great to see him in such form and fighting fit. We all wish him well. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this urgent issue affecting the agriculture sector. The Minister is working so hard for the dairy sector but these are difficult times with milk prices as low as 20 cent per...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion (7 Oct 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. This is my first opportunity since he became Minister of congratulating him publicly. The Minister of State is no stranger to this House. He served as a Member of this House and I wish him well in his portfolio. If I may be parochial, Latton is a very rural area. It was the location of one of the first pilot rural transport schemes and it...

Seanad: National Marine Mapping Programme: Motion (21 Oct 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I will be sharing time with Senator Ned O'Sullivan. I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the motion on the marine survey, which is brilliant. As Monaghan is an inland county, I ask forgiveness if I am not as well versed as other Members with the shoreline of the country. Nevertheless, as previous speakers stated, the benefits to the country of this survey are enormous with regard to the...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (22 Oct 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I join previous speakers in tributes to the late Tony Kett. Tony Kett was a gentleman. He was very kind and courteous, and it is wonderful to hear all the tributes being paid to him. I came to know Tony Kett on his rounds for his first Seanad term when he was canvassing various councillors in the different counties. He was always good humoured and full of fun. I agree with the comments...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Nov 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I support Senators Reilly, Harris and Ó Murchú who asked for time to be allocated to discuss the serious issue of unemployment. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to the House for a wide-ranging debate on employment, unemployment and the projects within her remit? That debate would be worthwhile and timely because, as each of us knows, young couples...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I join previous speakers in welcoming Senator James Carroll and in congratulating him on his election and elevation to Seanad Éireann. Young James was a wonderful choice for election to this House as is evident from his wonderful success story as recounted by the Leader. I refer in particular to his student union activities and his recent successful election to Louth County Council. He...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I can state without fear of contradiction that he certainly is the youngest Member of this House. I wish him well in the future and he undoubtedly will be an excellent representative. I thank the Leader for arranging the debate on flooding. Lest any Member might think that County Monaghan was not affected, while I am unaware of houses being flooded, parts of Monaghan town were blocked off...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Francis O'Brien: However, it definitely was affected. Finally, I support Senator Ó Domhnaill's call for the VAT rate to be considered in the forthcoming budget because this is a serious issue for the six Border counties-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Francis O'Brien: Moreover, it is not only people from the Border counties who are shopping across the Border. They are coming from far further afield-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Francis O'Brien: -----to shop in the North.

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, as Members debate this important subject, namely, statements on flooding. I agree with the comments of all previous speakers. The farming community has been mentioned and one should consider the amount of rainfall experienced over the past year, as well as the highly unfortunate bad weather this spring and in the early summer involving...

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Francis O'Brien: I, too, welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, to the House to hear statements on farming. As the Minister stated at the outset of his contribution, it is timely we are having this debate. While I do not wish to be negative towards Senator Prendergast I was not happy to hear her run down the Government in terms of its support for agriculture and farming in general. Fianna Fáil and...

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Francis O'Brien: In terms of negatives, I, too, am disappointed the REP scheme has been suspended. It is hoped the Minister and Minister of State will reinstate it in 2010.