Results 1-20 of 881 for speaker:Peter Power

Confidence in the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government: Motion. (30 Mar 2004)

Peter Power: The Deputies have no intention of listening.

Confidence in the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government: Motion. (30 Mar 2004)

Peter Power: As usual, they just do not want to listen.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: I thank the Minister of State for sharing time. At the outset, let me agree wholeheartedly with his closing remarks. I sometimes think that in this House we live in a completely different world from the outside world. I have detected no undertones or hints of the issues such as xenophobia or racism that have been raised in the House.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: I was watching the screen and that issue was started on the Labour Party benches well before the Minister referred to it.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: The Labour Party were filibustering for approximately 15 to 20 minutes before this debate started. From listening to Ministers and Deputies from all parties who are on the ground there is no hint or undertone of racism in the local elections, so far. To suggest, as many Members are suggesting, that the proposal before the House is in some way influencing the people in a material way in these...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: Deputy Durkan, more than most Members, demonstrates that attribute.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: Those who are losing the argument simply do not want to listen. At the core of the debate are some very simple questions about whether we deal with our immigration and citizenship policy through our Constitution or in legislation? There is no doubt that when one analyses the arguments cogently, the Constitution is no place to include detailed provisions on citizenship and immigration policy....

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: On the contrary, the effect of the referendum on the Constitution in 1999 is that it put back into the Constitution the concept of citizenship and it was embedded in the Constitution. Before that, citizenship rights were derived from the Citizenship Act 1956 and not from the Constitution. That was the right and proper way to deal with the issue, but unfortunately it was an unforeseen...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: For people to suggest the Government has come up with this proposal for purely electoral gain a few weeks before the general election——

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: The Deputy forgot to mention that the Government was aware of the difficulty and the issue was included in the programme for Government. I know this was an issue at the last general election and it is an issue now. It was signalled in the programme for Government that the Government would take action on it. To level the accusation now that it is being done as a short stop-gap measure coming...

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: I have come to the conclusion that the reason that the public has turned off this House is because of Members such as the Deputy, who does not want to listen to other's point of view because he has lost the argument.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: The Deputy's behaviour undermines this House. I regret to say that people do not respect the Dáil any more because they see the likes of the Deputy.

Twenty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Apr 2004)

Peter Power: The essential point is not the extent of the abuse or the manner of that abuse, although it is certain that abuse is taking place. The essential question which has to be dealt with is how we deal with modern complex citizenship and immigration issues. It should be dealt with by legislation in this House. For that reason I support the referendum.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (26 Jan 2005)

Peter Power: Question 1089: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the pupil-teacher ratio across the primary school sector; the trends in pupil-teacher ratio and class sizes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1158/05]

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Feb 2005)

Peter Power: I am delighted to have an opportunity to discuss and debate this defining Bill. Deputy Durkan commenced his contribution by using a horse-racing analogy in which he stated that he was disappointed this Bill had not reached the starting stalls for a long time. However, I would much prefer that a thoroughbred came to the starting stalls rather than a nag. I would much prefer to have a horse...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Feb 2005)

Peter Power: We can all draw analogies. This Bill, if implemented in its entirety as part of a national disability strategy, has the capacity to improve the lives of an enormous section of our community which has up to now been sadly neglected by many Administrations over the years. Before I discuss the detailed provisions of the Bill, I will address the context in which this Bill has come before the...

Leaders' Questions. (9 Mar 2005)

Peter Power: Deputy Rabbitte is losing his temper.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Peter Power: I wish to share time with Deputies Haughey, Kelleher and Fiona O'Malley and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Mar 2005)

Peter Power: I am happy to have an opportunity to speak on this Bill because I have long held the view that the planning legislation in this area, while not defective in its own right, requires supplementation. I commend Deputy Gilmore for putting this legislation on the agenda. The Bill is by no means a finished product. It is far from it and much work must be done to determine whether it fits into the...

Garda Síochána Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (20 Apr 2005)

Peter Power: I thank Deputy Curran for sharing some of his time with me. I join many of my colleagues in welcoming this Bill, which constitutes the first major reform of the Garda Síochána since the 1920s. The Minister and his departmental officials ought to be commended for their work on this substantial legislation, which provides for the modern management and administration of the Garda Síochána....