Results 141-160 of 939 for speaker:Noel Treacy

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: Tááthas orm bheith ar ais arís sa Teach seo le freastal ar an rún an-tábhachtach seo. Tréaslaím leis an Seanadóir Minihan agus na daoine eile a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht.

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion. (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' motion. The Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998 and overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of Ireland, North and South, has totally changed the political landscape of this island. The proposals for a comprehensive agreement published by the two Governments on 8 December 2004, covered the issues that must be resolved to...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I thank Senator Mooney for his kind remarks. I hope I will have the opportunity of working with him and all other Members of the Seanad to ensure that we achieve a positive conclusion in terms of ratification of the constitution of the European Union. The latter would be of major benefit in terms of the issue under discussion. I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I am at one with Senator Mooney on this matter. We have made our position absolutely clear to the Turks on numerous occasions in the past and during recent negotiations. It was decided at the recent European Council meeting that the European Union would enter into negotiations with Turkey on 3 October next. During the debate at that meeting and after the contribution of the Heads of State of...

Seanad: Human Rights Abuses. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I welcome this opportunity to address Members on the case of Mr. Roy Bennett, the MDC Member of Parliament for Chimanimani in the Zimbabwean Parliament. Our Government has been closely following this case and shares many of the concerns expressed on the manner in which Mr. Bennett has been treated and the handling of the matter by the Zimbabwean Parliament. There is no doubt that some of the...

Seanad: Human Rights Abuses. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: In this country, the Judiciary is completely separate from the Legislature, which is completely separate from Government. It is critically important that that would be the position in any country where democracy prevails. The Irish Embassy in South Africa, which is accredited to Zimbabwe, has been closely following this particular case. Mr. Bennett is not an Irish citizen and, accordingly, we...

Seanad: Human Rights Abuses. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: We may consider that important point, which has connotations for people who want to claim citizenship in this country. The embassy in South Africa has not received any approaches from the Bennett family to intervene on Mr. Bennett's behalf. Our ambassador in South Africa is visiting Zimbabwe this week and will raise Mr. Bennett's case, including with party colleagues of Mr. Bennett from the...

Seanad: Human Rights Abuses. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I assure the Senator that I will discuss the matter with the Minister for Foreign Affairs who is currently in the United States of America to carry out very important work. He will not be back until later in the week. A General Affairs and External Relations Council will soon take place at which we will discuss what strategy can be formulated to raise the issue with the Government of Zimbabwe...

Seanad: Human Rights Abuses. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: Yes.

Seanad: School Staffing. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I am pleased to have the opportunity to clarify the position of the Department of Education and Science on resource teaching posts in County Limerick which cater for children with special needs. As the Senator knows, the Department proposes to introduce a new system to allocate resource teaching supports to such pupils. The new system of teacher allocation will involve a general allocation to...

Seanad: School Staffing. (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: As I am only responding on behalf of the Minister and I am not in her Department, I cannot give a definitive answer. From my experience, I expect services will continue to be provided to pupils currently in receipt of them at existing levels.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I propose to share time with Deputy Andrews.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: Is cúis áthais dom é an deis seo a bheith agam cuidiú sa díospóireacht seo ar an mBille Airgeadais 2005, agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire, an Teachta Cowen, as ucht na sárcháinaisnéise a chuir sé faoi bhráid na Dála. Is Bille iontach leathan é atá os ár gcomhair an tráthnóna seo. I value the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. Deputies are aware that...

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: The Finance Bill sets into law many of the landmark policy decisions outlined in the Minister's first budget speech. This was one of the most generous budgets ever for old age pensioners, those struggling to get by on social welfare, those on the minimum wage and, perhaps most significantly, those with a disability and their families.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: I will not comment on that. There may be other motivations for that collective group. I listened with great interest to what colleagues have said and I am disappointed some of them have left after speaking because I wished to respond to their contributions. How can Deputy Eamon Ryan claim the Government is anti-family when we have passed into law, and will copperfasten in the Finance Bill,...

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: We have no record of ever having deducted welfare money from any sector of society in the history of this great nation or this great party.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: As well as taking thousands of lower paid people out of the tax net and substantially increasing all welfare payments, including child benefit, hard-pressed first-time home buyers have got a significant boost through major changes in stamp duty payments for second-hand houses. This is a generous measure that offers incentive and opportunity for first-time buyers by recognising and supporting...

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: ——younger people setting up in life will be able to acquire their first home.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: This is the hallmark of the great Fianna Fáil tradition of maintaining, with its Progressive Democrats partners in Government, the commitment to building more houses and providing homes for more families than in any other state in the EU. We have the highest rate of private home ownership by tradition.

Finance Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (9 Feb 2005)

Noel Treacy: We have maintained and expanded that and will continue to do so. The Bill will give effect to the major tax and fiscal aspects of the budget and will build on the substantial achievements of the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats Governments since 1997. Last year, the Government was denigrated by the Opposition as being uncaring and bereft of vision. We were criticised for taking hard...