Results 321-340 of 31,083 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe
- Seanad: Foster Care: Motion (17 Dec 2008)
Paschal Donohoe: I have my hand up for a point of order. We spent a lot of time asking that issues, such as the Lisbon treaty and the economy, be debated. We have 30 minutes left of our sessionââ
- Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)
Paschal Donohoe: I would like to share my time with Senator Fitzgerald.
- Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2008 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (19 Dec 2008)
Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the Minister to the House. Three aspects of this country's economy will be important in the coming years. First, we need to address the question of public debt. The Government expects the budget deficit to be approximately 10% of national income next year. Our national debt will probably equate to almost half of next year's overall national income. The substantial increase in...
- Seanad: Lisbon Treaty (19 Dec 2008)
Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Pat Carey, for coming in at this late hour to respond to this motion. It is an odd topic to raise as an adjournment motion because it is a matter of such national importance. I do not want to sound a discordant note at the end of festive words, but we have not been able to discuss where we stand post the European...
- Seanad: Lisbon Treaty (19 Dec 2008)
Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister for his kind words on the work I did on the sub-committee. I was honoured to be chosen and I did it as well as I could. I make my point more in sorrow than in anger. This is desperately important and it transcends party politics. Over the past fortnight Members from this side of the House constantly asked for an update on where matters stand for our country after the...
- Seanad: Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I support Senator Fitzgerald in her call for a debate on the discussions that are taking place with the social partners at the moment. I have three particular questions for the Leader. Why is the discussion looking for an agreement that will last for only year? We will ask everyone working in the economy to find â¬2 billion of tax increases or spending cuts. The figure for next year will...
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: It is not agreed. We are on amendment No. 7, section 18. Is that correct?
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for that. I tabled my amendment, which I believe is supported by amendments from some of my colleagues, because some of the changes this legislation refers to, particularly in regard to the amalgamation and integration of port authorities, will be of major concern in local communities and among the industries and stakeholders that will make great use of these...
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am glad he is taking on board the point the amendment seeks to address and I look forward to seeing what he brings forward. The absence of this kind of clause or reference in such legislation creates the space for decisions to be made in such a way that can either create a feeling of lack of involvement or trust between those making the...
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I will not press this amendment. In light of dealings I have had with this Minister of State and his Department on previous legislation, I am happy to take his assurances that a similar amendment will be forthcoming on Report Stage. I thank him for taking on board the thrust of my proposal and I look forward to his amendment. It is very interesting to hear the comments of many Senators on...
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: My colleagues have made their points eloquently and forcefully and I support both of them.
- Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: It was agreed so long ago that it might merit reconsideration. I would certainly support the Senator's request. Progress reported; Committee to sit again.
- Seanad: Economic Issues: Motion (28 Jan 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I second the motion and I thank Senator Phelan for tabling it. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I take this opportunity to highlight not what Fine Gael says about the state of the economy, but what the National Competitiveness Council says about the state of the economy and the conclusions drawn by the Government in a publication it submitted to Brussels at the beginning of...
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: It is just as well.
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I support Senator McFadden. We will not take lectures on responsibility on this side of the House. Where was responsibility on the other side of the House when the Government went out and destroyed our tax system? The price for this is now being paid. It presided over the banking system but did not want to make any decisions about it and, again, we are seeing the consequences.
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I have three questions to put to the Leader on this matter. First, this is just the beginning. The Government has said it needs to find â¬2 billion worth of savings this year, â¬4 billion next year and â¬4 billion the following year. Will the Leader provide an explicit guarantee to the House that social welfare payments and pensions will not be cut? This is the beginning. When will we...
- Seanad: Order of Business (4 Feb 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I concur with some remarks made by Senator O'Toole. I believe there is a small but growing risk of social unrest in the country. People see such unfairness in the way decisions are made. W.B. Yeats has been quoted twice in the House in the past two days and I wish to add another more ominous quote: "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold." We face that risk. One word, "sorry", would...
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)
Paschal Donohoe: I join my colleagues in calling for a debate on the revelations last night concerning the banking sector. I was very struck by the phrase that our financial institutions need to look after each other during times like these. Where is this solidarity when small and medium-sized businesses go to the banks looking for help? They cannot get help at present. The reason the recapitalisation...