Results 561-580 of 31,218 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Minister for his consistent approach to legislation in the House, his willingness to listen to points that have been made and to act upon them. Our party voted against the Bill in the Seanad and the Dáil because of our belief that we could do more to get better value for the money that is being spent in this area and to introduce choice in how bus services are provided. That...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to make a broad point on this. These amendments are nearly as long as the legislation we discussed on Second Stage last week. The legislation before the House last week was about two particular points: the exemption of accounting standards for limited periods of time and the appointment of company inspectors and the liability to the State as a result. We are making changes in those...

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I have a question on that. I may have missed it in the Minister of State's contribution, and apologies if I did——

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his forbearance. I may have missed it in the Minister of State's contribution, and apologies if I did, but could he explain the effect of amendments Nos. 3 and 4? What is the effect of deleting "£250,000,", and" in amendment No. 3 and "£250,000."." in amendment No. 4? It appears to me that it is being reinserted.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (26 Nov 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Unlike Senator O'Toole, this is a new area for me and I found the debate on this Bill very interesting. It was brought home to me when I was preparing for Second Stage. I came across a company that reported its annual profits under one accounting regime and then under another, all being part of the same annual report, for some reason. There was a €300 million difference in terms of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I join colleagues in welcoming the debate that will take place on the Murphy report and its conclusions. In the last two weeks the Ombudsman for Children published a report on the number of separated children in the country and the way in which they are being cared for. While I hope none of those children has been subject to the abuse documented in the Murphy report, it is very clear they...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Mansergh, back to the House. I listened to the contributions of Senators Boyle and Hanafin and was struck by the number of times I heard them say there is no alternative and there is nothing that could be done differently. Listening to them I realised that not only is the economy under the vicious assault of which we are...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: -----but I was sadly disappointed. While he talked about bringing the country back from the brink, he failed to acknowledge the role played by the Government in bringing the country to the brink in the first place. The need to stand and accept pain is quoted repeatedly. I have worked in the real economy and was fortunate to do so for many years. I have been through it all - creating and...

Seanad: Pre-Budget Outlook: Statements (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I meant coherence between political parties.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Like my colleagues, I wish to refer to the discussions that took place in Government Buildings last night and I have some questions for the Leader. Many of my colleagues have pointed out that these are interim measures and that nobody knows whether they will work or what their effect will be. It is bit late now for such questions. The discussions have been going on in different forms for...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: We know the people have lost confidence in the Government. However, it became crystal clear overnight and early this morning that the Government had lost confidence in itself. Everyone is aware that there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to tackle the difficulties facing the country. However, the Government has blown it and shown itself it to be out of touch with mainstream thinking in...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator has changed his tune since yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: Or yesterday.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support the request made by Senator Buttimer that the Minister for Finance come to the House to discuss the state of social partnership and the national finances, just as Senator Boyle suggested. We must look at what is happening in Greece in its economy and take note of the phenomenal difficulty it faced very quickly. We must realise that not only are we just a couple of steps away from...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I support my colleagues who have called for a debate on the budget. I make this call in reference to what happened in Greece today. For the second day in a row Greece has suffered huge losses in its stock market and seen the price of its government bonds and the cost of borrowing rise again. This is very relevant to what is happening in Ireland. If the bond markets and hedge funds get...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: It is important. The Leader correctly made the point that this Chamber needs more coverage. This is the day the Houses of the Oireachtas launched a new and much improved website containing new services. I hope that through the offices of the Cathaoirleach, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission will find its way to support an initiative that is trying to bring coverage of this Chamber to...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: I second Senator Cummins's amendment to the Order of Business. I have three questions for the Leader to which I would appreciate answers this morning. The first relates to the honesty of the budget and the Estimates-----

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2009)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not mine.