Results 41-60 of 31,111 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: Integration Policy: Statements (Resumed) (13 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to share time with Senator Buttimer. A politician in another country is spending much time quoting Dr. Martin Luther King when he says certain issues require an urgent passion for now. The subject we are discussing is one such issue. We spend much time talking about infrastructure, public spending and other issues in this House. Problems created in these areas can be fixed later....

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer to the call for a debate on the provision of child care services and the comments made by Senator Mary White about what makes a good politician and good policy. It is a pity she is not present in the House to hear me. The benchmark for good policy-making in this area is not the introduction of a catastrophically destructive policy for that sector and then having a change of mind on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: The benchmark for good policy in this area is not introducing it in the first place.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: The common theme that emerges in this debate, which echoes the discussions we have had on mental health care, is that the policy is in place but the money is not available to implement it. Other speakers have made this point in previous debates on child care. The budget did not provide an increase in funding for child care. Regarding Senator Mary White's announcements, we have to know...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: I join my colleagues in requesting a debate on education matters as this week saw the publication of the feeder school list and regardless of one's view of such lists some strong points emerged. Almost all of the so-called free schools in Ireland now deliver better academic performance for pupils than the so-called grind schools. This is particularly relevant to this morning's discussion as...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: It is not acceptable that the Minister merely recognises that there is a problem and then gives money to the schools that perpetuate it.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: Many Senators on the other side of the House have vigorously welcomed the Government's change of mind on some of the issues we are discussing but surely the mark of a good Government is that such policies are not introduced in the first place.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: The Leader is missing the point.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: I join others in welcoming the Minister to the House. I will focus on two different areas. The first is, as others have mentioned, the time we were given to consider this legislation, and the second is the nature of the co-location proposals before us, which has been mentioned by all previous speakers. However, I will first respond to some of the points made by Government speakers,...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: The Members of this House hold sincere and genuine views. I suspect many of them are shared by the Senator's colleagues. If Senator Feeney finds the public articulation of these views sickening, as she said a few moments ago——

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: ——it does all of us, and the Senator in particular, a disservice.

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: If we move on to the nature of what we are discussing——

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: Although I welcome some of the points being made in the interruptions, I will go on. I tried to take some time, as did everyone else, to read the Bill, but I did not have enough time so I put more attention into the explanatory memorandum. This Bill is designed to correct another law that has been in existence for 46 years. Correction of the legislation has suddenly become urgent,...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: ——it was difficult for people to get their minds around and understand this issue. This summer I was delighted to see a book review in The Irish Times, written by the Minister, of The Other Invisible Hand by Julian Le Grand. This book sets out the theoretical and policy foundations upon which the idea of co-location is based. Professor Le Grand published another book called Motivation,...

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to share my time with Senator Healy Eames.

Seanad: Substance Abuse: Motion (19 Dec 2007)

Paschal Donohoe: A number of speakers outlined worthwhile ways of moving this issue forward. I will not repeat those but instead focus on a number of areas that have not been touched on this evening. The legalisation of drugs is not a policy we should develop or implement at any point. I feel strongly about that issue because it goes back to my idea of what politics is all about. Politics is about freedom...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2008)

Paschal Donohoe: One of the main topics discussed so far on the Order of Business has been the state of the economy and the impact the downturn is having on manufacturing jobs nationwide, especially in County Wicklow today. I join my colleagues in asking for a debate on our economic future. One likely response to the debate will stress the need for the Government to continue to invest in research,...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2008)

Paschal Donohoe: Other Senators have commented on the nature of the legislative programme for this session. One of the most prominent Bills concerns the proposal to set up the Dublin transport authority, the objective of which is to implement Transport 21 within Dublin and the Dublin region. Will the Leader facilitate a debate on Transport 21 and its implementation? Two issues merit debate. The first is...

Seanad: Climate Change and Energy Security: Statements (31 Jan 2008)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the Minister to the House. In my contribution, I want to focus on the role of carbon tax and outline a personal view on its use in Ireland. I am strongly of the view that if one wishes to intervene on an issue such as this, there are two different ways to do it. One is through direct involvement in the different sectors that will be affected and the other is through assessing...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Paschal Donohoe: I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the services provided for the homeless, particularly those who have severe drug and alcohol problems. I raise this issue because these people, who tend to be the most under-represented in political life, are the victims of a series of cutbacks being implemented by the HSE by stealth. In this regard I ask the Leader to raise this matter with the...