Results 1-20 of 1,654 for speaker:Ned O'Sullivan

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: Níor labhras fós sa Teach seo, ach ní mór dom cúpla focal a rá anois. I planned to make my maiden speech on something more uplifting and inspirational than mutton. I must advise the House, particularly my great friend and colleague, Senator O'Toole that I now rejoice in the title of Government spokesman on food and food health in the Seanad. In this capacity, I assure the House and...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: I invite Senator O'Toole to join me, as he has several times during our well-known food fair in Listowel, County Kerry. I assure him that I share his enthusiasm for mutton, although I cannot equal the deep affection Dinglemen have for their sheep.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: As long as this regime is in power, mutton will always be on the menu.

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the statement of clarification that was provided for the House by the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey. It is not my intention to make the Minister's job more difficult. There are more than enough Opposition Members who will do so. The importance of this issue is illustrated by the fact that so many Members wish to contribute to...

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Statements (10 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: It is the same thing. I commend the Minister's statement and hope that he will act on it.

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus tréaslaím léi as an sár obair atá á dhéanamh aici sa phost tábhachtach atá aici sa Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta. Pre-planning and planning have never been an exact science in terms of the provision of schools. I was a teacher in Dublin in the 1970s when huge growth was experienced in areas such as Ballyfermot, with in excess of 60 and 80...

Seanad: Access to Education: Motion (10 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: I know the Minister will see it through.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: I ask the Leader to refer two matters to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The first concerns salary and expense remuneration for county and town councillors who are members of regional water boards, of which there are many — I had the privilege of being chairman of the Shannon basin water board in its first year. It is extraordinary that whereas the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: Will the Leader raise this matter with the Minister and invite him to the Chamber to brief us on this important project for the nation as well as north Kerry and west Limerick?

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, for coming to the House and performing a great service by clarifying the matter in the way in which he has done. Like other Senators, including Senator O'Malley, I had certain reservations and some concern in regard to the possibility of creating a precedent that would specifically benefit one individual on whatever side of the House. The...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: No interruption, please, Senator. The Minister of State also has helped us to clarify the position whether this act was one of stealth or otherwise. It is clear the Opposition in the Dáil was not perhaps as wide awake as the Opposition in this House today. Perhaps their forensic or inquisitorial skills were lacking on the day but, quite clearly, they were informed fully and it was up to...

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: Obviously they were asleep but Senator Buttimer is wide awake as always.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: The story in the newspapers about a garda has been laid to rest. There is no dispute about that.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: Senator Norris has praised the media for exposing issues. To a certain extent that is true. Any sub-editor in Ireland seems to think that any story is better if another nought is added to the figure, so that what was 50,000 becomes 500,000. That is part of the course. The Irish Independent headline was way off track.

Seanad: Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (31 Oct 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: Certainly the matter did give rise to real concerns on all sides of the House but the Minister of State has laid those to rest for which I thank him.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: I have one or two brief points. I welcome the proposed debate sought by Senator O'Donovan and would like to participate in it. Like everyone in public life at any level, I have also received a few belts from editorials. At the same time we must be cautious and remember the words of Benjamin Disraeli who said "Never complain and never explain". That maxim goes a long way for me. I ask the...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: I also ask the Deputy Leader to raise an issue with the Minister for Education and Science concerning the establishment of a payment regime for chairpersons of vocational education committees. Senators will be aware that chairpersons of almost everything are salaried, including county and town councils and strategic policy committees. Chairpersons of vocational education committees do...

Seanad: Food Safety: Statements (8 Nov 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: Ba mhaith liom ar dtús fáilte a chuir roimh an Aire. Táimse an-bhuíoch dó as ucht an léaráid suimiúil a thug sé dúinn ar maidin. I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for a most interesting presentation. I wish him well in this challenging portfolio. I also welcome the thoughtful contribution made by Senator Bradford. I agree with the many interesting points he made. It...

Seanad: Food Safety: Statements (8 Nov 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: In Listowel we call them mutton pies. The Minister of State referred to the issue of traceability, which is a key element in guaranteeing customer satisfaction. Progressive restaurateurs and hoteliers have turned regulation into an opportunity. They have cottoned on to the fact that if one advertises Limerick ham, Wicklow lamb or Clonakilty black pudding on a menu that it is attractive to...

Seanad: Food Safety: Statements (8 Nov 2007)

Ned O'Sullivan: We must be ever more vigilant. Change will not happen overnight. As Bob Dylan said, we have to keep on keeping on. Another issue that might be examined is the question of food provision at major events, which is a bugbear of mine. People believe they can drop their standards with regard to sporting occasions, rock festivals and the like, where shoddy practices are in evidence. I am amazed...