Results 361-380 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I enjoin Senator Mary White's comments on thalidomide. This an important issue. I trust Senators from all parties are behind the call. There was a breakthrough in the committee yesterday because the Minister, Deputy Mary Harney, stated full information would be made available to the 32 thalidomide survivors. I hope their case will be fully dealt with in due course. I refer to the smart...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I do not believe people, either in urban or rural areas, have a right to pump cryptosporidium into the water source. I do not believe they have a right to pollute other people's drinking water. I do not believe they have a right to expect services at a cost up to €1 million to be put in place for a house they decide they want to build in a place where a house has never been built...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am providing a counterpoint to some of the points made about people having a right to do what they like.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Laissez-faire planning is not something in which I believe. That is the point I am articulating. A Senator made an interesting remark to me today about these amendments. In recent years in County Monaghan supposedly democratic groups of councillors zoned sufficient land to have a city the size of Dublin built in parts of the county. I find that outrageous. The Minister also considered it...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: -----and a few weeks later, by simple majority, change it. Implementation is the key in planning. If it is an À la carte plan, it will not work.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is lovely to be interrupted, as it proves one has something of value to say, but-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Planning is one of the most difficult issues one has to deal with as a politician. I was a local councillor for a number of years and mayor of a city. There is huge responsibility attached to these positions, but the level of training-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I dispute what Senator Healy Eames said..

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: In four months we solved the problem. We now have the highest rate of success in the world in tackling the problem of cryptosporidium in Galway. If that is not a good job, I do not know what is, but-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It only took four months; it normally takes ten years. That is a good job, but obviously the Senator disagrees.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There are barbs from the opposite side of the House. If the Chair protected me from this nonsense, I might be able to get a little further with my contribution.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am trying to make the point that it can be difficult for new councillors because they are not properly trained when it comes to planning. In the Oireachtas a Minister is somebody who has gained a great deal of experience, but insufficient training is provided for councillors. I know of cases in which individual councillors are making serious decisions without understanding the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: If one reads the national spatial strategy, one will see that it is an excellent document which is not proscriptive when it comes to local area plans. There is a great deal of latitude at local level in that regard. One should be properly trained to ensure good planning. Decision making is a huge responsibility. This Bill is the way to go.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (14 Jul 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I do not like the references to Stalinism because Stalin was a very bad planner. I do not want to see Stalinist type planning in cities and towns in this country, rather I want to see good planning which is what will be achieved with this Bill.

Seanad: End of Life Care: Motion (29 Sep 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: With the permission of the House, I wish to share time with Senator Jim Walsh.

Seanad: End of Life Care: Motion (29 Sep 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I wish to put on the record of the House that unfortunately this debate has been curtailed and divided as a result of these pairing arrangements and is quite regrettable. This is a clear example of what happens as a result of long-time arrangements being curtailed.

Seanad: End of Life Care: Motion (29 Sep 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The business of the House, at a very difficult time for the country, is being disrupted and this is an example of it. I welcome the Minister of State for this important debate. This is a very good debate and I commend the Independent Senators for tabling this subject for debate in Private Members' time. Their points are very well made. The Government amendment shows that many of the points...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I wish to seek a debate on the governance of this country, a matter of some importance at present.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Let us seek a debate on the matter.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: During the 1980s, I was obliged to emigrate. I did not want to do so but I had no other choice. I have received correspondence from people who have indicated that they are being forced to emigrate. The latter is a sad development.