Results 101-120 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Haughey. This is a good and timely debate. I see Senator Mullen is leaving the Chamber. I was going to say the Galway——

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I apologise.

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Certainly not.

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I had noticed the Galway contingent of Senators Healy Eames and Mullen and myself. The CAO is based in Galway and every time I walk down Eglinton Street and see the CAO offices at the top level, it strikes terror into my heart because I remember the days when I was in the position myself. The letters CAO struck terror into many hearts. I grew up during the last recession at a time when the...

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am more interested in the students——

Seanad: CAO Applications and College Places: Statements (10 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: ——and their parents. Education is about students. There is a noticeable decrease in other areas such as apprenticeships and other methods of entering employment after leaving school. Senator Quinn alluded to this. Going straight into college is not the best route for all trades. Unfortunately, apprenticeships are dwindling and we need to examine this. An arts degree is not...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I support calls for a debate on special needs education. The sooner we have this essential debate the better. I refer specifically to Senator O'Toole's comments on the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act which is addressed in the programme for Government. Progress is required on the recruitment of speech and occupational therapists. I am also in favour of moving...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I commend Senators for calling for a debate on special education needs. I also call for a debate on the issue of Travellers' health, on which a report was published today. The health of Travellers is linked with poor accommodation. The report recommends a greater national input into the issue of Traveller accommodation because the current local authority system does not appear to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: That is not the case.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I ask the Leader for a debate on public transport in rural areas. I have been made aware of the great difficulties getting around rural areas. It has been brought to my attention that there are many instances of bus companies in particular that would like to provide rural transport but have major difficulties with licensing. There is a centralised licensing authority. I am aware that...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: There is nothing more important in the world, including the economy, than the protection of our children. I support calls from other Senators to have a series of debates on the protection of our children. I walked through places such as Letterfrack, which is one of the most beautiful parts of this country and the world, and saw the graveyard and experienced the feeling there. It is an...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I will talk to her.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We could examine different methodologies and how to enhance laboratory services in this country. I will discuss the matter with Senator Coffey and I call for a debate on it.

Seanad: Cancer Awareness: Statements (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I wish to share time with Senator Doherty.

Seanad: Cancer Awareness: Statements (17 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister. This is one of the most important debates the House has had, as cancer affects so many families in our society. I welcome visitors to the Chamber on national no smoking day. As an avid non-smoker, I would encourage measures to prevent smoking. In terms of environmental health, it is crucial that we consider as many measures as possible to enhance people's...

Seanad: Ombudsman Report on the Lost at Sea Scheme: Statements (18 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: It is with great sadness I read this report. I understand this is the second time such a report has come before the Houses of the Oireachtas in the histories of the State and the Ombudsman. The facts of the matter are clear. Compensation was awarded to a small number of families during a small period. The title of the scheme, the Lost at Sea scheme, is appropriate. It was not a good...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome my friend and colleague, Senator Mark Dearey, to the Chamber. Today is a baptism of fire for him. He is a man of great integrity and he will prove to be a great Senator over the next two and a half years. The Green Party nominees will not change during that time. I wish his daughter, Stella, a happy birthday today and I also welcome his family, friends and colleagues to the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The proposed amendment to the Order of Business is a little hollow when the leaders of the Opposition parties consider it more important to bring personality politics into play.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I call for a debate on the arts. We are in a deep recession and circumstances are difficult for many people. I attended an interesting debate on the arts last night. It is important that we place a high priority on them. During recessions, arts very much come to the fore and it is important that people be allowed to express themselves in an artistic fashion.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Feb 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I thank Members on both sides of the House for their kind words about the resignation of my former party leader, Deputy Sargent, yesterday.