Results 141-160 of 566 for speaker:Niall Ó Brolcháin

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee: Motion (4 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State. While I have not prepared a lengthy speech, this subject is dear to my heart and if Members will pardon the pun, I will speak off the cuff on it. I wish to raise a few matters relating to climate change because it has become a subject about which it is perceived that ordinary people cannot do much. Climate change is perceived to be something that does not...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (4 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I seek the suspension of the House because the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, is needed for a vote in the other House and there is no pairing arrangement.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (4 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: As a result of a vote in the Dáil, I propose that we suspend the sitting until 1.30 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I call for a debate on the way the media report the various numbers and figures we throw out here and which are being thrown out generally. At the weekend, one particular newspaper reported that the State owed a quarter of a trillion no less, that is €260 billion, to the European Central Bank. In many cases, the figures being thrown out are utterly irresponsible and there seems to be a...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I hope they do. Many irresponsible figures are tossed out here. I seemed to have heard Senator McFadden state that €15 billion is not a large figure. I certainly think €15 billion is a large figure.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Nov 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We need to be careful how it is reported because so many people are turning off at this stage from all the figures that are thrown out. It is absolutely irresponsible to state this nation is in a state of chaos when, in fact, exports have reached a record high. It is possible for us to get out of the situation we are in but we have to be careful and prudent about the figures which we throw...

Seanad: Child Care Inquiry Report: Statements (28 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State to debate this difficult issue. This is an important debate which should not be overshadowed by any of the other issues going on currently. I welcome the report and would like to read part of the first paragraph of the conclusion: The Inquiry team concludes that the six children of the A family were neglected and emotionally abused by their parents until...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I am a proud Member of Seanad Éireann today. In the middle of the difficult economic times in which we find ourselves, it is right and proper that Senators from all sides of the House would highlight the issue of child care in the manner they are doing. It is a much more important issue than the economy and is fundamental to the bedrock of our society. I commend Senator O'Donovan on his...

Seanad: Diabetes Treatment and Management: Motion. (27 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State. She is a regular visitor to this House and is always very welcome. Listening to Senator Twomey, I find it difficult to disagree with much of what he said. There is absolutely no question that prevention is better than cure. Indeed, the national diabetes programme 2010 has five major points to it, the fourth of which is to facilitate integration of diabetic...

Seanad: Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister and commend him on his use of the word "green" which appeared throughout his speech. The Government has become used to using the words "smart", "green" and "growth". I very much welcome the Food Harvest 2020 report, the latest of the ten-year strategies the Government has introduced. It is a good strategy and there was great academic back-up from Harvard University....

Seanad: Food Harvest 2020 Report: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The strategy addresses the €3 billion increase in added value. Branding in the food sector is very important. I would not share Senator Quinn's food on GM foods. We have a unique selling point in Ireland in being a green, clean, food producing island. There is a major marketing factor in having grass-based, organic agricultural production which gives us something unique to sell. We...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Last week I called for a debate on the international economic situation and I repeat my call now. For example, during the weekend there were discussions about the riots which had taken place in France related to the French Senate holding a debate on increasing the retirement age to 62 years. We could do with holding a debate on bringing the retirement age here to 62 years, which many would...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I very much welcome the positive comments of some of the Opposition Senators. What happened yesterday in terms of consensus was unprecedented and I would very much welcome further debates on the economy. We will be having them regardless. During the boom period there was a danger of overemphasising the positive - perhaps in that sense we talked ourselves into a bit of a black hole - but...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: The Government has increased our wind capacity in the past three years from 7% to more than 15%. That is fact and the Opposition should check out those facts. There are many positive aspects in this economy. It is wrong to have debates where we switch off the light at the end of the tunnel. We need to look at stimulus packages. When we are dealing with the public finances, we are very...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I seek a debate on the world economic environment because in reading today's edition of the Financial Times it struck me that the British Government was seeking cuts of £83 billion or approximately €94 billion. It is seeking to cut approximately €1,600 per person in its next budget, whereas the Government here is seeking to cut approximately €1,000 per person in its budget, which is...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey. I also welcome this initiative. Reducing the number of VECs from 33 to 16 is a good move. I support what Senator Norris said with regard to a university being established in Waterford. Members on all sides would support any initiative in this regard because we would all like to see a university being set up in Waterford. Galway city and...

Seanad: Restructuring of Vocational Education Committees: Statements (19 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: We are all showing our age.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I also support the remarks made on the cystic fibrosis centre and call for a debate on the matter. I call for a debate on the issue of fuel poverty. There have been many reports in the media on rising energy prices, but many do not have the financial capability to deal with high heating costs, particularly if we have a difficult winter. Approximately 25,000 houses have been covered by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: Per week.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Oct 2010)

Niall Ó Brolcháin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, and I am delighted she is present for this important debate. I also welcome the national advocacy service which will be introduced in January 2011. It is important to recognise that it will be a step forward, but nevertheless we should not get carried away. It is no more than a step in the right direction. It will not solve all of the...