Results 321-340 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (31 Jan 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am okay to proceed. Scoil Mhuire in Creeslough, County Donegal, has a pupil enrolment of 111 at the moment. That is due to increase in September of this year. A new school facility with new classrooms is required under the capital investment programme. Scoil Mhuire is one of the last remaining national schools in County Donegal that requires such investment. I have visited the school...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (31 Jan 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the Minister of State for the response. It is what I was anticipating. Unfortunately, there appears to be a focus in the Department to prioritise to funding in urban growth centres. This means that small rural schools, where teachers and pupils are dealing with antiquated conditions, are not being prioritised. I do not think this is right. A percentage of the overall budget...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects (13 Dec 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am glad to raise the issue of the A5 road project, which is an extension of the N2 project linking Derry and Letterkenny to Dublin. It has been in the pipeline for well over a decade and I am raising it this morning because a Fine Gael Deputy for Donegal recently said the Government was steadfast in its commitment to the project, but omitted to say that when the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects (13 Dec 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It does indeed. The Minister is committed to this project, and I thank him and his officials for their level of engagement with their counterparts in the North. This is a key project for the north west. The Minister will do his utmost to keep it on the agenda and secure the additional commitment, but I am unsure as to whether an opportunity for additional funding at European level could be...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (6 Dec 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am honoured to have this opportunity to reflect on the life and times of the former Senator, Des Hanafin. He was a truly remarkable gentleman and a man of great integrity, fortitude and spirit. His legacy can perhaps be best summed up by The Irish Timesheadline "Des Hanafin: conviction politician who opposed the liberal agenda" over a piece by Stephen Collins on Thursday, 22 June 2017....

Seanad: Finance Bill 2017: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: On this issue, I welcome this initiative. While I agree with some of what Senator Higgins said, publicly quoted companies often have their own individual employee share initiatives where employees can buy shares at a lower rate than those quoted on the market. That is a good initiative because it promotes employee engagement with the company and longevity in terms of the employee staying...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Status, Treatment and Use of the National Anthem (5 Dec 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Tá lúcháir orm bheith anseo inniu leis an deis seo a thapú. I dtús báire, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Marcus Ó Dálaigh as ucht na réamhoibre atá déanta aige leis an ócáid seo a eagrú. Is ábhar fíorthábhachtach é seo. Is páirt dár n-oidhreacht, dár dúchas agus...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Status, Treatment and Use of the National Anthem (5 Dec 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The inspiration and work of Peadar Kearney, Patrick Heeney and, in translating it, Liam Ó Rinn should not go unnoticed. I agree with Comhairleoir Ó Rinn. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website, which I checked before coming to the Chamber, has a fact sheet outlining the origin of the national anthem. It does not mention the Irish translator, Liam Ó Rinn. That...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Status, Treatment and Use of the National Anthem (5 Dec 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: One issue is the consistency of approach in the recognition of the national anthem across Departments. It was touched on in the earlier session. For instance, the Department of the Taoiseach recognises the national anthem, but it does not give due recognition to those responsible for providing it, namely, Peadar Kearney, Patrick Heeney and Liam Ó Rinn who translated it. They are not...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I want to highlight the debate taking place this evening on the horse and greyhound racing fund. The Leader agreed to my request that the debate be extended beyond the original 45 minutes. We are looking at the allocation of some €64 million next year to the horse and greyhound racing fund.There are major issues within the greyhound sector. The Irish Greyhound Board will receive in...

Seanad: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund 2017: Motion (29 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Like my colleague Senator Daly, I would like to begin by offering my heartfelt condolences to the Minister on the death of his father, Donal Creed, who I understand served as a Member of Dáil Éireann for 22 years. Former Deputy Creed passed away last week and his funeral took place on Monday. It is remarkable that the Minister is here, serving his country in the Houses of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I too wish to be associated with the comments of goodwill expressed to Denis Landy on the occasion of his retirement from Seanad Éireann.Denis was a gentleman and an excellent contributor across a wide range of topics over his two terms in the Seanad. I wish him and his family well. It was a big decision for him to make and no doubt he will leave, through his contributions, a lasting...

Joint Standing Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands: Seirbhísí Dátheangacha: An Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe (21 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Tá an ceart ag an fhinné i dtaca leis an remit atá ag an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe ó thaobh na Gaeilge de ach tá remit i bhfad níos leithne ar an Roinn ar ndóigh. Is é sin caiteachas poiblí agus polasaí ginearálta an Státchórais go huile is go hiomlán. Tá dhá theanga oifigiúla ag...

Joint Standing Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands: Seirbhísí Dátheangacha: An Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe (21 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Tá, go pointe. Ó thaobh an ról iomlán atá ag an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe, tá ról monatóireachta ag an Roinn maidir le caiteachas poiblí agus na seirbhísí atá ar fáil. Ceann de na seirbhísí sin atá bunaithe sa reachtaíocht ná go mbeadh seirbhís trí Ghaeilge ar...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Sports Capital Programme (21 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. Tá áthas orm deis a bheith agam labhairt ar an ábhar seo. It relates to the sports capital allocations and other governmental allocations from the Minister of State's Department, specifically the matter of a bond being held against the allocation of funding made to sporting and other organisations by...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Sports Capital Programme (21 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I want to thank the Minister of State, because he has been very constructive, engaging and open this afternoon. That is the sign of a good Minister of State, and I wish him well in the future. I agree that there seems to be an anomaly within the Department whereby a 15-year period is specified in the Minister of State's own sports capital programme, but a ten-year period is specified for...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I support my colleague, Senator Norris, on his call for a debate on freedom of speech. Casting free speech and religious freedom as inferior to anti-discrimination laws should be debated in this House, as should the universal human right to the freedom to have a belief. I want to raise the issue of a lack of consistency in planning decisions across local authorities. In County Donegal, a...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I refer to the national planning framework. Very often politicians can be accused of taking the short-term view, but the national planning framework is a 20-year strategy to drive the future development of the country and the development of the areas where people live, work, socialise and obtain State services. The closing date for the receipt of submissions was last Friday. I have no...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This debate centres on the terms and conditions of councillors. Changes in this regard were introduced in the Local Thes have not worked. They have increased the workload of each local councillor to an astronomical degree. The Minister of State inherited this problem. It is a major problem because there has been a 40% cull in the number of practitioners of democracy at a local level....

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (16 Nov 2017)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I lay the blame for this at every party's door.