Results 161-180 of 743 for speaker:Jim D'Arcy

Seanad: Improving the Quality of Early Years Education: Statements (21 Jan 2015)

Jim D'Arcy: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. I admire anybody who deals with early years education. When I was a teacher I only taught in an infants' class for 20 minutes and afterwards I decided I could not do it any more. Teaching such young children is a very challenging and complex task. People dealing with children of...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Jim D'Arcy: This morning, on "Morning Ireland", we heard Mr. Cian McCormack talk to the EPA and Irish Water about the latest drinking water survey which states that 121 supplies need remedial action. Let us hope that Irish Water is working on this so that people will see a difference quickly. On a related matter, a report in the Sunday Independentby Mr. Jim Cusack highlighted that fuel smugglers are...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Jim D'Arcy: Thankfully, tests by Louth County Council-----

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jan 2015)

Jim D'Arcy: I would ask the Cathaoirleach to give me 30 seconds more. Tests by Louth County Council indicate that the water supply for Dundalk is not yet affected but surely it is only a matter of time. As people, particularly children and young babies, are at risk due to this contamination, I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Cuirim fáilte roimh an bhfóram seo. This is probably one of the better amendments for discussion, although it is like sending invitations to a wedding; the more invitations one sends the more one will leave people out.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I am not finished yet. On the composition of the forum, as outlined, some Opposition Members are showing their true colours when they say we promised an end to cronyism and quangos. First, they are stating they existed and, second, they are acknowledging that we are working towards that end, but it will take a long time because the number of appointments made by previous Governments to...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: -----although I have to say knee-capping is not a valid punishment in this country.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: On that matter, I bought a ticket in the Sinn Féin lotto the other day.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: If one reveals three baseball bats, one gets a beating.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I retract them, but they were made in jest.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: The other day I heard about Laurel and Hardy and it reminded me of Bonnie and Clyde.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: It was said totally in jest.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Indeed. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames referred to random homeowners being chosen and asked if this could be arranged within the applications process. I was at the Constitutional Convention and the Senator was right in that the health forum did not achieve a great deal, but the convention was a fine example of participative and deliberative democracy. Working on that principle, not alone the...

Seanad: Situation in Middle East and Ukraine: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: There are representatives from Palestine and Israel in the Visitors' Gallery. I am reminded of the Balfour declaration of 1917 and Arthur Balfour's famous statement, "Nothing matters very much, and few things matter at all." I do not agree with that. It matters greatly. What I would like to see, in the words of St. Paul, is for the two states to settle their differences and come together...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I am setting out two of the pinch points. Local authorities must charge €40,000 per site as a result.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: We need to have the Minister of State with responsibility for housing attend to ensure that this excellent strategy and the funding provided can be spent in the next three years.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: He is not a very positive person.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: I too wish to speak on the social housing strategy for 2020, and I ask that the Minister be invited to the House. The strategy outlines a €1.5 billion guaranteed, up-front Exchequer investment in social housing from 2015 to 2017. There will be a further €300 million for housing projects by public private partnerships. The sum of €400 million will be made available...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: An Fochoiste um an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 agus Rudaí Gaolmhara: Supporting Minority Languages: Welsh Language Commission (25 Nov 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh Ms Huws anseo. I believe it was the Welsh who named the Irish gwyddel, fierce angry men, at the time when we were kidnapping people in Wales, St. Patrick et al, and that that is from where the word "Gael" comes. I note Ms Huws's comments on the plean teanga Gaeilge and the three or seven year term. As I always thought in school that a three year cycle...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Nov 2014)

Jim D'Arcy: Hear, hear.