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

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: -----and I hope it has four more years to go to do the rest. Therefore, the first part of the argument is very weak indeed. With regard to education in particular, the commitment as part of the bailout was to reduce education spending over the five years by €750 million. The Minister has to address himself to that brief. Any Minister would have to do the same. I am surprised that third...

Seanad: Programme for Government: Motion (21 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: We did not buy the election.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: It is welcome that the debt repayment of €3.1 billion is being rolled over. We can congratulate the Minister for Finance on his hard work and skilful negotiations. I agree with Senator Mooney that it is not a cause for celebration.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: We have a hard task ahead. This will be a lean year for the people. I congratulate everybody who is rowing in, including the politicians, in keeping the ship steady. We are gaining the respect of the international community, but that will not put food on the table. Nevertheless, it is a welcome development. I hope it is followed by more of the same so that we can release some money into...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Senator Cullinane is saying "Hear, hear." I thought I might be talking to Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Yesterday's debate was helpful in some ways.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the Mahon report as soon as possible. I agree with my colleague, Senator Cullinane, that nobody can afford to take the high moral ground. In the words of Thomas Kinsella: "I fold my towel with what grace I can", "for they are not made whole/That reach the age of Christ". Nevertheless, there is something surreal about a compromised former Taoiseach...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Senator Ó Clochartaigh said that, despite an intensive search, Sinn Féin can find no reference to the household charge in the EU-IMF memorandum of understanding. He used the collective term "we", which is code for the republican movement. There are other things the republican movement cannot find such as the bodies of the disappeared, nine of whom are still missing. I ask him to use his...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: -----to ask the collective "we" to address their minds to that from time to time in order that the families can have a little peace.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Tá brón orm. The success of the trade mission to China has not been recognised because of the household charge and Mahon report issues. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is doing an excellent good and perhaps some of that is down to pressure Senator Mary White has put on him. The trade mission has been a great success. China is a source of foreign direct investment as...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: Will the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House to outline the strategy for Asia?

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I am afraid that I cannot support the amendment. Although it has been a pleasure to listen to Senator Barrett's breadth of knowledge, in this case the CEO would be in the same position as the CEO of a VEC or a county manager. They implement policies and one must have a separation of powers. It is not about muzzling anybody. I have learned a lot from many CEOs and county managers in my...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: As this body is set up, others will be dissolved. There could be a saving of money by setting up this body because other awarding bodies will be replaced. Therefore, the economic argument does not hold up. The universities are outstanding institutions. I am disappointed that no Irish university ranks in the top 100 but I understand staffing ratios are a factor. There are other factors...

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (29 Mar 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: While the universities, like other third level institutions, are outstanding, there should be some external validation of the quality of the teaching and learning and the research and other activities that take place inside those institutions. I acknowledge Senator Sean D. Barrett's fears and he is correct to express them, but they are, in general, unfounded. I support the Government on...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I remind Senator Cullinane that this Government has taken 200,000 people out of the universal social charge and has restored the minimum wage. It might not be perfect, but it has done the two significant things I have mentioned. It might be useful for Senators Darragh O'Brien, Leyden and Cullinane to listen to a podcast of this morning's LMFM interview with the Minister of State, Deputy...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: The House should welcome the decision of the vendor of a lock of Michael Collins' hair to withdraw it from auction and instead to donate it to the National Museum of Ireland. I commend General Collins' grand-niece, Mary Banotti, on her dignified campaign to that end. General Michael Collins and his comrades may have had their differences subsequently, but we have to acknowledge they gave...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: No. I have a question for the Leader. Will he agree that the vendor of the cloth that was used to wipe the face of General Collins when he was lying in hospital after being shot should be asked to withdraw the item in question from sale? Perhaps it could be donated to the museum to be buried with the remains of Michael Collins.

Seanad: Report of Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements (24 Apr 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. There used to be an old joke at college as to what was the cost of planning permission? One lecturer wrote the answer "10%" on the blackboard and he left it at that. To a certain extent that was true. We have moved on, thankfully, from the first tribunal report when the only person threatened with jail was the Senator who sits beside...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I refer to small schools and the loss of teachers. The issue has been greatly exaggerated. There was talk of hundreds of schools losing teachers because of budget changes, but this is not the case. There will be very little change to small schools this year.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Apr 2012)

Jim D'Arcy: I was not sure if the figures had been released to the public. I understand 39 schools will lose a teacher this year. I do not want to become involved in a political argument. If the other schools who appealed and were not successful at this stage have the numbers in September, they say their teachers will be reinstated. There may be little or no loss. The point that the issue was...