Results 41-60 of 602 for speaker:Fiach MacConghail

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Second Stage (6 Oct 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: There are not that many. I have been waiting since 2011 for this. We might be a long way from significant improvement on this issue but that is why we must make this change now. In the short few months since Northern Ireland changed its law on 1 June last, the Immigrant Council of Ireland has recorded a marked increase in prostitution in Border areas such as Dundalk, as Senator Ó...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Motion (23 Sep 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire arís go dtí an Seanad. I commend the Irish Government, in particular the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, for the work, consistency and the care he has taken in what continues to be an ever evolving but also a stop-start scenario in the North of Ireland. Speaking as director of the Abbey Theatre, I spend much time...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I support Senator Bacik's call for a debate on the proposed hate crime Bill. Earlier this year, our group tabled a Private Members' motion on that issue, particularly on the definition of a hate crime and, importantly, how to encourage the collection of statistics. We had a full debate on that in the Seanad. I am interested in the University of Limerick report, and I support Senator...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes, it is.

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (17 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit anseo. Ba mhaith liom a rá ar bhonn pearsanta gur iontach liom an bealach ina bhfuil a chuid Gaeilge ag feabhsú agus ag forbairt. Is iontach an dúshlán a thug sé, agus go maire sé é. However, I am disappointed that the Minister for Education and Skills is not here. I do not suggest that the Minister of State,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for coming here at short notice. I am sure she is aware of the concern that the arts and education communities have about the fragile governance of the National College of Art and Design which has been without a board for almost five months. That situation is without precedence, particularly when one considers that only last Friday I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I thank the Minister for her response. The appointment of the board is welcome. I appreciate the fact the Minister has given us a straight answer to those straight questions. It is also important that this new board creates trust between the student body and the academic staff and the directorate. I assume, although the Minister probably cannot say, Professor Niamh Brennan is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I am in favour of an independent electoral commission. It has been raised in the Seanad many times and has been voted on there too. It is an absolute disgrace that the Government in its five years has failed to deliver on this cornerstone of political and electoral reform. I concur with Dr. Reidy that it is regrettable that after five years an electoral commission will still not be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes, it is his entire fault that I am not even an elected but a nominated Senator. Although the referendum to maintain the Seanad I take as an endorsement of that. What has the delegation seen in other countries regarding easier and more transparent voter registration and how it can link up with increased participation? We saw recently a surge in late registration to vote during the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Reform-----

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáít chuig an Teach agus cuirim fáilte roimh chuile dhuine atá ag breathnú agus ag éisteacht linn chomh maith. I welcome all our distinguished guests in the Gallery. I welcome the opportunity to further discuss the development of the Moore Street area. I am aware that several people have been collecting signatures.Up to 10,000...

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: -----about 1916. I commend the Government on purchasing Nos. 14 to 17 on Moore Street. The project will not only be a national monument but is guaranteed to be in public ownership. The Minister of State has been vague about what will occur beyond this initiative. Will the project be turned into a commemorative centre? We need to hear more about the matter. I am concerned that the Bill...

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: No.

Seanad: Moore Street Area Renewal and Development Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] (10 Jun 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: The Senator said so. It is the same model and it is a cut and paste model, which I am very nervous about. To conclude and to be clear, I shall not support the Bill but that does not mean I do not support the redevelopment of the Moore Street area. I support the buildings being bought. We need to speak to the local communities about broadening the project to include O'Connell Street and...

Seanad: Cultural Institutions: Motion (13 May 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Fáiltím roimh an Aire. For my colleagues and friends in the Labour Party, to whom I am very close politically, I want to reiterate that this is not in any way a personal attack, but I find this Private Members' motion to be sloppy, badly written and lacking understanding of the level of difficulty faced by the national cultural institutions. I acknowledge that the Minister has...

Seanad: Cultural Institutions: Motion (13 May 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I was here.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I wish to share time with Senator Jillian van Turnhout.

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes. I welcome our distinguished guests and I welcome the report. As a Taoiseach's nominee I am proud to be a Senator and I am proud to fulfil my constitutional remit in terms of debating legislation and other matters in this Chamber. I am proud to do that without a Whip. I say that for the benefit of the Fianna Fáil Party which is losing its Whips by the day. I am also proud that,...

Seanad: Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform 2015: Statements (5 May 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: It has taken five years for electoral reform.

Seanad: An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá mé go mór i bhfábhar an reifrinn agus an Bille seo agus go bhféadfaidh beirt gan beann ar a ngnéas conradh pósta a dhéanamh de réir dlí. There are some things that come through this House on which we may not always be completely sure, issues and Bills where one can see two opposing sides and not be...