Results 81-100 of 602 for speaker:Fiach MacConghail

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: In fairness, when a dear colleague of mine impugns my independence by accentuating the first syllable of the word , I need to address it on the record. The distinguished Senator is a former lecturer of mine and knows the works of Flann O'Brien and James Joyce better than I do. It is in the nature of being an Independent Senator that one will differ from other Senators in how one votes. I...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister. It has been only 24 hours since we last went toe to toe yesterday. The classic line that comes to mind with the Water Services Bill is that if we were to start from anywhere, we would not be starting from here. My thoughts on the Bill it that it is complex, contradictory and a conundrum. I believe we should pay for water in order to conserve what is a limited...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, to the Seanad. I thank my colleagues across all parties and none on the excellent debate. In a way, it is very simple. We need to modernise our electoral system. We need to drive up electoral turnout. We need to play a proactive role in encouraging voters and in providing education and research. We need to manage voter registration in...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Self-praise is no praise.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes, it is ad hoc.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: In the bold corner.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Yes.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Both dead and alive.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: From the Minister.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I move: That Seanad Éireann, noting that: - the agreed Programme for Government 2011-2016 promises the establishment of an electoral commission as an integral part of political reform; - the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 reaffirms this commitment and further commits to the establishment of an electoral commission with ‘a view to bringing forward legislation for the...

Seanad: Electoral Commission: Motion (17 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Our group decided to put this before the Seanad to debate today because we are concerned about whether this is part of the Government’s agenda or whether there is any sense of its moving to legislation. Establishing an independent electoral commission will advance and enhance our democratic process, particularly as we look to the several upcoming elections and referenda due to take...

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

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister to the Seanad and appreciate his constant willingness to come before this House for debates. He has integrity and I congratulate him on his article yesterday. It is refreshing that he is not flimsy and is open to other opinions. He articulates his thinking process publicly, which is refreshing because he does not feel the need to be deterministic on either side. As...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Will the Minister give a commitment to revert to the joint committee within a reasonable period on the data and research recommendations? That is all I am seeking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister. She and I have exchanged ideas in the Seanad in the last while. I will repeat some but not all of them. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Joe McHugh, chomh maith. Is iontach an comhartha é de athnuachan a chuid Gaeilge go bhfuil sé in ann é seo a dhéanamh agus molaim go mór é as ucht an dul chuige atá aige...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: We will expect the Minister to return to us on them.

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: Sinn Féin was not at the GPO.

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: It is my first time in the Seanad since the death of Brian Farrell, whose passing I acknowledge. He is someone we grew up with as a nation. Talking about commemoration and solemn occasions, Brian's voice on radio and television is an important one we remember. I knew him personally as he and my father soldiered together in the early days of "7 Days" many years ago. I extend my condolences...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I support Senator Bacik's proposal to have a debate on commemorations at the appropriate time. We have had four or five debates on the commemoration, however, with no real, actual detail on the Government's plans. We want to avoid the debacle of the Limerick city of culture when funding was given very late in the day. The arts budget announced yesterday appears to be a stand-still budget...

Seanad: Budget 2015: Statements (14 Oct 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I thank the Senator for sharing her time with me. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Harris. I also welcome my colleague, Senator Craughwell, to the House, for what will be quite an interesting year and a half ahead. It is ironic that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, ended his speech with a poem, using the arts yet again as a buttress-----