Results 181-200 of 265 for speaker:Michael Brennan

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Michael Brennan: I wish to share my time with Senators Brady and Mansergh.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Michael Brennan: I welcome the Minister of State and his address to the House which covered the vast amount of funding under the roadworks schemes. In regard to the proposed increases in motor taxation, it must be acknowledged that the funding has been ring fenced for non-national roads, which is very important. Some €277 million has been allocated for that purpose this year. We must also realise the...

Seanad: School Transport. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I call on the Minister for Education and Science to clarify the access to school transport arrangements currently in place for students from Limerick city catchment area, Mungret and Ballybrown, who wish to attend the Salesian college in Pallaskenry, County Limerick and I ask that the status quo be maintained. Much confusion has arisen in...

Seanad: School Transport. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I thank the Minister of State for his encouraging response.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I support Senator Brady. The dual mandate has been discussed fully in the House. We must respect the decisions of the courts. I pay tribute to the Deputy who took the case to court in the interest of the common good. The current system benefits all parties. It gives a choice to the parties that are finding it hard to obtain European candidates.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: It backfired.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I thank Senator Bannon for his sentiments which have been noted. I am sure the Minister of State will take them into account at the time of a future review. On that basis, I ask the Senator to withdraw his amendment.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I oppose this amendment. The Opposition suggested voting is as simple as A, B, C yet they are seeking to change the manner in which names are listed when we are only a few months away from the local and European elections. Returning officers will only accept nominations from candidates in the name by which they are commonly known.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: While we will oppose the amendment, it is quite open for the parties to engage in discussions on the matter at a later stage.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: Much has been said about the system of electronic voting used in the United States. It is quite clear that the system proposed in Ireland is completely different, and I am surprised that comparisons are still being made. Regarding the paper trail, if one used that system with the existing ballot paper, where everyone had a duplicate paper, privacy would disappear, and it would be...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (19 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: Regarding what is proposed before one casts a vote, what happens to the paper trail that Senator McCarthy is proposing? Regarding the transfer of votes, the case could be made that the proposed system is much fairer to candidates than the old system, whereby a bundle of votes was pulled out of one section of a ballot box. One could make the case that the PR system being used in electronic...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: That was the anomaly I pointed out. I referred to a person's right to stand without resigning from the local authority.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: The dual mandate in the Oireachtas is slightly different. A person can stand for a local authority election if he or she is a Member of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: He or she must resign. There is an anomaly. Some are treated more equally than others.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I wish to share time with Senator Daly.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I welcome the legislation and compliment the Minister of State on his address and his statement on electronic voting yesterday, an issue which has been raised in this debate. He answered many of the questions raised by Senators yesterday. In welcoming the legislation, I pay tribute to the MEPs who have served the country well during the current term of the European Parliament. It is important...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: Speech.

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: I too welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for his address. I also acknowledge the address of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, to the environment committee some weeks ago. I also welcome electronic voting. Many of the questions, such as those asked by Senator McCarthy, were asked at that committee and everything bar the...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: Questions have been raised about the responsibilities of the returning officers in regard to spoilt votes. To my knowledge, once the electoral register is ticked off in a polling station, the number of votes can be compared to the recorded number of times the machine has been used. However, if there are spoilt votes when a button is not pressed, are they regarded as spoilt votes when the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Feb 2004)

Michael Brennan: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Health and Children to attend the House for a debate on radiotherapy services? In the past, support has come from all sides of the House for a radiotherapy unit in Limerick to cater for the mid-west region in general. I understand the Minister met a deputation last week and it has been reported widely in the press that it received a positive response....