Results 101-120 of 265 for speaker:Michael Brennan

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Dec 2005)

Michael Brennan: I, too, want to ask the Leader about the study on Shannon Airport mentioned yesterday morning. I also wish to raise the concerns of the people in the locality about the future of Shannon Airport and the effect open skies would have on the airport. There are many American multinational companies operating in the Shannon-Limerick region. We want to see the Shannon Airport study broadened to...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and acknowledge the capital spending on schools in County Limerick, especially the fine building works completed in Adare, in Shountrade national school and Our Lady's Abbey national school. The Minister of State and her officials are well aware of the special circumstances of the application by the board of management of St. Nicholas's Church of...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: I also welcome the Minister of State and I acknowledge the contribution of the Minister, who has now left the House. Affordable housing is an important issue throughout the country, as is flexibility and the implementation of Part V housing. I wish to make a point to the Minister and local authorities that there must be flexibility if affordable housing is to be a success. This is a golden...

Seanad: Social Welfare Consolidation Bill 2005: Report and Final Stages. (16 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: I thank the Seanad for passing this legislation. The Senators opposite conducted a good debate on Second Stage and I accepted a number of the issues they raised. I hope to reflect as many of them as I can by means of the budget or in subsequent legislation. I remind the House of the unique nature of this legislation. The last consolidation legislation was enacted in 1993 and the Bill before...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits: Motion. (9 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: I thank Senator Terry and those on the Opposition side of the House for putting down this motion. Members are correct that it is good to discuss these issues before the budget. That is why I listened carefully, taking detailed notes of those practical suggestions on which I can move. I agree with most of them, quibble with others, but by and large support their direction. I thank both sides...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits: Motion. (9 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: What pulling and dragging we must do between us to provide this is part of political business. As long as I have the honour to hold this ministerial post, I will fight tooth and nail to ensure everyone has a decent pension. It may not be a "one-size-fits-all" answer. We must examine both the non-contributory and contributory pensions. We must also do more in that area, particularly on the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits: Motion. (9 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: I acknowledge the points made about the role of women in the welfare system, the requirement to reform the pension system, the lone parent system and particularly child poverty. I also acknowledge the work of carers. We introduced a €1,000 respite grant to help make the jobs of carers easier and enable them to become more professionally involved, on which I have had a number of meetings...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: Will the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to clarify why a number of local authorities are making the establishment of management committees to administer private housing estates a condition of planning permission? This is causing a great deal of concern as householders must pay an annual charge to private management committees. However, they are...

Seanad: Tax Code: Motion. (2 Nov 2005)

Michael Brennan: I wish to voice my support for the motion. Previous speakers have spoken about the importance of our taxation system to sustaining our economic development. Reference was also made to the fundamental importance of a fair system. Rather than repeat what others have said, I wish to discuss fairness, especially for older people. As my colleague, Senator Minihan, correctly stated in the past, a...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Brennan: I thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, for the opportunity to contribute briefly to this debate. I thank the Taoiseach, the Minister of State and the leaders of all political parties who have played a leading role in the decommissioning that has occurred. I come from Adare, a rural part of County Limerick, where all religions and none work together for the betterment of our community and country....

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Brennan: I welcome the Minister to the House. In October 2004 I welcomed the Water Services Investment Programme 2004-2006 involving a total investment of €5 billion, with the allocation to Limerick being €142 million. On that occasion the Minister painted a very positive picture in so far as the sewerage schemes were concerned for Adare and Patrickswell. He confirmed at that time that the...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Brennan: I thank the Minister for his positive response. I look forward to working in co-operation with Limerick County Council to secure a solution.

Seanad: School Transport. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Brennan: I support Senator Finucane and ask the Minister to look compassionately at this unique situation, going back to 2001 where there were pupil-teacher ratio problems in the Limerick city catchment area resulting in pupils being allowed to go to Pallaskenry. As Senator Finucane has said, many meetings were held during the summer and it is time to find a solution. I believe that since the meetings...

Seanad: School Transport. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Brennan: I wish to enter in the record a letter that was sent out by the Department in 2001. A commitment was given at that stage that no changes would take place until discussions occurred with interested bodies.

Seanad: School Transport. (28 Sep 2005)

Michael Brennan: If bus transport is being provided out of Pallaskenry in the evening where surplus transport is available, it would not be an additional cost to the Exchequer. I ask the Minister of State that if a commitment was made that no changes would come about until a review of the catchment boundaries, whether the commitment made by the Department has been reneged upon.

Seanad: Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jun 2005)

Michael Brennan: I thank Senator Kate Walsh for sharing her time. I am pleased to make a contribution to this debate. I welcome the excellent and thought-provoking contributions made in the House thus far. In introducing the Bill to the House last night, the Minister of State said it would significantly advance the position of people with disabilities and would be instrumental in sustaining progress in the...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (25 May 2005)

Michael Brennan: I wish to share my time with Senator Finucane.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (25 May 2005)

Michael Brennan: I have come into this House in the past to express gratitude to the Government and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the amount of money invested in the Water Services Investment Programme 2004-06. Kilmallock, County Limerick, is a typical town. It is the major town in south Limerick, has a development plan in place and its existing services are at capacity....

Seanad: Nuclear Plants: Motion. (25 May 2005)

Michael Brennan: This is a suitable, strong and timely motion and I add my support to the points made and words of genuine concern expressed in the House tonight. This motion is timely for one particular reason, on which I will use my few minutes to expand. On 11 May, the RPII made a presentation to the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government. The RPII deserves credit for its presentation and...

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Michael Brennan: I propose to share my time with Senator Kitt.