Results 41-60 of 4,132 for speaker:Donie Cassidy

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Donie Cassidy: If that luck is to continue, I am confident the people of the county will consider me for their first preference in the next election. I have some advice for colleagues on the other side of the House who are, like me, first-time Deputies. As an Oireachtas Member for 23 years, I confirm the most difficult time to get elected is the second time. Opposition Members may smile and feel confident...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Donie Cassidy: However, they should be wary of the underdog. I am not beaten yet and am fired up for the challenge. Anybody who hopes to take my seat will have much hard work to do between now and the next general election because I have worked hard for the last three years and will continue to do so.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Donie Cassidy: I might even increase my efforts. In the words of Al Jolson, "You ain't seen nothing yet".

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 May 2005)

Donie Cassidy: This Bill should have provided for two extra Dáil seats. The commission could have recommended either a reduction of two seats to 164 or an increase of two to 168. It is a shame it did not choose the latter approach. The people of north Westmeath and Leitrim have much in common. Neither area has got its fair share of the spoils of the Celtic tiger. However, all the hard work has been put in...

Business of Dáil. (12 May 2005)

Donie Cassidy: I wish to draw to the attention of the House that I understood earlier today that I had voted on Second Stage of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005. However, it has since been brought to my attention that one of my votes has not been recorded. I wish to put on record that it was my full intention to vote in both divisions. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to bring this matter to...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2005)

Donie Cassidy: I do not think any other Member of this House has suffered more than me through the redrawing of constituency boundaries. One third of County Westmeath was merged with County Meath and I lost 24% of my first preference vote.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2005)

Donie Cassidy: I am relating a factual matter. I wish Deputy Morgan well and know he has a safe seat——

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2005)

Donie Cassidy: ——but the public can also favour the underdog. I have been in Leinster House for 23 years and seen many things. I am aware of the job that the commission must do and understand why it has to do its work. The redrawing of boundaries started in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo and then affected County Westmeath. I understand why north-west Meath was put back in with the rest of the county....

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Report Stage (Resumed). (28 Jun 2005)

Donie Cassidy: This division is wrong. An area's identity, ethos and culture have been completely removed. I make a strong case that whatever must be done with county boundaries — I acknowledge there are exceptions and the commission must make decisions — that under no circumstances should parishes be divided.

Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2005)

Donie Cassidy: I wish to share time with Deputy McGuinness. I will be brief as much ground has been covered. I am Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business and we have been carrying out work with regard to the insurance industry. It is of the utmost importance that this Bill passes through all Stages before the summer recess. Some 350,000 drivers are still waiting to obtain full...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (4 Oct 2005)

Donie Cassidy: Question 129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans for the horticulture sector here. [26163/05]

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Oct 2005)

Donie Cassidy: Question 172: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress in forestry planting in 2005. [26158/05]

Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (27 Oct 2005)

Donie Cassidy: Hear, hear.

Road Safety: Motion. (8 Nov 2005)

Donie Cassidy: There is a camera in Lucan, County Dublin.

Road Safety: Motion. (8 Nov 2005)

Donie Cassidy: For most of my life I have been travelling 60,000 miles annually all over Ireland, on inferior roads for much of the time. Most Members of the Oireachtas probably travel more than 40,000 miles annually. It is every parent's worst fear at weekends when their sons or daughters go out for an evening that they might not come home safely. Unfortunately we occasionally see the most horrific...

Road Safety: Motion. (8 Nov 2005)

Donie Cassidy: He is a Westmeath person.

Road Safety: Motion. (8 Nov 2005)

Donie Cassidy: His grandfather was the first Cumann na nGaedheal Deputy for a constituency in this House, in 1929.

Road Safety: Motion. (8 Nov 2005)

Donie Cassidy: Eddie Shaw recommended to our committee that we had only half our investigation concluded if the committee did not visit Australia and particularly New Zealand. Our committee is taking his advice and is inviting the Minister for State, Deputy Callely, to join us on a visit to New Zealand. That country has in place the computer which has been successful in everything to do with penalty points,...

Road Safety: Motion. (8 Nov 2005)

Donie Cassidy: It is never the wrong time to do the right thing. The Deputies should be uplifted by their presence in this House and their membership of it. It is an honour and a privilege to serve. We must all look to the future. If this piece of machinery can reduce road deaths in this country by 50%, why not use it? The black box, compulsory in most other European countries, particularly in many German...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (15 Nov 2005)

Donie Cassidy: Question 114: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her initiative to promote local and regional food economies. [34106/05]