Results 121-140 of 4,132 for speaker:Donie Cassidy

Road Network. (6 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: That is not what the IFA stated.

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value-Added Tax (6 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: I welcome the initiative in the budget looking to help the small business industry, and in particular the business expansion seed capital scheme. The work and recommendations of the Small Business Forum will stand to this country over the next five, ten or 15 years. If we look past 2013, we will have to look to small Irish-owned businesses that today number 250,000, employing over 800,000...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (12 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: I am sure Deputies Penrose and Paul McGrath will wish Deputy Brady well in his new constituency. Of course it is an area which is loyal to the three of us. Its people have put us here. He will continue the good work for the area, for which the three of us have been working so hard and where we have seen such changes in our time in this House. I welcome the Bill. I have never seen such...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (12 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: I welcome the increase in allowances for senior citizens to over the €200 threshold that was promised in the programme for Government and in the Fianna Fáil manifesto. I welcome all of the increases related to child care. I welcome the additional €4 in the fuel allowance, which will increase from €14 to €18.

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (12 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: I also welcome the €300 increase in the respite care grant. I welcome the back to school allowance increases. Little was said about the back to school allowance, but this is a serious effort involving a substantial increase and I wholeheartedly welcome it. I say well done to the Minister on this 50% increase in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, which increases the low...

Social Welfare Bill 2006: Second Stage (12 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: Deputy McGrath is happy.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: That Bill may apply on both sides.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: I wish to share time with the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, who will avail of the first five minutes.

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (13 Dec 2006)

Donie Cassidy: The needs of the Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas have been enhanced and fulfilled by the appointment of this commission, which was a great decision. I pay tribute to everyone from the Ceann Comhairle who has chaired it to the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, Deputies McGrath and Howlin and Senator O'Toole, colleagues with whom I have worked on other committees and...

Order of Business (14 Feb 2007)

Donie Cassidy: That depends on Deputy Costello.

Consumer Protection Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I have respected the Deputy from Kildare for many years, but as Chairman of the Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, I welcome the Bill before the House. Any fair-minded person would have to recognise that for the fulfilment of its aims the Consumer Protection Bill 2007 provides for the establishment on a statutory basis of the National Consumer Agency, the transposition into national...

Consumer Protection Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Donie Cassidy: They are incredible and we could never match them. They have a lot of practice in this regard and their expertise is shown from time to time. When the facts speak for themselves, however, the Opposition arguments do not stand up. In case someone might read and take seriously Deputy Durkan's views, I must reluctantly say that the job that has been done on insurance during this Government's...

Consumer Protection Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Deputy Hogan stands to take just as much credit as myself for leading the Fine Gael side on the insurance inquiry. I welcome him here for this part of the debate. I commend the Bill to the House and thank the Acting Chairman for giving me an opportunity to express my views on the legislation.

Decentralisation Programme. (7 Mar 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for providing time on the Adjournment for me to be updated on the major announcement that was made by the former Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, in the budget of 2004. To have the head office of the Department of Education and Science with the Minister in situ in the town of Mullingar is of major importance. It was one of the main announcements made by...

School Accommodation. (25 Apr 2007)

Donie Cassidy: Scoil Diarmada is situated in the rural community of Whitehall, approximately three miles from Castlepollard in north Westmeath. The school, comprising two classrooms, was built in 1958 and 14 years ago saw the addition of a third classroom in the form of a prefab to accommodate increasing numbers. The numbers continue to increase due to the very high standard of teaching and dedication to...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Donie Cassidy: It is a pleasure to be back. I look forward to playing a full part in the Seanad in the coming years. The Order of Business is No. 1, Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007 — all Stages to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business and to conclude by 6 p.m. with contributions of spokespersons to be eight minutes and those of all other Senators to be four minutes; No. 2, Ethics in Public Office...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Donie Cassidy: There is a right bunch of cuckoos on the other side of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I, too, wish the Cathaoirleach well. I thank him for all his kindness, help and courtesy over the years. We served in a number of Seanadaí together. I was present on the unfortunate evening on which he lost his seat and I and many others were delighted when he regained it eight or ten months later. I wish him, his wife and his family well. It is a joy to see that his family will...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Donie Cassidy: ——has much to look forward to. I would love to be able to facilitate Members in the many issues they raised. However, time will not allow me to do so. On the one hand, there is a very fortunate group of Senators with safe seats, while on the other, there is a group whose members will be obliged to work hard to gain re-election. I have a balancing act to carry out today and I am afraid...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2007)

Donie Cassidy: I am pleased that my predecessor kept up the good work in the past five years.