Results 161-180 of 313 for long speaker:John Paul Phelan

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

John Paul Phelan: ...Deputy Doyle on introducing this Bill, which I support. It is the first step in reforming how we run elections and I congratulate him on it. I am of the view that a 15-hour working day is very long. While I tend to agree with the point Deputy Buttimer made regarding how we, as practising politicians, are used to dealing with presiding officers and clerks at polling stations at general...

Central Bank Bill 2014: Second Stage (9 Apr 2014)

John Paul Phelan: .... It will not be affected in any way by the legislation. I used it as a savings account to gather funds to make a downpayment when I bought my house. When I was in secondary school, which is not all that long ago, there were several building societies operating in the Irish financial sector. Now, we are down to one building society, which is a subsidiary or an arm of one of the pillar...

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

John Paul Phelan: ...reports about who had been blown up, murdered, maimed or injured the night before. The fact that that is not happening is something we take for granted a bit too much. I commend those involved in ensuring that it is no longer happening. We should not rake over the past. Language is important. I agree with much of what the previous speaker, Deputy O'Brien, said, but some of his...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ..., but there can be no complacency. The biggest task facing the Government is in creating jobs. It is particularly significant that this week's job statistics were good concerning the number of long-term unemployed people in which category there was a notable decrease. The south east continues to have the highest unemployment rate in the country despite the fact that the latest CSO...

Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ...a small area which he felled due to farm consolidation. The individual was a dairy farmer who had no problem with replanting but he could not get anyone to quote for the work. It dragged on for a long time and eventually common sense prevailed. I am glad that the Bill allows for more discretion in this regard, because the existing system was somewhat cumbersome. The forestry sector is...

Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ...is a controversial area. The Department of Social Protection is in a position to look for money back when overpayments are made to those in receipt of social welfare. A small contribution over a long period of time to ensure somebody does not end up in prison should happen. Failing that, a more effective community service order regime should ensure such people never end up in prison for...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ...Government chose. The idea that it was the only option is simply not true. It has been said on several occasions. People should not twist what is written to suit their own agenda. I have thought for a long time about what I would ultimately do and did not announce my decision until now as I wanted to see if the Minister would adopt some of the amendments I suggested. He has. I have a...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBurnreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ...made by members of political parties who are Members of this House often has more of an eye to the activities of their potential Dáil running mate or sitting constituency colleague rather than on serving their constituents or the best interests of the country. I have long advocated single-seat constituencies with a transferable vote. In that context, I really regret the fact that...

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 May 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ...while housing departments are managing and transferring local authority tenants between existing units and cannot provide any additional accommodation. I also agree with the Deputy on the RAS and long-term leasing that they individually have some merit, certainly at a time when the State cannot provide significant investment in the construction of local authority housing. There is a need...

Common Agricultural Policy Reform: Statements (Resumed) (28 Mar 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ...pointed out, in the middle of all of this he managed to see a new arrival in his family also. I hope he will get to see her at some stage in the coming weeks. I imagine he will do so over the long weekend ahead. I agree fully with Deputy Paul Connaughton on the argument falsely made in many quarters that it is a case of east versus west. There are many farmers in my part of the world,...

Finance Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2013)

John Paul Phelan: ...weeks, fuel prices have begun to creep up again following a few months of decreases. There does not seem to be a satisfactory reason for the increase. The exchange rate, which was cited for so long as the reason fuel prices edged upwards over recent years, has not been an issue, particularly, in the past few weeks. The Government did not increase excise duty on fuel in the budget but...

Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I wish him the best in trying to garner as much support as possible. I agree with Deputy McGrath with regard to large constituencies. As somebody who, along with the Minister, represents the second largest constituency under the current regime, and which will probably remain the second or third largest after Donegal and Kerry when the new boundaries are introduced, I know there is a big...

Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Dec 2012)

John Paul Phelan: ..., committee staff, staff of political parties, ushers, staff in the various ancillary facilities and so on. The newly extended library and research unit is a particularly positive initiative. For a long time the former head librarian of many years standing and who is retired several years - an elderly gentleman named Patrick whose surname I cannot bring to mind just now - and his...

Topical Issue Debate: Commission of Inquiry (27 Nov 2012)

John Paul Phelan: .... However, this inquiry cannot be allowed to go on into the future without a result being obtained. The least Fr. Molloy's family deserve is to be given some reassurance and an indication of how long the investigation is expected to continue and a timeframe as to when a report will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Nov 2012)

John Paul Phelan: ...an already difficult situation. If tenants are engaging in consistent anti-social behaviour there needs to be a safer mechanism for neighbours to register a complaint and to ensure that prolonged transgressions will not be accepted. People have an expectation, which is not unreasonable, to live in peace and quiet in their own homes. This goes to the heart of what the Private...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (13 Nov 2012)

John Paul Phelan: ...by Professor Higgins in respect of the reconfiguration of hospital services throughout the country. Everyone understands that medical treatment regimes which have been in place perhaps for a long period should be examined. Nothing can be cast in stone forever. However, I echo the comments of Deputy Conway with regard to the south eastern region and the hospital network. The four...

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (24 Oct 2012)

John Paul Phelan: ...tax revenues from that property source have collapsed. That has resulted in much pain caused to ordinary families across the country, something that we all must acknowledge. It was through the unsustainable head-long promotion of property that those revenues were built and many people at the time, contrary to some of the coverage since, raised the issue with regard to our property market...

An Bille um an Aonú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Leanaí) 2012: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Sep 2012)

John Paul Phelan: ...adoption legislation by the Minister. The latter seeks to remove some of the inequalities contained in existing adoption legislation whereby the children of potentially married parents who are in long-term foster care could be adopted by their foster parents. This is a positive expression on the part of the State of its gratitude to foster families, of which there are many throughout the...

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

John Paul Phelan: ...may have been dogs that had been in pounds or shelters and were taken by people who did not have the wherewithal to look after them. There is strong evidence to suggest that some of the dogs belonged to families that may have been relatively new to rural areas and did not understand the dangers associated with owning a dog in a rural area if that dog is not controlled. In the cases of...

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2012)

John Paul Phelan: ...financial difficulties that families and individuals face. Much of the legislation is completely new. It contains proposals to reform the existing structures on bankruptcy, which is certainly long overdue and welcome, but it also sets out a whole new process of debt reconciliation which, if it is passed, will become the normal practice. I want to ask the Minister about certain aspects of...