Results 101-120 of 276 for long speaker:Donie Cassidy

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Sep 2009)

Donie Cassidy: .... This is the time to get value for money - more for less, we are told. Builders would be delighted to undertake small schools projects such as this if it was the best that was to happen in the long term. I do not have any difficulty in having a debate on that matter also.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...concerned, I remind the Senator and the House that in 2008, 1,201 amendments to various Bills were made in this House and accepted by Ministers of the day, which speaks for itself. One of the longest serving Members of the House will appreciate this information which will give him heart regarding the long-standing future of the Seanad. We look forward to real reform when the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Sep 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...in early October. Senators Quinn and Hanafin spoke on the issue of presumed consent for organ donations. I will again make this request to the Minister and ascertain when the legislation which is long overdue is due to be brought before us for consideration. We all fully support the request made by the Senators. Senators Quinn, Leyden, Bacik, Regan and Healy Eames expressed serious...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...have a post office or bank account. No one should dictate that old-age pension books be taken from pensioners. I hope the proposal does not go ahead and I will certainly express my strong views along with those of Senator Buttimer to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs in this regard. It is never the wrong time to do the right thing. God knows this is all these people have at...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: -----and all the Whips in the House. I thank all Senators for their co-operation and assistance in what was a very long 14 week session. They all deserve a good holiday and a good break.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...marks the 125th anniversary of the greatest amateur athletic organisation, possibly in Europe. Every weekend we celebrate those achievements. Those of us who have had the benefit of being life-long members of the association know the value of the GAA to Ireland and what it did for us, as Senator Ó Murchú outlined to the House last year, concerning the reunification of our country and...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I will do everything in my power to assist the Government in processing legislation. I do not have any difficulty sitting for four days per week or until late in the evening for as long as is required. I will try to facilitate colleagues further. Later today, I will submit to the Minister the Fianna Fáil Party proposals on Seanad reform. I hope legislation on reform will come before the...

Seanad: Stardust Tragedy: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ..., SC, has been widely praised here and rightly so. The recommendations of his report have the backing of the Government and give rise to today's motion, providing an opportunity to address the long-standing concerns as to the cause of the Stardust fire. As the Minister of State said, the Coffey report highlights that the original finding of probable arson was hypothetical only and not...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...House I must listen to those who are working in the legal profession. I certainly accept the word of Senator O'Donovan who outlined his experience to the House. We will discuss this Bill for as long as possible, as required by every Senator, for its passage. That is a commitment and I do not mind how many days are required for this to take place. Senators O'Toole, Bradford, Buttimer...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: There are many precedents. It is a long time until 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock or 4 o'clock in the morning. I will not guillotine a Bill in this House for anybody or any party.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: It has been a long established practice-----

Seanad: Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Bill 2009: Second Stage (7 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...of the Dáil through retirement or not being re-elected. Also in that year there were 16 outgoing members of Fine Gael in the Seanad, 14 of whom did not return. There were 14 new Members along with two long-standing colleagues, who are still Members of the House and distinguished colleagues. That goes to show the difficulty entailed in the permanent employment of being a public...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: As long as clarification will be sufficient, I am very satisfied with that.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Jul 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Moloney, also wants to make a huge change and massive difference in this area. Having served on a health board with him for quite a long time, I know he has a great deal of experience. We will do everything we can to keep mental health centre stage and to support the efforts of the Minister of State, the committee which...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: He felt very comfortable in it. I told him that as long as he did not move in next door to myself he was very welcome. It was a wonderful experience and I was amazed at the number of ordinary people who came up to me and said they had never been inside the gates of Leinster House. They are very appreciative of the great work we are doing. The media should be invited to the open days to...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...recess. The Minister for Finance will be in the House tomorrow. I remind Senators that he was here on 28 May. I look forward to hearing my colleagues' contributions tomorrow when we will have a long day of important business. The legislation we will be considering is important because a sum of €4 billion is at stake. When the Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...from rural areas would not be worth our salt if we did not stand up for the people who need this service. During this downturn in the economy, many people need this facility because they may no longer be able to insure or tax their cars. I will arrange a debate on the issue early next week. Senators Alex White, Bacik, Donohoe, Ormonde and Mullen referred to the recent statement by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: I think that is a reasonable request because this will be a long sitting day - we may not adjourn before 11 p.m. or midnight. I accede to the request by the Senator for a sos from 1.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...summer recess. Senator Prendergast also spoke about the ambulance services. The comfort of patients is of the utmost importance when they are undertaking journeys of 100 and 130 miles. It is a long journey for a patient to travel from Clonmel to Dublin. I fully agree with the sentiments expressed by the Senator about that area. Senator Coffey and Senator Hanafin raised the issue of...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2009)

Donie Cassidy: ...have always been found co-operative in this area. The Senator contacted me last Thursday about extending time for debate by a day, to which I agreed. It is not ideal and I would like to allow as long a time as is requested, but that is not always possible. As I informed the House, a significant amount of legislation will come before the House in the next four weeks. Depending on how...