Results 1-20 of 3,664 for speaker:Ciarán Cannon

Seanad: Climate Protection Bill 2007: Second Stage (3 Oct 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his appointment and I wish him all the best in the next five years. I welcome the opportunity to debate climate change, which is a serious issue that deserves a serious, co-ordinated response at international, European Union and national level. In urging a co-ordinated response, it behoves us to develop such a response locally and at home, with action...

Seanad: Archaeological Sites (24 Oct 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: The Turoe Stone is acknowledged as one of the finest remaining examples of La Tène Celtic art in the world. It has been located at Turoe, near Loughrea in County Galway, for more than 2,000 years. Experts within the OPW and the National Museum have concluded that the stone must be moved indoors to afford it the protection that an artefact of this value requires. However, for some strange...

Seanad: Pension Provision: Motion (14 Nov 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I am delighted to have the opportunity to discuss this motion. As my colleague, Senator O'Malley, said, this is an issue of great importance for the nation. The provision of an adequate and sustainable pension system is of great importance not only to current and future pensioners but also to the future prosperity of the country. If our generation, living at a time of considerable...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I welcome the Minister's appointment of Professor Keane to the post of interim director of the national cancer control programme. Professor Keane brings with him a wealth of experience from working in cancer control in British Columbia, which has a similar population to Ireland,of slightly more than 4 million. As a result of Professor Keane's work, that province now has a model that is the...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I recall a front page article that appeared in The Connacht Tribune last September, in which Deputy Ulick Burke decried the proposed removal of breast cancer surgery from Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe to University College Hospital, Galway, only 40 miles away. In his defence of the standard of breast cancer surgery available at Portiuncula, he indicated that 11 breast cancer operations...

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: No, he referred to life expectancy.

Seanad: Cancer Services: Statements (20 Nov 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: If we have increased services and improved cancer care, people live longer. It is a simple conclusion to draw. In 1996 Ireland had the 15th highest life expectancy of these same 27 countries, and we moved to seventh highest by 2005. With a collectively positive, courageous and innovative approach to health care we can continue to make great progress over the coming years. I acknowledge...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I support the many calls for a review of our planning legislation. It is hard to believe the processes which ended up in the 2000 Act began well over ten years ago at this stage. I wonder how relevant the Act is to the Ireland of 2007. There are two contexts in which we should act. The first relates to An Bord Pleanála, and I wonder how effective and relevant a body can be which sits in...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I support the call by Senator Daly to examine the administrative crisis that may occur with regard to the dispersal of funds from the housing aid for elderly programme. It is a worthwhile programme to aid vulnerable elderly people living in substandard accommodation. Its administration has been handed over to local authorities. Several senior members of the housing staff in Galway County...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: Before raising the issue that concerns me, I wish to comment briefly on the remarks of Senator Fitzgerald and Senator Alex White on caring for the less well off in society. Next year the Government will spend €17 billion on social welfare. Fr. Sean Healy of CORI described the social welfare increases in last year's budget as historic. Senator Alex White asserted that there is less...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: Where did Ireland come in the Gini coefficient——

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: In 2006, the most recent measurement, Ireland was fifth of the 27 EU member states.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: The most equal countries in the EU were Poland and Lithuania.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: Why are people leaving Poland and Lithuania to come to this country?

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: It is because Ireland is a country of opportunity for those who are willing to work hard to provide for themselves. If Senator Alex White wishes to go to Poland or Lithuania, he is most welcome to do so. That is where he will find the most equal economies in the EU. The issue that concerns me is the recent decision by the NRA not to develop the vast majority of the rest areas along the...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: France has over 50 years' experience in providing motorways and has the longest motorway network in the world per capita of population. It has a mandatory requirement that a rest area is provided every ten kilometres. The French are aware that driver fatigue causes deaths on their motorways. I urge the Minister to intervene and direct the NRA to rescind its decision and reinstate its plans...

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I would like to let Senator Quinn speak before me.

Seanad: Broadband Access: Motion (12 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I also congratulate Senator Ross and the other Independent Members on tabling this motion. I agree with Senator Boyle that somehow the tone of the motion tends to dwell on the failures of the past rather than looking to the successes of the future. For that reason I shall support the amendment to the motion. I have been very disappointed at the lack of a proper rolling out of broadband to...

Seanad: Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (19 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: This Bill is a testament to the thorough and prudent approach of the Minister for Health and Children, the Government as a whole and the Office of the Attorney General. The normal work of government involves ongoing legal analysis of how current primary and secondary legislation is being used to implement policy on a wide range of issues. As the Minister has said, the primary legislative...

Seanad: School Accommodation (19 Dec 2007)

Ciarán Cannon: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Carey, for agreeing to take this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin. I will dispense with the usual preamble because the Minister is more than aware of the issues surrounding Seamount College in Kinvara. I thank her for her commitment in May to provide a second co-educational school in Kinvara with the proviso that this would take place...