As the Campaign gets under way the attention turns from the nomination process to the debates. RTÉ and TV3 have organisied debates on Radio and TV. No sign yet of an Irish Debate on TG4, or news if Newstalk or any other station have organised one yet. And the debates are: Wednesday 28th September. 1pm, RTÉ News at One. RTÉ Radio One 9:35pm Primetime, RTÉ One Friday, 30th September 9:35pm The Late Late Show, RTÉ One Tuesday, October 4th...
Well tomorrow I am off to Barcelona for the Anna Lindh Foundation Forum 2010. I will be live-blogging and tweeting about the forum, with the help of a few others. I know I am not a big user of twitter at the moment, but college is taking up a lot of the time I would have spent on it, so I will be back to it tomorrow. You too, though, will be able to see whats happening and pass...
Last Thursday, the opposition parties in the Seanad (upper house) scored a victory over the Government and got a an amendment passed on the Charities Bill. The resulting debate is something you have to read. It shows Fianna Fail senators challenging An Cathaoirleach (Speaker)and Fine Gael Senators standing up for him. Amazing to see. Below is an extract from the Offical Report An Cathaoirleach: Amendment No. 7 on section 2. Senator Frances Fitzgerald (FG): I hope the Government will...
Yesterday, the Dáil had its fifth day of debate on the Second reading of the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008. Some selected contributions. Deputy Jimmy Deenihan (Fine Gael): The Lisbon treaty is the outcome of an extensive and open process that has gone on since December 2001. The process included a convention on the future of Europe that included not only national governments from member states but also representatives from national parliaments. There was real participation in...
The Dáil resumed its Debate on the second reading of the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008. Some selected contributions. Deputy John Perry (Fine Gael): In resuming the debate on Second Stage of the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 I reiterate my support for the provisions in the Lisbon reform treaty aimed at reinforcing the national parliamentary dimension in the European Union. In recognition of the growing importance of EU legislation and the need to hold...
Yesterday in the Seanad, Senators made statements on the Treaty of Lisbon. The statements were limited to Leaders or Party Spokespersons. Selected Extracts below. Senator Eugene Regan (Fine Gael): The Cohesion Fund is a good example of the many areas in which Ireland has influenced the shape of Europe. Most of the significant changes took place after Ireland’s entry to the EEC. The Single European Act, the first change, came about as a result of work carried out by...
During the debate on the Order of Business an argument broke out between Senator Dan Boyle (Green Party) and Senator Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) on the issue of Cork Airport. Senator David Norris (Independent) quip is the reason why he is in the house and why he should remain there! There are tears in my eyes! I wish I was there, though I would have been kicked out of the gallery. Senator Dan Boyle: The House can have a...
The debate resumed today at 1 o’clock Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Dick Roche (Fianna Fáil): The main aims of the Lisbon reform treaty, as spelled out in its preamble, are to enhance the efficiency and the democratic legitimacy of the Union. This treaty is different from those that went before it. It was not produced behind closed doors, rather it was crafted in public. The reform treaty is not, as some would have...
Parts of the Contributions by TD’s to yesterdays debate. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern (Fianna Fail) The discussion of the Bill by the Oireachtas represents an important phase in our national debate on the treaty, which will be put to a referendum in June. The reform treaty is important for Ireland and Europe and it is a logical step for the European Union in a world of increasing globalisation. Ratification of this treaty is a logical step...
Since I saw a post over on GayPatriot entitled “The Conservative Homosexual Agenda? ” and a newer post “What is the Gay Conservative Agenda? “, its has been milling around in my head, what about Irish Gay Conservatives? What do we want? I think some of the commentors on the Gaypatriot posts kind of sum it up. *Privacy*Freedom*Recognition of Relationships (note: not Marriage)*No Sodomy Laws (Linked to privacy and freedom)*No Discrimination (Negative or Positive) These 5 principles for me...
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