I welcome the Minister to the House and the opportunity to debate this Bill which is necessary to enable the State and Irish people to ratify the Lisbon treaty. As we are aware, we are the only country in the European Union that is to have a referendum on the treaty, which places a particular [...]

The Green Party has always taken a strong interest in the issue of allergies and asthma, increasingly common public health problems in Western society. We see allergies as an important area of health policy with strong links to a range of environmental factors. An allergy is a hyper-sensitive or exaggerated reaction by an individual’s immune [...]

Maurice Hayes ■ Chairman of the National Forum on Europe
I am Maurice Hayes I am the chairman of the National Forum on Europe. The forum was established by the Government and political parties in 2001. Its mandate is to provide a neutral public space for discussion and issues relating to the European Union, and Ireland’s [...]

The Green Party spokesperson on European Affairs, Senator Déirdre de Búrca, has told a public meeting in Portlaoise that the Lisbon Treaty would help the European Union to play a more effective role at global level. The meeting in the Heritage Hotel is one of a series being organised by the National Forum On Europe [...]

Speaking at a public meeting in Portlaise organised by the National Forum on Europe, Senator Déirdre de Búrca, has claimed that a strong Europe is essential at a global level.

Speaking in favour of the Lisbon Treaty, the Green Party Senator said that in an age of accelerating globalisation, the European Union had an important role [...]

I support the call by other Senators for an urgent debate on the report of the alcohol advisory group given the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has announced his intention to bring legislation on alcohol misuse before the Houses of the Oireachtas and to have it enacted by the summer. We need to [...]

I welcome the fact that the outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, will address the House tomorrow on the issue of the Lisbon treaty.  We frequently have debates here about the relevance of the Seanad and we question how we can get the media to take more seriously the business of the House.  I suggest that [...]

I welcome the Minister to the House.  While it is standard practice to welcome the opportunity to discuss Bills, this opportunity is particularly welcome because this legislation has been a long time coming.  I compliment the Minister on bringing it forward as quickly as he has.  I am based in County Wicklow and the Bill [...]

 I draw the attention of the House to the fact that today, 22 April, is Earth Day, a day that is marked internationally.  The purpose of the day is to promote greater awareness of some of the threats that face our earth, the greatest of which is climate change.  I congratulate the Minister for the [...]

The Green Party has welcomed the announcement of funding from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for a further 39 applicant organisations under The Scheme of Community Support for Older People. According to Green Party Senator, Deirdre de Burca, this brings to 200 the number of organisations who have benefited from funding amounting [...]