WHO speaks with forked tongue? Last Wednesday I watched the action in the Dail. Brian Cowen, the guardian of the nation, was in China. Batt O’Keeffe, the minister for the besieged Department of Education, was with the boss in Beijing. Brian Lenihan, the Minister for Finance, was absent, perhaps still chatting with his chums after …
Monthly Archive
for: ‘October, 2008’
Debate Of My Broadband Bill 2008
Yesterday, I stood in the Senate to speak on my Broadband Bill. I have been working on this Bill for quite some time and have been urging Minister Ryan to set a minimum target for broadband roll out in this country. We are moving in a digital age and I do not want enterprising Ireland …
Long-Term Vision On Education? Short-Sighted Cost-Cutting!
In the Senate today I supported the calls that have been made for a debate on education, the issue that will erupt in the next week, but we cannot get the Minister for Education and Science in here because the Minister is in China, and it is the wrong place for him to be. It …
Better Surgical Training Needed
Today in the Senate, I raised the issue of the need for the Minister for Health and Children to address the lack of specialist registrar training in maxillofacial surgery. This specialist area includes treatment of afflictions relating to facial trauma and cancer of the head, neck and tongue. It is a surgical specialty in which …
Financial Regulator Admits Banks Were Never Brought To Bear
Yesterday Patrick Neary, the Financial Regulator, came into answer questions before the Economic Regulatory Affairs Committee about his role in the current banking crisis. I have written here already about my views on his job performance and my views are well known. I wasn’t going to tread on eggshells when I got to put questions …
Pussycat Paddy Is For The Birds
I PICKED up the message on the answering machine. The voice was Eamon Dunphy’s. There was a tremor in his voice. “You not there, senator?” he demanded. “I have just seen Paddy Neary, the Financial Regulator, on RTE’s Prime Time.” The normally fearless Dunphy paused: “I am terrified. I am going to emigrate.” Dunphy was …
Trinity-49th in World University Rankings
This year Trinity broke into the Top 50 of the World University Rankings. Five years ago Trinity was ranked 87th in the World, now, the University’s concerted effort has paid off with them being ranked 13th in Europe and 49th in the World. This is a great achievement and we should be immensley proud of …
Banking-This Crisis Is Not Over
The issue of banking is on the Order of Business to be discussed in the Senate, what is striking is that this crisis is not over, it’s worrying and should be at the forefront of the debate. I am struck by the fact that everybody is beginning to be critical of the regulator.
Usual Suspects Survive Fiasco
ONCE upon a time there was a little company called Lloyds of London. Lloyds gave guarantees to big companies . Lloyds collected members. Starry-eyed middle-class mugs queued up to join Lloyds because it offered easy pickings. Every year members were sent a cheque in return for providing security for insurance against mega disasters.