During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: I will not get into the question of debating the mobile phone issue. All I remember is that in the past with almost every scientific development there are people who get scared about them. I have the same view on genetically modified foods. It seems to me that the future of Irish agriculture will depend on us adapting the most modern scientific methods of growing foods for the world, but let us debate that when the time comes...

During the expressions of sympathy for the former member of the Seanad, Ms. Nuala Fennell, I said: Senator Norris has already spoken on behalf of the Independents but I did not want to let this opportunity pass without expressing my memories of Nuala. I knew the family, and her father, way back in the 1950s...

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: The horrific deaths in County Donegal are a reminder to us that we cannot take our eye off the ball in regard to road safety. The work done in recent years may have meant people relaxed a little because the number of road deaths had reduced...

During a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committe on European Affairs on Reenforcing Economic Policy Co-ordination, I said: As Senator Leyden stated, we have been given much information. I come from a business background and I am used to competition, rather than co-ordination. Ms McCarthy used the word “competitiveness”, but the European Union is the world’s largest economy...

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: I draw the attention of the House to the leading editorial in today’s The Irish Times on Seanad reform. It is interesting that, while calls have been made to abolish the Seanad, certain people have recently changed their minds on the need for it. Yesterday’s debate showed how the Seanad can earn its keep...

The future outlook for the economy depends to a large extent on education. I will give Senators homework to do during the summer because I doubt the House will have a debate on education before the summer ends...

During a Seanad debate on the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of  of Cohabitants Bill 2009, I said: I grew up in an Ireland very different from the Ireland of today. In my youth there was no divorce, or so we thought. It was hidden. In my youth there was no child born out of wedlock, or so we thought, because that was hidden. In my youth there was no suicide, or so we thought, because that too was hidden...

During a Seanad debate on the Senator McDonald made an interesting point regarding the new title of the Department and of the Minister. She doubted whether the new title of the Minister - Social Protection - meant anything rather than merely being a play on words. I believe it is fairly clear that it is a good title and the change of title is good because the new title means so much..

During a Seanad Committee stage debate on the Health (Micellaneous Provisions) Bill 2010, I said: This Bill presents a great deal of difficulty. On many occasions recently, I visited two relatives in hospital, one in St. James’s Hospital and one in St. Luke’s Hospital, on the same day. The relative in St. Luke’s Hospital did not live; the relative in St. James’s Hospital is alive and well. I was reminded of the contrast between the two hospitals...

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: One of the assets each of us have in this nation is an Irish passport. One is reminded of the value of an Irish passport by the two recent incidents, one in Saudi Arabia and one, allegedly by Russians, in the United States...