During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: Having raised a matter on a number of occasions in the House, I am pleased the British are listening to me and taking action on the issue. I refer to the large amount of wasted food. Information alone can help to address this problem. A number of labels are used on supermarket foods and I take responsibility for my role in this area in the past...

During a Seanad debate on 'Innovation at the Heart of the Jobs Challenge', I said: I was at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education and the senior civil servants made some strong points, particularly that it was not the Government’s job to create jobs, rather it was its duty to create the environment in which jobs could be created..

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: My attention was drawn to the scandal of imported diesel and the problems it is creating for many people who are in the business of selling diesel. The estimated cost to the State of the contaminated, or washed, diesel is between €100 and €200 million..

I presented "Tonight with Vincent Browne" as the panel discussed the eurozone crisis and whether Ireland needs a new Constitution. To watch the programme, please click here.

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: It is interesting to find that this is the day the Leas-Chathaoirleach cannot ask if we are calling on the Leader to arrange a debate on an issue because the Houses are taking a break for a few weeks. I would like to give Members some homework to do...

During a Seanad motion on the Commission of Investigation Report into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne, I said: I welcome the Minister [Frances Fitzgerald] to the House. I listened very carefully to every word she had to say and am very impressed with what she has done and continues to do...

During the second stage Seanad debate on the Criminal Justice Bill 2011, I said: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for introducing the Bill. I appreciate Senator Bradford’s generous comments. For many years, we have debated and called for legislation to protect whistleblowers...

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I raised several issues. I said:  I read during the week that a professor in Columbia University posed the question to his students, as a matter for ethical debate, why 12% of people in one country might have agreed to be organ donors while the corresponding figure in a neighbouring country was 99.9%...

During a Seanad debate on the Environment (Micellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011, I said, I welcome the Minister before the House, and to a large extent his proposals are also welcome. I was very much involved in the introduction of the plastic bag levy ten years ago and although I argued strongly against it, each argument was overcome. I am now an enthusiast for the measure...

During a Seanad debate on Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers, I said: This new format of debate is excellent and one we should encourage. However, it might not work so well if we did not have a Minister like the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, who seems to be well on top of his brief and is willing to respond to our questions. I am impressed by much of what he has said today...