Senator Terry Leyden

RTE Archive from 1975

2/24/2025

0 Comments

RTE published a video from 1975 relating to Roscommon Goal.
I am interviewed in my role as Councillor

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2025/0223/1495846-roscommon-hang-woman/

0 Comments

My record in the Council of Europe (1992-1993)(2007-2017)

11/1/2022

0 Comments

For details of my voting record and speeches made in the Council of Europe please follow this link
pace.coe.int/en/members/3104/leyden

Appointment - Honorary Membership of The Council of Europe - 2017

0 Comments

Senator Terry Leyden - retirement from the Oireachtas 1974 - 2020

2/1/2020

0 Comments

I made the decision in January 2020 that i would not be seeking re-election to Seanad Eireann,

See article in Irish Independent
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2020/sf-is-different-leyden-has-no-fears-about-mcdonald-38952557.html

0 Comments

Helsinki -Leyden reiterates Irish commitment to Europe

7/23/2019

0 Comments

Leyden reiterates Irish commitment to Europe

Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden has thanked European colleagues for their support to Ireland during the ongoing Brexit process and reiterated Ireland’s commitment to the European Union at this week's Meeting of COSAC Chairpersons conference in Helsinki, Finland.

Leading the Irish delegation in his capacity as Vice Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, Senator Leyden commented, “I want to express my appreciation to all 26 members States who have stood by Ireland during the Brexit process. Their solidarity, support and friendship have been evident over the past three years.

“I want to be very clear that there cannot be a hard border on the island of Ireland. We will not allow a hard border to be imposed between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

“The European Union and their officials have been respectful and mindful of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) during negotiations. We must protect the peace this agreement has given our island. The protection of the GFA, and all it stands for, should be to the fore of all European dialogue with Brexit officials in London.

“The UK may be planning to leave the European Union but we in Ireland are firmly committed to Europe. It would seem to me that the Brexit process has only renewed commitment and faith among Irish people to the European institutions”, concluded Senator Leyden.

0 Comments

Registration of Wills Bill 2016

12/4/2018

0 Comments

See full background detail

Background

In 2005 Senator Terry Leyden made history by ensuring the taking in the Seanad of a Private Members’ Bill introduced by a Government Member of the House.
The Bill was approved unanimously by the Fianna Fáil Senators and the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party at a meeting attended by the Taoiseach, and all Ministers, including the Chief Whip, Deputy Tom Kitt.
As Minister of State Leyden, he had brought some Bills through the Seanad but they were provided by the Civil Service, they were never Private Members’ Bills. So what happened on Wednesday 9th of November 2005 was historic and set a precedent for legislation.
In introducing the Bill Senator Leyden asserted it was of universal importance, was not a party political issue and would benefit the majority of people.
It had come to Senator Leyden’s attention that many people have been deprived of their rightful inheritance by the lack of a will or the inability to find the will of a family member.
They have been done a great disservice by the State and this Bill is the only way to rectify the situation.
When Senator Leyden returned to the Oireachtas other cases came to his attention where wills had allegedly been made but not found.
In 2004, he pointed out how some 5,400 wills were probated in Ireland but more than 28,000 people died. This significant shortfall demonstrates his point — many people do not make wills.
Many make private wills but these are normally held with their papers and documents.
The only individuals required to register a will are Catholic clergy. Every Catholic cleric must leave a copy of his will in the possession of the bishop.
There is no requirement on the solicitors registered in this country who execute and make wills to provide lists that would be held in a central bona fide registry such as the General Register Office in Roscommon.
At present, a person makes a will with a solicitor who records it in his or her book of wills and the document is held in the legal firm’s safe deposit box. The Law Society Gazette regularly advertises requests for the whereabouts of wills that have been mislaid, are missing or cannot be found. Many people who would otherwise be entitled to inheritances from wills have been deprived.
Senator Leyden quoted Jack Lemmon, ‘“Death ends a life, not a relationship”. There are pages and pages of people searching for lost wills in the Law Society Gazette in the hope that their loved one made a will. Many people make wills not knowing that sometimes they may not be executed correctly or at all. It is a unique situation where the purchaser of this service has no after-sales come back. We have a responsibility to ensure that citizen’s wishes are honoured and given the proper legal recognition they deserve.

0 Comments

UK-Ireland Post trade - Brexit - Speaking at National College Ireland - 03 July 2018

7/3/2018

0 Comments

Bliain na Gaeilge - Address by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh

3/21/2018

0 Comments

A pleasure to meet Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh today in Leinster House who was addressing #SeanadÉireann to mark Bliain na Gaeilge #oireachtas

Speech: Link not active

0 Comments

Addressing Policy forum for Ireland - Brexit

2/8/2018

0 Comments

Conference: Responding to Brexit - business opportunities, trade priorities and the future of the Irish border

Delegates discussed the Irish Government’s perspective on Brexit, the second round of Brexit negotiations and the Government’s IFS2020 strategy.

0 Comments

Senator Leyden appointed Convenor of Friends of Slovenia in Oireachtas

12/6/2017

0 Comments

Meeting with President of Republic of Slovenia National Assembly Dr.Milan Brglez, with Ambassador to UK & Ireland Mr.Tadej Rupel MSc,Deputy Anja Bah Zibert & Deputy Branko Zorman with Ceann Comhairle of Dail Eireann,Deputies and Senators.

Senator Terry Leyden was Appointed as Convenor of Friends of Slovenia in Oireachtas.

0 Comments