Results 1-20 of 67 for going forward speaker:Gary Gannon

Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (30 Apr 2024)

Gary Gannon: I will begin and end with a quote given to me many years ago by survivors of Magdalen laundries who formed the basis of the work I was asked me to undertake during my time as a Dublin City councillor, namely that the antithesis of restorative justice is the retraumatisation of victims. We should keep that quote close to us as we endeavour on the road before us in honouring and providing...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Mar 2024)

Gary Gannon: ...when one considers the horror being inflicted – and it is being inflicted – by the State of Israel on people in Gaza. The exact same conclusions from January, relating to December’s meeting, are now being put forward in March. The EU and its leaders are choosing to turn their backs on one of the most horrific events in recent memory. It is difficult to say that...

Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Gary Gannon: ...the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use also reflected this position, with, among others, its recommendation that a comprehensive, health-led response should be implemented. It is incumbent on the Government to urgently establish a special Oireachtas committee to examine these recommendations and bring forward legislative proposals. This is not a time for hand-wringing or dithering....

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Gary Gannon: ...hour to draw up amendments. This is not even close to being acceptable. To be quite frank, in its current format this motion offers absolutely nothing of substance to the debate. The motion the Government has presented, in its current form, skirts around the issue and makes no explicit commitment to intervene on the side of South Africa in its charge that a genocide is being initiated...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy Report: Statements (22 Nov 2023)

Gary Gannon: In terms of the Tánaiste's position, where we differ is that he offers words but in terms of the Middle East conflict, we want him to go forward and offer actions. That is where we have diverged. I have highlighted examples of people from the Tánaiste's own party that I have admiration for, including Mr. Frank Aiken-----

Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (22 Nov 2023)

Gary Gannon: I thank People Before Profit for bringing forward this motion. We are living through the most horrific times. In that regard, I am grateful, insofar as one can be, that this Chamber gets to debate what contribution Ireland can make, however small or large, in stopping the depravity that we are watching being inflicted on the human beings in Gaza right now. Last week, the Social Democrats...

Imposing Sanctions on Israel: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2023)

Gary Gannon: I expect it to be a running theme in this debate, but I cannot step away from the fact that yesterday, a person occupying the seat that is reserved for the Head of the Irish Government gave his view – I believe his honest view – and one in accordance with the World Heath Organization, that Israel as a state is “blinded by rage” and is “waging a war on...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Gary Gannon: ...;s cruelty to man. That is why the Irish State can have a role. As people who have been neutral, invaded no country, been occupied rather than occupier and felt the hand of colonialism, we can take a step forward, lead and be clear in our call that what is happening to people in Gaza and the West Bank is cruel, unjust and in violation of every tenet of humanitarian law. We should...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2023)

Gary Gannon: I begin by thanking Deputy Connolly and the Independent Group for bringing forward this motion. It is hugely timely and appropriate that we discuss Ireland's position in the world now despite what the Tánaiste said in his comments earlier today. Last week, I began my contribution to the statements on the conflict that has been raging in the Middle East, with an expression that feels...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Gary Gannon: I am going to focus the majority of my speech on the education side of the budget yesterday, which was like the budget before it and the one before that, a budget of half measures. I do not use the term lightly. To describe a person, thing or entity as a half measure is not something I would like to do, yet that is exactly what we seem to get. It was the accusation that was levelled...

Affordable Housing: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (21 Sep 2023)

Gary Gannon: ...failing generations of families in the country. I thank Deputy Cian O'Callaghan for his work on this motion. This is the first opportunity the Social Democrats have had in this term to keep the Government's feet to the fire for the housing catastrophe in this country. As has been proven, I do not expect the Government to turn around and accept that some of these motions would make the...

Investment in Football: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2023)

Gary Gannon: ...as a societal investment that will undoubtedly benefit society first and football thereafter. Many politicians or people who are getting a little older often talk about being the first in their families to go to college or university. I do so almost too regularly. By way of taking the legs out from under me, one of my three brothers will come forward to acknowledge that I am the only...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Gary Gannon: ...to be the party of the squeezed middle and we spent last week arguing about facile tax breaks rather than talking about the actual everyday realities of what is doing the squeezing here, which is this Government's failed policies. Fine Gael also claims to be the party of homeownership. The Minister of State lists off schemes and he expects us to close our eyes and pretend that year in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Sports Facilities (25 May 2023)

Gary Gannon: ...Dublin North West and throughout north Dublin. The pitch is in a sorry state of repair and has been for the best part of 20 years. Yet every weekend more than 400 young people and older people go to engage in sport, predominantly football, on that pitch by the Alfie Byrne Road. Several teams operate there and Belvedere Football Club and Eastwall Bessborough Football Club have framed...

Accommodation Needs for New Arrivals: Statements (23 May 2023)

Gary Gannon: What is the State's playbook? I ask this because in the absence of one, we are behind and we need to step forward. We need to meet these challenges. There is an assault on decency in this country. We need to recommit ourselves to confronting it every step of the way. That will require a coherent plan of action going forward, because this will be with us for the long term.

Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 May 2023)

Gary Gannon: I commend Sinn Féin Deputies on bringing forward the Bill. We in the Social Democrats will absolutely support it. In January 2022, Deputies Connolly and Carthy asked parliamentary questions about the potential for Ireland recognising the State of Palestine. The then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, replied: The Government has pledged to honour our commitment to recognise...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Gary Gannon: ...when we joined the EEC. It was a moment of pride, togetherness and determination for a brighter and shared future. The EU has many faults. I intend to spend much of my time addressing those. Going forward, I hope we can use our position as a member state to right some of those wrongs. We must examine where we see ourselves as part of the Union in terms of a position of leadership...

Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2023: Second Stage (3 May 2023)

Gary Gannon: I thank the Minister of State for introducing this important Bill. We hope to support it, with a few amendments. I will go through some of the Bill's important components. Section 22 establishes the licensing authority as a designated competent authority for recognising foreign qualifications in respect of scheduled activities. This is important, and not only in the context of this...

Vacant Homes Tax: Motion [Private Members] (19 Apr 2023)

Gary Gannon: ...crisis. Yet, when it comes to the tragedy, and it is a tragedy, that is our housing crisis, which is literally devastating the lives of people the length and breadth of this country, why is it that our Government of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party are so continuously lacking in urgency? Why are they so shamefully neglectful of their duty to provide this most fundamental of...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (22 Mar 2023)

Gary Gannon: I appreciate that there is so much going on in the world, particularly in respect of Russia's inhumane invasion of Ukraine and the migration crisis, which I hope to get to shortly, but it is impossible to avert our gaze from what is occurring in Palestine right now. I find it quite lamentable that the Taoiseach did not mention it in his opening address and I would like to understand that a...