Results 4,241-4,260 of 6,308 for speaker:Gerald Nash

Seanad: Health Service: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Gerald Nash: I was happy to cede the floor to my colleague. I am pleased that what we have heard to date has been a measured approach to the debate on health because that has not always been possible in this Chamber or in the other Chamber. I can understand why colleagues would want to take some time to focus their attention and that of the Minister on the emergency department crisis around the country....

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I will try to assist. I know what Senator Mac Lochlainn is driving at but it might be useful to propose that Ireland keep a repository of this information. Senator Higgins seems to be referring to information retained on a regional basis, which would help with policy development for bodies such as Enterprise Ireland and with the development of the regional action plans for jobs. These are...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: This is an area that would be of deep interest to Enterprise Ireland because it relates very much to the SME sector. The Minister is only too well aware of the importance of innovation in terms of accessing better markets, particularly in a post-Brexit situation, not that we are yet in such circumstances. That said, we are trying to diversify our markets all the time. Enterprise Ireland...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: There is always a cost to introducing tax subsidies. We see the ongoing subvention of the hospitality sector through the reduced VAT rate, which has cost several hundred million euro over the past five years. There is always a cost to the Exchequer when a subsidy is introduced. It is not only good practice, but it is good government and good governance to require the Minister of the day to...

Seanad: Cystic Fibrosis Treatment: Statements (8 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him, on behalf of all of those we represent, for his investment in this issue. I know he is personally heavily invested in it as I have been following his progress on it for some time now. For what it is worth, he has my support in terms of the approach he is taking. I think it is the right, responsible and sensible approach. I hope he can...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016, if it is appropriate-----

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: It is an issue bout which the Leader is enthusiastic. I am pleased to see that Fine Gael is not engaging expensive media monitoring firms because when I was on "The Pat Kenny Show" this morning, Senator Buttimer engaged by tweeting a very welcome comment. I acknowledge his role in terms of making Ireland a more equal society. I congratulate him on that and I hope we will have Government...

Seanad: Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016: First Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for an apology to and exoneration of persons convicted of consensual same-sex sexual acts, on the grounds that prosecutions for such offences were improperly discriminatory, contrary to human dignity and in breach of personal privacy and autonomy; and to provide for related matters.

Seanad: Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016: First Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I have a very straightforward question this morning. When will I, another compliant taxpayer, get my water charges money back? This is the question on the lips of every compliant taxpayer this morning, or at least the 1 million people who have paid their water charges. The idea that has been floated over recent days, that those who have not paid their water charges will be pursued and made...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I read that in today's newspapers.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2016: Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I welcome the Minister to the House. The annual Finance Bill is the landmark event for Government each year. I said that at the budget. This Bill gives effect to the policy and ambition of any Government in any given year. It enables the Government to give effect to its policies and, in a broader sense, outline its philosophy and principles. In reality, it is very difficult to discern...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2016)

Gerald Nash: I will cut right to the chase as I explained earlier. Three years ago the previous Government ensured that a commitment was made in the five year schools' capital programme to build a new school at Whitecross national school in Julianstown. The Minister of State will be aware that the Louth and east Meath areas are one of the fastest growing areas in the country. The demographics are such...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2016)

Gerald Nash: I thank the Minister of State for bringing clarity to this matter. I would be happy to lead a delegation of parents, teachers and members of the school's board of management to meet the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, or the Minister of State. One of the problems I have discerned from the process is a lack of communication, poor communication or miscommunications along the way. It is a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2016)

Gerald Nash: The school and the principal expressed concerns about the cost of the prefabricated accommodation and I am pleased that an agreement appears to have been reached to scale it back, and that it can be progressed as soon as possible.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Gerald Nash: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I will sharing my time with Senator Ivana Bacik. I am pleased to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, as well as officials from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Employment and representatives of Mandate, the members of which would be directly affected by the policy the Bill intends to cover. I am very pleased to have...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Gerald Nash: We provide solutions. Just because we are in opposition does not mean we do not provide solutions.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Gerald Nash: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, for his kind remarks about the track record of the previous Government and the work that I did with officials in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to try to transform the industrial relations landscape in this country. We made some important improvements to the suite of employment law protections in this State at the most difficult...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Gerald Nash: The Labour Party believes not in exploiting people's problems but in providing solutions to them.