Results 1,001-1,020 of 1,416 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome Mr. Curtis and Dr. Gormley and thank them for their attendance. Some of the questions have been covered so, to facilitate progress, I will not go over them again. Dr. Gormley placed great emphasis on boards of management and their importance as stakeholders. My experience of boards of management is that it is sometimes difficult to get local people to sit on them. Is that an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I found this debate to be informative. What I will take away from the meeting is that we all want the best for children. I speak as a parent. What I want for my children is that they would be as best equipped as possible to face the many challenges that lie ahead of them. Mr. Curtis said that in many ways here we are like a rabbit in a headlight and that is true. The world is moving at...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: We are all aware of how closed-circuit television, CCTV, systems can assist to identify criminals and to deter criminals in the first instance from committing assaults and other crimes in towns and villages. Over the past three or four years €3 million has been allocated to the installation of CCTV in our towns and villages, but unfortunately only four applications have been approved...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I have a few comments and the Minister might correct me if I am wrong but I understand that this legislation applies to all schools, not just private schools.I will support this Bill and this amendment. It is important to keep a sense of perspective on all of this while we have this debate. Thankfully oversubscription does not come into play in the majority of schools. We should keep that...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: That sounds good coming from the Labour Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: According to figures that were released recently, over 500,000 people are waiting for outpatient appointments and 80,000 people are waiting for inpatient day procedures. These figures are at an all-time high. The National Association of General Practitioners is encouraging its members to refer patients who have been waiting for a long time to the cross-border health directive. As Senators...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to say a few sentences about last Sunday's Ulster football finals in Clones which I had the pleasure of attending. I congratulate Donegal on winning the senior championship and Derry on its success in the U20 championship. As the House knows, the senior match was attended by the leader of the DUP, Ms Arlene Foster. It was a positive and welcome development. From speaking to...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Governments do not create jobs; businesses do.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: If the Leader thinks the recovery is down to the brilliance of Fine Gael, which oversaw the farce that was Irish Water, he has another think coming.

Seanad: Education (Digital Devices in Schools) Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister back to the House today. Deputy Bruton is a regular visitor here and he is always welcome. I welcome also that through the introduction of this Bill by my colleague, Senator Craughwell, we are having a conversation in this country about digital devices and the harmful effects of the overuse of such devices, not only by children but by adults as well. While we all...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement: Statements (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I move amendment No. 40:In page 26, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:“(9) (a) Notwithstanding subsection (7)(e)(iii), and subject to this subsection, an Irish medium school may prioritise the admission of a student where the school is satisfied that the student speaks Irish as a home language. (b) An applicant may, when making an application for admission to an Irish...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I understand that there have been discussions on this matter with our spokespersons in the Lower House. It relates to Gaelscoileanna, including secondary schools, and the Minister's proposed admissions policy. I have a couple of questions to which he might reply. What standard of Irish has he in mind when he refers to children speaking Irish in "a non-educational environment"? Who will...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I am happy with the Minister's response to Senator Ó Ríordáin's contribution. He has given a commitment that he will try to engage with all stakeholders involved to try to reach a compromise. I appreciate that it is difficult, but with the intent the Minister has shown in the Chamber this evening, I would be satisfied that would be the outcome.

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to withdraw my amendment No. 40.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Advanced Skills Teachers and Special Classes in Mainstream Schools: Discussion (26 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the all witnesses. I particularly thank Mr. Adam Harris for his presentation and I also thank Senator Ruane for her contribution, which provided us with first-hand information of what it is like to live through that experience. I found it beneficial as I am sure we all did. The dreaded word, "resources" seems recurs in everyone's contribution. It is important that we acknowledge...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Administration (26 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Ar dtús ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus comhghairdeas a chur in iúl chuige as ucht a bheith sa Teach inniu. I welcome the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, and thank him for his presence in the Chamber this afternoon. I acknowledge that the Minister comes to the Seanad on an ongoing basis and that is very much appreciated. I commend...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Administration (26 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. Some of its content was not to my liking. I ask the Minister to acknowledge that there is an issue. As he knows, school principals are engaged in an ongoing campaign. I am aware from my own experience that school principals are leaving their posts to return to mainstream teaching because, as I said in my initial contribution, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to thank Mr. Cronin, Dr. Lodato and those with them for being here this morning and for sharing their experience with us. I find the entire presentation very depressing and heartbreaking. For what it is worth, I offer my deepest sympathy to the witnesses and all survivors. Some of my colleagues have touched on some of the subject matter that I was going to talk about. As I...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister back to the House to discuss this Bill. I find I am in agreement with all of the contributions on Senator Ruane's amendment.Senator Joe O'Reilly outlined thoughts on the matter that are similar to mine. I have every confidence in the vast majority of boards of management and school principals employing common sense in respect of this issue. From experience in this...