Results 181-200 of 1,307 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (31 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate that his Department is under financial constraints and can only spend the money as it is given it, but he should consider extending the scheme and examining how it is constructed. Finding funding is an onerous and unfair responsibility on groups. Perhaps local authorities could be given sole control of the matter. I take the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (31 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I do not know whether I would use the word "poor", but I take the Cathaoirleach's point.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Ardagh, to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to address the appointment of the Attorney General. It is important that this issue is clarified and I support her call for that. Every year 2,500 people in Ireland are diagnosed with bowel cancer. Of those, 1,000 lose their lives...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pensions (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo ar maidin fosta. The Minister is very welcome. I join the Cathaoirleach in congratulating her on her nomination and in wishing her every success in her post. As the Cathaoirleach said, we look forward to seeing her here on a regular basis. I wish to ask the Minister about pensions and pensioners. Thousands of pensioners, mainly...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pensions (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for outlining that. I am heartened by her contribution and I look forward to having her back to this House at a later date, when hopefully the unfairness of the scheme can be addressed. I have every confidence that she will do that.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte an Aire Stáit agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis fosta. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, is very welcome to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him all the best in his new rule. I call Senator Conway-Walsh to speak on the Bill.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome Deputy Pearse Doherty, who has sponsored the Bill, to the Chamber. Tá fáilte romhat.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: The House will join me in congratulating Mr. Peter O'Mahony, the Irish rugby player who yesterday was appointed as captain of the British and Irish Lions team to face the All Blacks on Saturday. I wish him and the other Irish players on the team every success in their exploits ahead. I want to discuss the issue of corporation tax and our dependence on tax receipts from a few multinationals....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to the Chamber this afternoon and thank him for attending on this issue calling for the reintroduction of a specific ring-fenced allocation of funding for local improvement schemes. I have no doubt the Minister is aware that this is an important issue, particularly for people in rural areas whose only access to their homes...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for his response. It is clear from his contribution that he is very aware of local improvement schemes and their importance, particularly to rural Ireland.I am, therefore, heartened by his response. Perhaps we might look forward, towards the end of the year or at the beginning of next year, to the reintroduction of an allocation. It would be very welcome if that was...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I hope that will not prove necessary.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the issue of the North-South interconnector, the high voltage electricity cable that will run from the South to the North, passing through the Southern counties of Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal. Owing to great public concern in the past decade the project has yet to proceed, but a very sensible and practical motion has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas calling for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the delegates and thank them for their presence. I have found all of the contributions very informative but also quite disturbing, particularly those of the two principals. Some of the problems they highlighted are a sad indictment of the education sector, specifically those who have decisions to make and are tasked with looking after the education of children. Dr. Anne Ryan...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the issue of farm safety in the context of the regrettable decision to slash the farm safety budget for 2017. The decision taken by the Health and Safety Authority to cut the budget by 25%, from €384,000 last year to €287,000 this year, is alarming and very hard to fathom when one considers that, so far this year, unfortunately, there have been 13 fatalities in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I too would like to join with others in the House in congratulating the Leader on his engagement. We can all look forward to a date in Cork in the not too distant future. On a more serious note, along with many other Members, I have raised the issue of the future of rural Ireland many times. This, unfortunately, would appear to have fallen on deaf ears, as proved by two media reports this...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Sector Allowances (11 Jul 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State. This is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate him on his promotion and wish him well in his new role. I refer to the new travel-mileage expenses rate which took effect for all public servants on 1 April this year. The new rate was negotiated by the Civil Service unions with the Department of Finance. It had the added dimension of the Haddington...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Sector Allowances (11 Jul 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I note that the rates will be up for review again in three years' time. If it is possible during that time, consultation with the two representative bodies for local authority members, the Local Authority Members Association and the Association of Irish Local Government, would be welcome. As I said, while I am sure it was not designed as...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I support the comments made by Members about the Defence Forces. The issue comes down to a lack of respect in the manner members of the Defence Forces are treated. I join other Members in asking that the Minister of State come to the House to address this very important issue as soon as possible. I raise the issue of the lack of GP cover in rural areas which, unfortunately, is back in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (11 Jul 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank all of the contributors. The meeting has been very worthwhile and informative. Deputy Carol Nolan spoke for me and, I am sure, many others. When we came back last September, there was complete mayhem. Deputies and Senators from all parties all had the same story to tell, that the school transport service was not fit for purpose and I take no pleasure in saying this to the...