Results 2,021-2,040 of 2,066 for speaker:Joe Flaherty

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (10 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is probably not his first time in here but I have been off for some months so it is my first time to see him here. I congratulate him on his role. It is great to see him getting to grips with it so quickly. If the weather was not so good I would have come out in a cold sweat when I saw the Bill on the schedule for today because, like...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: I raise an important issue. For the past 6,000 years we have enjoyed free and unrestricted access to boating on the River Shannon. Last year, Waterways Ireland attempted to bring in new by-laws, which went largely unnoticed by the boating community before they came before the housing committee last year. As well as attempting to impose a charge on the use of the River Shannon for boating...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: We have had a much shorter and less contentious Order of Business than usual.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: I welcome the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Calleary.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Amendment No. 1 is related to amendment No. 10 and they may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: I thank Senator Ruane. She got a two for one offer today and got in both issues.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: We have an amendment from Senator Ruane. The Senator has conceded that some of her amendments have been ruled out of order and understands that it is due to a potential charge on the Revenue.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Does the Senator want me to give her a fuller explanation or is she happy?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Amendment No. 3 is also in the name of Senator Ruane. Amendments Nos. 3, 5 and 9 are related and may be discussed together by agreement if that is okay with the Senator.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Amendment No. 4 has been ruled out of order.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 have been ruled out of order.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Amendment No. 8 has been ruled of order.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: When is it proposed to take Final Stage?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: It is not directly related to the Bill but I take issue with a comment by the previous speaker. He said he does not agree with everything he reads in the printed media. It was a disappointing comment, given the veracity of the printed media, particularly in Ireland, is second to none. It operates within the confines of draconian defamation laws and at the same time, we have the Wild West...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: I agree with the spirit of Senator O'Reilly's comments but to reference Longford in relation to scamming is harsh. There was no need to reference the county where the bank account originated.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: I have come from the committee on social protection, community development and rural affairs. We heard a prebudget submission from the public participation networks, PPN. The representative from Kildare PPN and Siobhan Cronogue from Longford PPN spoke eloquently about the phenomenal work they have done to support integration and community groups throughout the country. However, they also...

Seanad: Sport: Statements (16 Jul 2025)

Joe Flaherty: I wish to try to cover a few issues. One of the things we can come back to at the close is when the Minister of State expects to issue a new call for the sports facility fund and also the large-scale sports infrastructure fund. I have listened with interest to all of the speakers.During the lifetime of the previous Government we saw unprecedented investment in sport in terms of the sports...