Results 221-240 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: Yes, I do. There are various building scams and other criminal acts. In Rathkeale in my constituency there are a large number of people with the finest houses and newest Jeeps who have no visible income.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: There is widespread social welfare fraud.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: We need to have a debate on the issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: Absolutely; I agree with what the Senator said earlier that a criminal was a criminal, regardless of where he or she came from.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: I call for a debate in the Chamber with whoever is the relevant Minister. I imagine it is the Department of Justice and Equality, but it is not a matter related to equality. I call on the Minister to come to the House to tell us what measures are being taken. Criminality, lack of respect for law and order and taking the law into one's own hands cannot be tolerated in any section of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, to the House. This matter concerns the need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to establish an environmental ombudsman office to deal with complaints made against the EPA. This stems from a number of sources. It goes back to the report commissioned by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: With the greatest of respect, that is just pure waffle. It is what I heard previously from the director general of the EPA, namely, that an acceptable form of wording could not be found. How many experts are working in the Department who could not formulate acceptable wording? It is no good telling this to people whose children are getting cancer.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: I do. I will show the Minister of State exactly why there is a need for an ombudsman inquiry or a different form of inquiry into the EPA. Let me refer to the preliminary documentation produced by the EPA in 2007 regarding the granting of a licence to Aughinish Alumina, the plant about which I am talking. The documents states: "Notwithstanding this clause the licensee is prohibited from...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: I have.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: The meeting to which I referred resulted in the advocating of the deletion of the whole final sentence. True enough, when a licence was granted to these people, who are continuing to pollute in my area-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: -----there is no sign of that at all. We still have no bond in place. We still have no protection for the taxpayer or the people in Limerick and elsewhere around the country. If something goes wrong, we will be left picking up the tab again. This was a decision made by the EPA.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: That stinks to the highest heaven and has to be investigated by someone somewhere. If an acceptable form of wording cannot be formulated to bring the EPA under the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman, I despair over the quality of the staff being employed by the Government.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (18 Feb 2015)

James Heffernan: At a cost of thousands or millions of euro to ordinary people.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Mar 2015)

James Heffernan: Last week, a documentary called "India's Daughter" was aired by the BBC which dealt with the brutal gang rape and killing of a young female medical student called Jyoti Singh in Delhi in December 2010. The documentary made for harrowing viewing but shone a spotlight on the treatment of women in Indian society. One of the defence attorneys who represents the rapists has said that if his own...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2015)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister to the House. It is good to see the Oireachtas and the Department were ready for this issue and got there to shut the stable doors before the horse has entirely bolted. I put it to the Minister, however, that the national drugs strategy is not working. There is widespread availability of all the substances we are seeking to outlaw. I am not from a great metropolis,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

James Heffernan: Before I begin, am I precluded from mentioning names in a Commencement debate?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

James Heffernan: Fair enough. I just wanted to clarify that before I started. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan. My matter is fairly straightforward in that I ask that a response be given to a resolution that was passed by Limerick County Council in November last. As far as I am aware, Limerick County Council has received no response at all from the Department of the Environment,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

James Heffernan: I think the Department is well aware of the matter.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

James Heffernan: I take on board the Minister of State's reply. Many people have provided sworn affidavits in this case, including elected representatives and people who represented the applicant in his consultations at pre-planning level. This is not about the final planning decision. It is about what occurred prior to it. The point being missed by the Department and the Ombudsman is that the guidelines...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Mar 2015)

James Heffernan: I join others in congratulating the fantastic performances of Irish sporting teams, from hockey right through to rugby. I take this opportunity to once again offer my commiserations to the Kilmallock senior hurlers who have had a fantastic year which ended in heartbreak on St. Patrick's Day. It was another heartbreak for Limerick teams in Croke Park and things do not become easier the more...