Results 261-280 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Department of Social Protection Payment Methods: Statements (2 Apr 2015)

James Heffernan: What is a small sample? I would like to know the percentage.

Seanad: Ash Dieback Disease: Statements (29 Apr 2015)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Leader for bringing this debate to the House today because I called for it some weeks ago, following the retirement of Henry Shefflin, when I said he was a mighty man on the field but left many broken bits of ash behind him. I know it is an issue close to the Minister of State’s heart because he comes from County Tipperary. There are as...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Following on from what Senator Eamonn Coghlan said about the level of obesity among the population, I draw the attention of the House to an incident that occurred at the weekend. Prior to the under-21 football final between Tipperary and Tyrone the intermediate ladies football final took place between my county of Limerick and Offaly which Offaly won. It is the treatment of the ladies...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 May 2015)

James Heffernan: The generous allowances will not make any difference. One hundred euro to everyone in the country-----

Seanad: Order of Business (14 May 2015)

James Heffernan: As Members will be aware, there was an further earthquake in Nepal, focusing around the area of Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is a beautiful small Himalayan town. It is the first place in the Himalayas where one gets to see Mount Everest. I merely wish to inquire from the Deputy Leader what efforts are being made on behalf of the Irish Government to provide aid to the people of Nepal and...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Would the Senator not extend the same respect to us?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Would it have happened without the Green Party?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Without the Green Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Fianna Fáil sold half of it.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: That you sold.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: In respect of the referendum last Friday, this House has a very proud history of debating civil and human rights, civil liberty and equality issues. This Seanad has justified the need for this House. I sincerely congratulate Senator Norris, the father of this House, who has been here for many years, and Senator Zappone. While we have fantastic debaters and a fantastic debate on marriage...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: It was inspiring to see such a mobilisation of young people to bring this country into a new age of enlightenment. They took planes, trains, buses, boats, automobiles, you name it, to get home to cast their vote. I congratulate them sincerely.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I want to finish by expressing support for Senator Barrett's proposed amendment to the Order of Business on the debate about Aer Lingus. I think it is important and should take place today.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I congratulate the Minister of State on the excellent result of the marriage equality referendum at the weekend and his efforts in that regard. I also welcome his new role as Minister of State with responsibility for drugs. I was heartened to see the frank, open and honest interview he gave on national television a few weeks ago. It was a breath of fresh air into this debate. I am glad he...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I promise I will finish up in one minute.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: A debate on more lenient drug policies based on speculation and fear-mongering rather than empirical evidence is not positive. In Portugal, a standard-bearer when it comes to drugs policy, decriminalisation has not increased drug use. Anyone who analyses Portugal’s ten-year experiment in decriminalisation would learn much, as well as from policy in Colorado and other states or countries.

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I wish the Minister of State well. He is the right man for the right time.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I join my colleagues in calling for that debate on the sale of Aer Lingus. It should probably have happened yesterday, but I support calls for that debate to happen tomorrow. The justification for many decisions in this country seems to be that it makes good economic sense and a few bob can be made out of it. That is not a good enough reason for many decisions. I was interested to see a...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Where does the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government stand on all this? Where do gasification and incineration fit into Ireland's waste management strategy and where does that fit into our 2020 targets? It will not help at all and other waste management strategies would be much more appropriate. What we are opening up here is a monster gasification plant that will be...