Results 341-360 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: The Senator would know a lot about bullying.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: The 12 Apostles were socialists.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: The Senator is such a great Christian.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: On a point of order, I ask the House to stick to the amendment.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: This is not a Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water Supply (22 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: The country has been deemed officially by Met Éireann to be in drought. In some ways, this is to be welcomed because we are entitled to a good few days of weather. After the past five years of rain during the summer, I do not want to rain on anyone’s parade, so to speak, and spoil the moment as I am enjoying the good weather myself. The Internet, Twitter and Facebook seem to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water Supply (22 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: I do. I welcome the Minister of State's answer. I think the problem is duly identified and there is a solution afoot. My concern relates to the answer in that the lead-in time is up to three years. Time is of the essence. Three Ministers are involved - the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government; and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Rural Transport Programme: Discussion with National Transport Authority (23 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: I welcome the officials from the NTA. I know full well the value of the rural transport programme to communities in Laois-Offaly. If it was diluted or diminished in any way, it would send shock waves through people who are already marginalised and isolated in many ways. Fewer people can afford cars and some lack the capacity to run basic errands such as travelling to town or making medical...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: With the permission of the Chair, I would like to share my time with Senator John Kelly who has a profound and long-standing interest in this issue.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: No disrespect to the Chair, but I have shared time on the Adjournment on numerous occasions.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I fully respect the official and the Chair in this matter, but I assure them that I have been facilitated a number of times.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I appreciate the Chair's lenience. I do not want to delay the Minister.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: This is a divisive issue throughout rural communities. We repeatedly hear from the Government benches and Ministers that a robust planning regime is in place but I am sure the Minister will agree that people have been given reason in the past two decades to doubt the planning process. We are all familiar with the Priory Hall fiasco. There are other such examples throughout the country. I...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister for his frank and thorough response. Recent concerns have been voiced by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, ITBA, about the development of wind farms of the magnitude proposed in the midlands, amounting to some 2,500 turbines across a swathe of counties Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Kildare and Roscommon. One wind farm has been proposed for an area that is not...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: No. It is in process.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I respect that. However, it is inappropriate for wind farm developers to seek permission in areas that are not zoned for wind energy. Public health issues should be strongly embedded in the new guidelines. While it is important that we take into account issues such as the environment, biodiversity, livestock and bloodstock, surely the health of families must be foremost in our...

Seanad: Turf-cutting: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I am glad to have an opportunity to contribute to this discourse in the Seanad. I am a bog man. I am from the heart of the bog in the midlands and I am glad to say it. Like many of my neighbours and friends when I was growing up, I spent the summer months helping to stack turf and draw it home. It is something more than home heating and fuel. It is not about money in many cases because...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I share the concerns expressed by colleagues from across the House in regard to the grossly misleading information being peddled by elements on the Government side in regard to Friday's referendum. It is a pity the Government felt it had to resort to misleading the public in order to prevail and win the day. It is a pity also it did not put as much effort into ensuring a good turn-out on...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: Rumours of our demise were grossly exaggerated. However, I do not share everyone's joy on the basis that all will be well, that there will be reform and it will all be hunky dory, because if the schedule for the Seanad this week is anything to go by that is the level of contempt that would be visited upon us had the vote gone the other way at the weekend. That is how the Government intends...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----and ignore the referendum.