Results 341-360 of 1,000 for speaker:John McGahon

Seanad: Broadband Roll-out: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

John McGahon: When I think back, hindsight is a beautiful thing, when one thinks about it. I tend not to be too party political in the Seanad, but in 2017 and 2018, the Taoiseach at the time, Deputy Varadkar, championed this issue when there was a chorus of people telling him it was too much, too expensive, too ambitious, it was not going to happen and suggesting it would be better to focus and divert...

Seanad: Local Government (Surveillance Powers in Relation to Certain Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Jan 2022)

John McGahon: Where will I begin? I was a member of Louth County Council for six years and every couple of months there were motions about this subject. Many other Members of this House were in local authorities for longer than me and they would say the same, that this is a very common issue. I commend Senator Malcolm Byrne and the rest of the Fianna Fáil group on bringing this Bill forward. Over...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jan 2022)

John McGahon: I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Leader and many other Members of this House will know that I am very committed to the concept of a flexi-ticket for commuters. It is something that I am very passionate about and have been talking about for a long time. I am very confident that it is something that in the next number of weeks or months will get across the line, based on what the National...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Integrated Education Fund (27 Jan 2022)

John McGahon: I apologise that I am coming in now but I was attending a meeting of the Joint Committee on Climate Action at the same time. Mr. Collins mentioned the LucidTalk poll that showed 71% of people in Northern Ireland believe that integrated schools should be the norm. Is that a recent trend? Has that 71% support for integrated schools been progressing steadily or has it emerged in recent years?...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: I wish to discuss an issue that affects people across the board and across all local authorities. I want to ask for a unified approach from government or a directive from the Department about how local authorities should approach this matter because it is different in every local authority. I am referring to the way people are removed from the housing list. I can only speak for my own area...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: I do not usually do this but I must respond to a few points made by the previous speaker. I have the ultimate respect for Senator Keogan and many of the viewpoints she brings to this Chamber so I do not mean this contribution in a negative way or anything like that. However, I feel it is my duty to respond from a Fine Gael perspective. We have been here for two years. If one looks at the...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence in allowing me to make those points before I move on to talk about passports, which is an important issue. The other issues that Senator Keogan raised are also important issues. At every stage, important issues are being discussed. I would never consider saying to a Sinn Féin Senator, an Independent Senator or any other Senator that the...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: That is your fault, Minister.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: It is great to see Senator O'Reilly in the Acting Leader's chair today. No doubt she will do an excellent job. The issue I will raise again, which I have been talking about for a long time, is the concept of the three-day taxsaver flexi ticket for commuters. The National Transport Authority, NTA, wrote to me last Friday to say that after 18 months of telling me it was going to introduce...

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: Senator Horkan, without interruption please.

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: Point taken. I call Senator Boyhan.

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: I thank the Senator. I now call on Senator McDowell to conclude the debate.

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: Senator Mullen has had six minutes-----

Seanad: Uyghur Tribunal: Motion (9 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: I call Senator McDowell. The Senator has five minutes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: It has probably been mentioned but the one-stop shop element of the announced retrofit programme is even better than I expected. The concept of a one-stop shop in this respect is absolutely incredible, as it will organise and project manage the work. It will carry out an assessment of the home and tell people exactly what is the best type of stuff to go into that home. These people will...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: The electricity costs emergency benefit scheme we are talking about forms part of a package of budget interventions put forward in October 2021 by the European Union, including the Commission's toolbox of interventions that allow member states to go about tackling rising energy costs. I ask everyone to read the supporting documentation today. It is really interesting. The tools will serve...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Carbon Budget: Motion (15 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: I move: That Seanad Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 7th February, 2022, pursuant to section 6B(2) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015-2021 regarding the carbon budget, which was laid before Seanad Éireann on 6th December, 2021, pursuant to section...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on the Carbon Budget: Motion (15 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: I thank the Minister for his attendance and for taking two debates one after the other. I pay tribute to Deputy Leddin. As Chairman of the Oireachtas committee for the past 18 months, he has done a tremendous job of steering landmark legislation through the Oireachtas. Senators Higgins and Pauline O'Reilly and other committee members will agree that at all times Deputy Leddin has tried to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2022)

John McGahon: Last week, the EU proposed and approved new targets for renewable energy. We want to hit 40% in the EU by 2030. That is very ambitious. Two elements stand out to me where Ireland is concerned. First, the EU wants to increase the number of cross-border energy connections. Second, it wants to accelerate the approval process for renewable energy projects like wind farms. This will be...