Results 361-380 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I fear the Government intends to ignore the outcome of this referendum as well. It will kill us with a sort of kindness. Despite the best efforts of the Leader and Acting Leader in this House to behave and perform in a professional and dignified fashion throughout the entire debate on the referendum, in which they kept their dignity and professionalism while still holding true to the cause...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----to respond to the outcome of the referendum and to tell us what will happen next because it was not gifted to him on Saturday to decide what happens next. It does not fall to the Taoiseach or the Government. I will make one last point if I could.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: Certain Ministers have said that people were confused and did not know what they were doing. That is not a Government that is accepting the will of the people.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: They said that people always vote “No”. They do not. They voted “Yes” to the court of appeal and to the children’s referendum-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----but they voted “No” to giving the Government more power on this occasion and in the Oireachtas committees referendum.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I thank you for your forbearance, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. My question for the Leader is that we should-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----sit on Thursday and we should have a Minister present, if not the Taoiseach to respond to the outcome of the referendum.

Seanad: Issues Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural Towns: Motion (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I second the motion and commend Senator Landy on taking the initiative to table it at an opportune time, the week before the budget. I know these are not necessarily financial matters being directly dealt with by the Minister, but there are budgetary implications in some regards. I am also grateful that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, has made herself available to the Seanad...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. I appreciate his taking time from a busy schedule to respond to the issue I am raising. I am taking the opportunity to seek clarification and reassurance on behalf of ESB workers in the context of the recent revelation of a significant shortfall in that company's pension fund. I have been...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I am grateful to the Minister for the information. In the matter he raised, I would like to respond by saying it is not on the part of the Senators that the schedule was changed at 2.30 p.m to reschedule the business of the House. I had anticipated the question would be taken at 6 p.m. With no disrespect, the question was tabled last Wednesday and deferred at the Minister's request to be...

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister to the House. He has shown great leadership, vision and reforming zeal. This is a superb intervention. It is good that a Minister of Deputy Hogan's calibre and reputation is endorsing the campaign in the Seanad and giving it his imprimatur. That is important for public confidence and trust. I beg to differ with the esteemed former President of the United States,...

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: From childhood, we are taught to donate and give. I recall from my school days when we made donations for the nuns on the missions overseas. It may have become a little more fancy and sophisticated now with the word “philanthropy”. However, I accept Senator Zappone’s point that everyone can be a philanthropist. The message of The One Percent Difference campaign is...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I concur with Senator O'Neill, Senator Cullinane and my colleague from Roscommon, Senator Kelly, who has been raising this issue until he is blue in the face. A grand deception has been visited on the people and EirGrid has sucked Government policy with it on the basis of its assertion that we need to double the capacity of the grid. It wants to erect a further 800 km of high voltage power...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I am calling for that. We have been raising the issue of water in this House for the past three years. It is not the fault of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government that Dublin has no water this week. It is the fault of the previous Government, which for years looked on and did nothing about vital infrastructure. It wanted to build the Bertie bowl instead of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: Will the Leader invite the Minister, Deputy Hogan, to come to the House at the earliest opportunity in order that we can prioritise the construction of the Garryhinch reservoir? If this problem were to arise in January, Irish Water would be blamed. It is not to blame because this is a legacy issue. We have three CEOs, three Ministers and three State agencies with responsibility for water....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I am grateful to Senator Kelly for so generously sharing his time. I welcome the Minister to the House but we cannot welcome these cuts. Not even the Minister has suggested for a second that anyone welcomes cuts of €290 million in social protection. Any such cuts for those who qualify and are reliant on social protection are harsh. They are hard cuts that affect individuals and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I commend her on the manner in which she has protected pensioners. She should not lose her spirit of reforming zeal. It is commendable that, as and from 1 January 2014, employers will receive a significant subvention and subsidy of €300 per month to take young people off the dole. That is not to be scoffed at.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: Surely, if even a small fraction of small businesses, which are the backbone of the economy, took one person off the dole we would be well on the way towards reducing the unemployment figures. I ask the Minister to review the manner in which the free travel scheme is operated. There are free travel passes going around this country like confetti at a wedding. A child could photocopy them....

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I have had my differences in the past with the Minister for Justice and Equality, but this morning I would like to commend him for his courage in not continuing with the cover-up of the death of Fr. Niall Molloy, and for giving a glimmer of hope to his family, his community, his neighbours and friends in Offaly and Roscommon. This would not be possible were it not for the cross-party work...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Nursing Home Services (6 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, for coming at this late hour to take this Adjournment matter. There is a sense of déjà vu here in that I asked a similar question, with the tolerance of the Chair, on 24 April. I hope the Minister has some good news to convey tonight, as opposed to his having merely been handed a hospital...