Results 21-40 of 1,307 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister and wish her well in role. I also welcome those in the Visitors Gallery and compliment the work they have done over a long period of time. I also compliment Senators Bacik and Nash on the work they have done. They deserve great credit for having brought the Bill this far. It is not often we speak with one voice in the House, but today is one of those occasions and I...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to comment on the incident that occurred in Monaghan this week where five cattle were put down. I am not aware of the full facts surrounding the case but it is a cause of concern and, on the face of it, it appears it was done in a heavy-handed manner. I understand they were five limousine heifers about 18 months old. This appears slightly over the top. When cattle get excited, it...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (12 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach inniu. The Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues is very welcome. I always knew he was very talented. I happened to tune into RTE radio on Saturday afternoon. He confirmed the fact. He, along with some of his colleagues here, came across very well.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (12 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I compliment the Minister of State on that. This matter relates to a proposed primary care centre for Monaghan town and north County Monaghan.Over a decade ago Monaghan hospital lost its acute services. This caused much trauma, concern and pain to the people of the county. Since then, they have been forced to travel, and sometimes to take their place in a queue, in order to have an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (12 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I plead with him to use his good offices to try to ensure this project is fast-tracked as a matter of urgency. I will not go over the same ground again. Suffice to say this facility is badly needed. It would be very much appreciated by the people of County Monaghan, and by me, if the Minister could use his good offices to assert the case for...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to raise two quick points. I join other Members in expressing concern about the leaked report that appeared in The Sunday Business Postconcerning the potential closure of a number of emergency units throughout the country. One of them is in my own constituency in County Cavan. Unfortunately, in Monaghan we have had experience of such reports and, ultimately, the end game is that the...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I will make my contribution short, for the benefit of other Members. I, too, welcome the Minister into the House this afternoon and wish him all the best in his new portfolio. I will confine my contribution to questions. I raised the issue of single parents earlier in respect of the one-parent family payment. As the Minister knows, its reduction last year has caused much annoyance and...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to bring to the Leader's attention my concern at the alarming number of increased assaults on members of An Garda Síochána. Assaults on gardaí have almost doubled in the past five years, which is a frightening statistic. Only yesterday, three members of An Garda were hospitalised in Portlaoise regional hospital after the patrol vehicle they were driving was rammed by a...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State and I welcome the opportunity for us to have such a debate. I compliment Senator McDowell on his introduction of the Bill, and I suppose we can beat our own drum as I can say we have Fianna Fáil to thank, among others, for our being here to have the debate this afternoon. If it was not for that party and a few others, we might not be here at all, so it...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: The Senator might not say that once I get past the first few lines. On a more serious note, we can do things better. I concur with Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell's comments that perhaps we should shine a light on the work that goes on here while we are here. That is important, and perhaps it is disappointing the Manning report did not focus on that particular aspect of our work. I...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: It is something we must keep in the back of our heads as well. We can do things better and we will consider the issue but there is no need to rush this and it is important we get it right. Everybody here is focused on doing what we feel is right. I know that, collectively, if given time we will reform. We should take our time and ensure that when it is done, it can be done correctly.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Inland Fisheries Ireland (19 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister and wish him well in his brief. I raise the issue of the proposed closure of trout production operations in Ireland. There are two such facilities, one in Roscrea and one in Mullingar. There is no other licensed supplier of fresh brown trout, capable of supplying all the angling fish clubs throughout Ireland. Recent...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Inland Fisheries Ireland (19 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I have a couple of issues to raise. I spoke about the benefit to the economy each year to the tune of €800 million and the fact that so many jobs depend on the sector. It seems strange - I am no expert in this matter - that a decision would be made by IFI to close a facility and that it would seek submissions after the event. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I ask the Leader to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Education and Skills. It was announced yesterday that coding was to be introduced into schools, which I certainly welcome as being positive news. However, I am concerned the news will raise expectations that may take some time to fulfil. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment will need time to develop a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá leis an Senator Lawless. His contribution was uplifting. He is a prime example of a young man who headed off to the USA and made a great success of himself. "You reap what you sow" is an adage that can be used in respect of him. I wish to address the charity sector. Unfortunately, the Console controversy has done the sector untold...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I second the proposal by Senator Mark Daly in regard to the Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016. I wish to raise this morning the chronic lack of accommodation for students, particularly in the city of Dublin. In 1980, 20% of students proceeded to third level education. Today that figure has increased to 60%. We have the highest level of participation at...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: First Stage (21 Jul 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I second the proposal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Educational Research Centre: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (7 Sep 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I also welcome Dr. Travers and wish him well in his new role. It is a very onerous and very responsible role. From point of view of resources, both financial and in terms of staff, is Dr. Travers satisfied that he has the necessary resources at hand in order to achieve his goals?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit: Discussion with Mushroom Industry (27 Sep 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Chairman and committee members for allowing me to sit in on this discussion. I also compliment the committee on its initiative in inviting representatives of the mushroom industry here today. I congratulate them on the success they have made of their industry. They are world leaders in that field and deserve great credit for that and for the 3,500 jobs associated with that...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I also welcome everyone back to the Seanad for this term. I wish to mention briefly the issue of Brexit and note the Taoiseach will come to the House tomorrow to address Members, which I greatly welcome. I ask the Leader to bring forward to him my concerns on Brexit, which I will outline briefly. Last week, as did many other Members, I attended a symposium organised by the Ceann Comhairle...