Results 381-394 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan
- Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: I do not question the Minister of State's bona fides in this area. I am aware of all the work he has done on migrants' rights issues since he became Minister of State with responsibility for equality. Senator Bacik has also a very proud record in this area. I have spoken to representatives of some of the migrants' rights bodies, including the one operating in Limerick, Doras Luimní....
- Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: It can still be relevant to this section and the interpretation. Are we not debating section 2?
- Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: I do not disagree with the bona fides of the Minister of State that it is in the best interests of the child, but it is only in the best interests of the child if the child comes from a nuclear family.According to the migrant body to which I spoke, not many refugee families fit that model. There may be family reunification issues that have the potential to split families up. That is not...
- Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: A Private Members' motion from the Social Democrats was moved in the Dáil last night calling for the establishment of an anti-corruption agency. This is most timely. It is something we announced a number of weeks ago. The "RTE Investigates" programme was only the tip of the iceberg. Corruption is endemic in public life and includes more than just three county councillors. It...
- Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: I will clarify what I mean. I consider Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA to be groups that have covered up rape and child abuse.
- Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: I do.
- Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: My evidence is not sitting too far away from me.
- Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: I do have a question for the Leader. I call on Government Deputies and I call on my Senatorial colleagues to call on Government Deputies to support this motion to establish an anti-corruption agency. It is essential if we are to restore confidence in Irish public life. It is very timely measure and one that the public demands from politicians.
- Seanad: Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2015: Second Stage (9 Dec 2015)
James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I am delighted to see the Seanad progress this Bill and, hopefully, we can get it through this Chamber and on the books so that it does not die in the event of this Government not being returned. I see tremendous merit in this. It is something I called for in the wake of the retirement of Henry Shefflin this year. I argued for it on the...
- Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)
James Heffernan: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)
James Heffernan: A cover-up.
- Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)
James Heffernan: I do not know what happened over the Christmas break but some of the Government Senators sound as if they are in opposition. Senator Conway has just given out about the decline in rural GP services even though the Government has cut the services and made them unviable.
- Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)
James Heffernan: Senator Hayden gave out about drop-out rates from college but the Government cut guidance counsellors. It is a bit ridiculous. The Senators should get real. Hunger strike has been a weapon of last resort in Ireland as far back as bards and poets who used it during the time of the Brehon laws and it has been used by political prisoners from Thomas Ashe to Bobby Sands. Even Mahatma Gandhi...
- Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)
James Heffernan: Pontius Pilate.