Results 381-400 of 1,416 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I spoke to my seconder as well. It is important that it be a one-item agenda.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Yes.

Seanad: Community Banking System: Statements (30 May 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: That is the way it goes.

Seanad: Community Banking System: Statements (30 May 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: As always, I will display my generous side. It will only take a couple of minutes to say what I have to say.

Seanad: Community Banking System: Statements (30 May 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister is very welcome. I enjoyed Senator Norris's contribution. It was very humorous but also very serious. Those of us who live in rural Ireland know we are definitely at a crossroads when it comes to our future. No one can deny that rural Ireland is in decline. Of that there is no doubt. We have discussed the decline of rural Ireland, but someone must call a halt, and...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: It is extremely shocking and totally unacceptable that State bodies have been accused of obstructing the CervicalCheck inquiry. The chairman of the scoping inquiry, Dr. Scally, has voiced concern and frustration about the delays in receiving the relevant information and about the manner in which he is receiving it. Legal representatives of the families have voiced their frustration about...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister to the House this evening and I thank him for outlining the different sections of the Bill in great detail. The Fianna Fáil Party is pleased to support the Bill, which brings clarity to the issue of admissions for parents, teachers, schools, children and everyone else involved. As the Minister stated, the legislation is long overdue. It is good that we have...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (14 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Ross, and thank him for being in attendance. I join the Chair in giving a céad míle fáilte to my former colleague, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, agus an grúpa ó Chontae na Gaillimhe atá i láthair. Tá mé cinnte go mbeidh lá iontach acu go léir inniu. I thank the Minister for coming here to discuss the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (14 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for his response. The people of County Monaghan, like the people of other counties throughout Ireland, are more than grateful for any funding they get from any Department. I appreciate that the Minister has to make a case to the Cabinet on the local road network. I understand that there is only so much he can do in this regard. We are in a crisis situation in County...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the crippling workload imposed on school principals. With the increased workload relating to administration and compliance, school principals are finding it very difficult to do what they are good at and what there are paid for, namely, teaching. When one considers that 50% of school principals teach a class full time it is very difficult for them to take on extra duties. It is...

Seanad: Death of Shane O'Farrell: Statements (14 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I also welcome the Minister to the House at the invitation of myself, and Senators Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and David Norris. I warmly welcome Mrs. Lucia O'Farrell to the House. I extend my deepest sympathy to her and the O'Farrell family on the tragic loss of their beloved son, Shane. It is not natural for a mother or parent to lose a child. It goes against the grain of life and how...

Seanad: Death of Shane O'Farrell: Statements (14 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: We, as a society, also need a commission of investigation to make sure we put the proper mechanisms in place to ensure nobody else has to live with a sentence like the one the O'Farrell family has to live with. I plead with the Minister, therefore, to support the motion tabled by Fianna Fáil's justice spokesperson, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, in the Lower House this week in order that a...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Many students will be glad to see the back of the Leaving Certificate examination, once it is completed, and will enjoy their summer break. Their thoughts and those of their families will soon turn to finding accommodation for the next step in their education. That may be in colleges in our main cities of Dublin, Cork and Galway. I am sure many students and their families will be dismayed...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister back to the House to discuss this Bill. I find I am in agreement with all of the contributions on Senator Ruane's amendment.Senator Joe O'Reilly outlined thoughts on the matter that are similar to mine. I have every confidence in the vast majority of boards of management and school principals employing common sense in respect of this issue. From experience in this...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I compliment Senator Ruane on her amendment. She raises a very relevant point and I hope the Minister will take it on board, maybe on Report Stage. The Minister or Department might give some thought to a mechanism by which the Department could intervene where a family is perhaps not best placed to make an appeal on behalf of their child. As Senator Ruane rightly points out, there are...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I compliment Senator Kelleher on her work in this area. I am delighted that the Minister is taking her proposals on board. Fianna Fáil is satisfied with its contribution in the area of special needs and I am glad that the Minister has taken it on board. As Senator Kelleher outlined, great work has been done on this area over recent years but it is clear from the figures she outlined...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: The Senator is on her feet anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Management and Operations of Caranua: Discussion (21 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to thank Mr. Cronin, Dr. Lodato and those with them for being here this morning and for sharing their experience with us. I find the entire presentation very depressing and heartbreaking. For what it is worth, I offer my deepest sympathy to the witnesses and all survivors. Some of my colleagues have touched on some of the subject matter that I was going to talk about. As I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Administration (26 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Ar dtús ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus comhghairdeas a chur in iúl chuige as ucht a bheith sa Teach inniu. I welcome the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, and thank him for his presence in the Chamber this afternoon. I acknowledge that the Minister comes to the Seanad on an ongoing basis and that is very much appreciated. I commend...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Administration (26 Jun 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. Some of its content was not to my liking. I ask the Minister to acknowledge that there is an issue. As he knows, school principals are engaged in an ongoing campaign. I am aware from my own experience that school principals are leaving their posts to return to mainstream teaching because, as I said in my initial contribution, the...