Results 401-420 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Inland Waterways Development (21 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, to the House. I am grateful that he is taking my question. I have a great grá for the canals system in this country. I was fortunate to grow up in Monasterevin, along the canal, and have fond recollections of fishing and swimming there and encountering champion pike, roach, perch and bream. I...
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Inland Waterways Development (21 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. I urge him, however, to use his influence and good offices as the Minister with line responsibility in this area - I know that he has a strong interest in heritage and tourism - to urge Waterways Ireland to extend the consultation period. What harm or hurt could come from that? Some 21 days is not sufficient. There is too much at stake....
- Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: I agree with my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, that it would be absurd if there was a banking inquiry excluding representation from the Seanad. The finance spokespeople in the Seanad and others who have expertise in that area should be included in any newly constituted committee to inquire into the banking fiasco. I hate to say "We told you so" but for two years, Members on both sides...
- Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: We will prevail.
- Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: Who shot JFK? These are conspiracy theories.
- Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: We have nothing to hide.
- Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: I welcome the Minister. When he goes to Europe, on our behalf, he will make strong, robust and significant cases for the country and in the country's interest. I commend him.
- Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: I share the overall concerns that it is not good for democracy, Ireland at large and the electorate that there is a downward curve in our overall representation. I cannot believe my good fortune to be present for the maiden speech in the House from Senator Rónán Mullen, speaking as a candidate for the elections to the European Parliament and who is embarking on this difficult task....
- Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: I am not sure how independent the run is.
- Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: Nonetheless, I wish all the candidates well because, as I said, it is not an easy task to put one's name on the ballot paper, particularly in these times. Politics, in some lexicons, has become a dangerous place to be in many people's eyes. Credibility is an issue. I agree with Senator Keane that we at the 11th hour in terms of the election, which has been set for Friday, 23 May. It has...
- Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: This is outrageous nonsense.
- Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)
John Whelan: The Senator is in a time warp.
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: On a day when the Oireachtas and the entire country are convulsed by revelations of bugging and the question of who is bugging whom, I raise an issue that is bugging me and people throughout the midlands who have a grá and affection for and an affinity with our inland waterways, namely, the actions of Waterways Ireland. As the previous speaker pointed out, we are hardly run off our feet...
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: I am referring to the Government, and I make no bones about it.
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: I am not afraid to speak up, unlike Senators opposite who, when their party was in government, went along like sheep. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, who should be able to spare us an hour this Thursday or any other Thursday, to come into the Chamber, as Minister responsible for inland waterways, and explain how he...
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Youth Cafés Provision (12 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: Anywhere we travel, we see the high esteem in which the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is held. People appreciate it is a full Cabinet portfolio and they respect the fine job she is doing despite the limited resources at the disposal of the Government. It is an important area to have designated within the Cabinet. Recently, I had the privilege and...
- Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Youth Cafés Provision (12 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: I am very grateful to the Minister of State for that very thorough and comprehensive response. It does set out a clear roadmap for qualification under the various headings. The Government is to be commended on ring-fencing the funding in this sector. I am a little surprised that the Monasterevin application did not meet the required standard for the appraisal criteria because I am certain...
- Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: I want to put on record the following fact. This year the German taxpayer will subsidise the wind industry in Germany to the tune of €23 billion. That is not small change by any standards, even for the Germans. So much for cheap energy or for what we are being told is free energy. Yesterday, as part of an ongoing propaganda process, Sustainable Energy Ireland published a report...
- Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: This is a matter of serious public concern. SEAI has a plan to develop 28,000 MW of energy from wind turbines.
- Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)
John Whelan: It will destroy the country, the landscape and people's homes.