Results 4,181-4,200 of 5,932 for speaker:Eugene Murphy

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I apologise to my colleagues; I am not wearing a face mask because I have mislaid it but I have one on the way. I notice all of my colleagues are wearing one and I offer my sincere apologies. I want to tell the House a very short story.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: When I was came to the Oireachtas as a Deputy in 2016 I met many bright people, many new and old faces from politics and many staff. The same happened when I became a Member of the Seanad. One of the questions I was asked was where I was from. When I said I was from County Roscommon, what was the reply 70% of the time?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: No. People said they had never been in County Roscommon, except to drive through it on the way to Westport. I will not spend my time speaking about Rooskey, the River Shannon, Lough Key, Arigna, Loughnanane Park and Slieve Bawn. I will use my slot to speak about tourism. I am very glad to see one of our colleagues, Senator McDowell, seeing the good fresh air and good people of Roscommon....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: Before the Order of Business is agreed, it was mentioned that the former Senator, Farrell McElgunn, had died. Perhaps the Leader would correspond with the McElgunn family in Carrick-on-Shannon along with the Brennan family.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I begin by expressing my sincere good wishes to the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, who has been a good friend in politics for many years and lives not far from me in the Longford-Westmeath constituency. He has always been a very good worker in the constituency and he did some tremendous work on the Front Bench for Fianna Fáil in recent times. I agree with Senator Bacik and others that...

Seanad: Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020: Second Stage (24 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I will just take a few minutes to make some comments on the Bill. There is not much point in repeating much of what has already been said. First, I give the Minister my sincere good wishes. He has great enthusiasm for the job. They say nobody wants the job of Minister for Health. When in opposition, he was always enthusiastic and listened to people's point of view. He came up with some...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I can see I am loved by my colleagues. I sincerely wish the Minister well. I served in Dáil Éireann with her and chaired many a debate, and I found her very co-operative and fair. I think she will do a good job. I have known her brother very well for years but the Minister is catching up in terms of his wit and company. I wish her the very best of luck. As our time is limited,...

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I propose to share time with Senators Gallagher and Crowe. We will have approximately two minutes each.

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I will do my best, although I will not be able to get in everything I want. Comhghairdeas to the Minister and I wish her well. As has already been said, she had a baptism of fire. There was some veiled criticism in the background but fair play to the Minister because she kept her head down and did not come out with half a statement. It is a credit to her and her team the way that she...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I want to raise the closing of the fire station in County Roscommon's second largest town, Castlerea. It has a population of about 2,000 people and is a very vibrant town with a strong local community. To say they are aghast at this announcement made by the CEO of Roscommon County Council last Monday is an understatement. The CEO said there was an adequate fire service to cover the area....

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (29 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I welcome the Minister and wish her well. I commend her on the work she did in her last Ministry. If we are to be fair here, with what has happened in this country, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is a baptism of fire for the Minister as well. It is not simple or easy. I am constantly reminded that while we need to be fair and make sure people are treated as...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: Tús is a work placement scheme which aims to provide work opportunities for those who are unemployed, while also assisting in providing certain services to benefit communities. Currently, there is a restriction on the random selection process for those on jobseeker's allowance as they are engaging with JobPath. Removing those restrictions would significantly increase the number of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I had raised an issue.

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I will speak briefly as my colleagues have made the relevant and important points I was going to raise. Senator Currie raised very important points and I wish to acknowledge that the situation to which she referred is an issue for some people. I have received good reactions to the July stimulus initiative, including from small businesses. People need the support and help it will provide....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jul 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I join others in thanking the staff of the Seanad for their work. From the first day I met the Clerk, Mr. Martin Groves, back at the beginning of April, he was most helpful and accommodating. I thank him, the Clerk Assistant, Ms Bridget Doody, and the other staff who have been so helpful at all times in putting up with us. On the last sitting day of the Seanad and Dáil, things can get...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (10 Sep 2020)

Eugene Murphy: Is deas an rud é go bhfuil mé ábalta cúpla focal a rá ar an plé seo. As we get into the real debate, we can see how concerned everybody is and how all Senators are linked in to the reality that we are in the middle of a pandemic. That was not the case during the debate on the Order of Business. The pandemic is not just an issue for Ireland, it is an issue for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I agree with the comments of Senator McDowell in regard to meat factories. The public is not happy with what is going on in the meat factories. We all know the importance of the jobs in that area and the importance of the export market but for this particular business to be up and running, we must have in place the strictest conditions and testing. That is not happening and there are...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (18 Sep 2020)

Eugene Murphy: I will keep this brief because I know we have to move on. Senator Wilson's contribution was very fitting. I have known Joe for many years. I think we first met during my broadcasting days, on one of many trips I made up to Cavan when I was with Shannonside Northern Sound. I always got a céad míle fáilte from Joe. Senator Wilson mentioned that Joe's wife comes from in...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Sep 2020)

Eugene Murphy: Do I have eight minutes?

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Sep 2020)

Eugene Murphy: If the House agrees, I will give two minutes to Senator McGreehan.