Results 461-480 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

Seanad: Environmental Protection Agency: Motion (9 Jul 2014)

John Whelan: I am overwhelmed and extremely grateful for the extensive cross-party support we have received this evening on this motion on this important issue. It is stirring and heartening that we can agree on matters of such national importance for all our citizens. I thank all colleagues for their contributions and support. I say to the EPA that we in this House will not relent until we have...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza and Ukraine: Statements (31 Jul 2014)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and commend him for making himself available for this important debate. His presence adds weight and I wish him every success in his new ministry. I echo the sentiments of my colleague, Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell, in acknowledging the role and efforts of another Laois man at the centre of the crisis in Gaza, Mr. John...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Sep 2014)

John Whelan: I commend the new Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, on the manner on which he has approached his remit and brief and on being so forthright and forthcoming. I ask him, at the earliest opportunity and possibly in the Seanad, to nip in the bud certain terrible speculation, rumour and gossip that are swirling around in the public domain. This arises because of the publication of...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Sep 2014)

John Whelan: Senator John Crown is an expert in the area of health services provision and he points out that one cannot expect to double performance and productivity in hospitals while reducing staffing and resources. Portlaoise hospital was neglected, under-resourced and underfunded for years when it played second fiddle to other facilities because of the interference of a then Minister who has held the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Sep 2014)

John Whelan: I was astonished to learn from information that has been made available to me from both the trade union sector and the employer representative agencies such as the Construction Industry Federation that there are only 12 apprentices in the entire country. It begs the question what FÁS was doing and what its function and responsibility were if it was not to ensure sufficient training and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Sep 2014)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister of State for his answer. It is not directly his responsibility. SOLAS is being deliberately disingenuous with the answer that it has provided to the Minister. SOLAS is dodging the question. I state categorically that SOLAS is massaging the figures. I have verifiable figures from both the Construction Industry Federation and ICTU which have made a joint submission to...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Sep 2014)

John Whelan: The Irish Wheelchair Association was founded in 1960 and now has 20,000 members. It is one of our foremost advocacy groups and charities doing tremendous work for people who lead a challenging life when confined and bound to a wheelchair in assisting and supporting them in living full and independent lives. It is hard in this day and age to believe, however, that we still provide funding...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Oct 2014)

John Whelan: The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner was established under 1989 legislation. Given recent developments involving Irish Water, concerns about people having to offer up their PPSNs to agencies, banks and authorities, including Irish Water, and matters before the courts involving the improper dissemination of private and personal information, is the legislation underpinning the Office...

Seanad: Defence Forces Overseas Missions: Statements (8 Oct 2014)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister of State to address this important issue and look forward to hearing from him on the measures the Government and the Department are taking to ensure optimum measures and every effort is made to ensure the safety and well-being of the Irish UN peacekeeping mission on the Golan Heights. I acknowledge the Minister of State's own personal interest in the matter. From...

Seanad: Defence Forces Overseas Missions: Statements (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

John Whelan: On a point of order, Acting Chairman.

Seanad: Defence Forces Overseas Missions: Statements (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

John Whelan: On a point of order, Acting Chairman.

Seanad: Defence Forces Overseas Missions: Statements (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

John Whelan: This is an abuse.

Seanad: Defence Forces Overseas Missions: Statements (Resumed) (8 Oct 2014)

John Whelan: We are discussing a specific motion. The Government side generously extended time to facilitate what were deemed to be legitimate contributions on this motion. The matter Senator MacSharry has chosen to raise would be more appropriate to the Adjournment. It is an abuse of the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Oct 2014)

John Whelan: As we speak, the Irish Wind Energy Association is having its annual conference in Kilkenny. This association continues to flog a dead horse and make outrageous and unsubstantiated claims about the thousands of jobs the wind industry will generate or create in rural Ireland, which is, of course, a fallacy. Will the Leader facilitate an urgent debate with the Minister for Communications,...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

John Whelan: Members of the Seanad pride themselves on being legislators and I put it to the House today that Ireland's bail laws are a disgrace and are in dire need of an overhaul and a review. I ask the Leader to arrange at the earliest opportunity a discourse with the Minister for Justice and Equality. All Members are aware that people make errors or mistakes and deserve a second chance. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Nov 2014)

John Whelan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (5 Nov 2014)

John Whelan: For God's sake, you have no credibility.

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (5 Nov 2014)

John Whelan: The Senator has been blackguarding the House all day.

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (5 Nov 2014)

John Whelan: The Senator cut short the time.

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (5 Nov 2014)

John Whelan: The Senator has no manners. He has no respect for anyone.