Results 941-960 of 1,416 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (8 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach agus gabhaim buíochas leis as a bheith anseo mar tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sé faoi bhrú mar go bhfuil a lán oibre le déanamh aige. The Minister is very welcome to the House this morning. The Minister knows, and he does not need me to tell him, that every farmer in the country is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (8 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. He has been on the ball on this matter, which he demonstrated when he outlined his contacts with the EU. I am sure that he understands and accepts that this is a serious matter. This is a particularly worrying time for the farming community as the price of fertiliser is rocketing. Ultimately, what is bad news for the farmer will end up...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. The cross-border healthcare directive, as it was once known, was introduced in 2014. It has proved to be a major success. Interestingly, only seven people availed of the scheme in 2014, but up-to-date figures indicate almost 15,000 people have availed of healthcare across the Border. For many people who are languishing on waiting...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response and for the clarity she has brought to the issue for many people who may have been concerned that the scheme would terminate at the end of this year. For individuals who find themselves languishing on waiting lists, many for long periods where their quality of life is severely affected, this is good news.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (16 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber this morning. Dental services in Ireland are exempt from VAT in accordance with EU legislation. This is vitally important, because dental treatment should be cost-effective and it should be provided at a cost that does not prohibit public or private patients from availing of it. A new interpretation by the Revenue Commissioners, however,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (16 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. As I said earlier, this could have serious implications for dental practices along the Border areas in particular and for all of the citizens who live in those areas. From my information, the European Court of Justice has made deliberations on this particular subject. As I said in my earlier contribution, a recent survey showed that 19 EU...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (16 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his time.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: Apologies for the technical difficulties earlier. I welcome the Minister and thank him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to update us on where things are in relation to Brexit. For someone from the outside looking in on all of this, it must be hugely frustrating to be dealing with this particular issue. Following the Chair's comments, where would the Minister rate the current...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: We could not get agreement. Could the Minister use his good offices to keep trying? What is the reluctance on that particular issue?

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Update on Withdrawal Agreement, Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Minister for Foreign Affairs (24 Nov 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: What was the reason for the reluctance on the part of Northern Ireland?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2021 (8 Dec 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their contributions. I also thank committee members who have made theirs, some of whom have experience in this field. I am trying to come at this from the middle of the road. On one hand, we are conscious of those who are victims of crime and the effect that can have on them. On the other, one would certainly hope that those who are tasked with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jan 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: Many sheep farmers across the country have had the horrendous experience of finding their animals, be they cattle or sheep, savaged by stray dogs. Figures recorded from 2020 show that there were 241 such instances, but farmers are of the firm belief that the true figures are much greater and that there is an awful lot of non-reporting because farmers are not convinced that the authorities...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: First Aid Training (25 Jan 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish to pay tribute to her publicly for the great work she is doing in her portfolio. I knew when she was appointed that she would grasp it by the scruff of the neck and she is doing so. I commend her on her good work and wish her good health to keep it all going. I wish to pay tribute to the many communities throughout the length and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: First Aid Training (25 Jan 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response on behalf of the Minister for Health. I am delighted that there are moves afoot to roll this out at a national level. As the Minister of State said, the most important thing is to roll it out with pace. That is vitally important. We have great community volunteers who volunteer in cardiac arrest situations with defibrillators...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jan 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the plight of the leaving certificate class of 2022. It is an issue on which the Leader herself and many others in the Chamber have spoken as well. We all know the leaving certificate period is an extremely stressful time for both the pupils themselves and their parents and indeed the entire household of a pupil going through the process. That stress is now compounded by what the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (27 Jan 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister is very welcome back to the House this afternoon to address this issue. I commend her on outlining in detail the contents of the Bill, which, as she said, is mainly technical in nature. I note the Commissioner's comments on the Bill. He said: These changes will see us deliver a more responsive, more efficient and better service to local communities. It will mean increased...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (27 Jan 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I commend my colleague, Senator Chambers, on her work on this issue, the depth of research she conducted and her steely determination to see this through. She knew there were two women who were wronged and was determined to see that through. I acknowledge her determination and that of the two ladies concerned who went through the system and then came forward in an effort to protect other...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I also acknowledge and ask the Minister to pass on my appreciation for the hard work of staff in the Passport Office. There are two ways of looking at this - glass half full or glass half empty. The Minister outlined in great detail the positives, of which there are many, particularly online renewal. The turnaround time inside 48 hours is hugely impressive. This compares favourably with...