Results 81-100 of 1,307 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I want to raise the issue of stroke survivors and the non-availability of rehabilitation facilities for them. An audit was carried out recently by the Irish Heart Foundation, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive's national stroke programme. Unfortunately, it revealed a bleak picture of the services available for thousands of people battling to recover as a result of a stroke....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (24 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome Mr. Cassells and Dr. Doris and thank them, not only for their contributions but for this report which is very thought-provoking, to say the least. Mr. Cassells mentioned that the status quois not an option. I made a point here last week when I spoke to the heads of the universities that we have run out of road on this issue. I was told that not only have we run out of road but an...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: There has been a spike in demand for Irish passports since the Brexit vote. Figures reported by RTE yesterday show that over 700,000 passports have been issued this year to date. Of that 700,000, some 117,000 are from the UK and of that figure, 59,000 are from Northern Ireland. It is time for us to consider locating a passport office in a rural area like County Monaghan, an area that is...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister to the House. I compliment Senator Ruane's contribution. There is enough material in her opening remarks for a debate for another day. I commend her on her heartfelt sentiments on the issues she raised. I want to bring two points to the Minister's attention. On the class S stamp for county councillors, when it comes to the issue of councillors' terms and conditions...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: What about the redundancy payments?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teacher Exchange Scheme (30 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. The Minister of State is very welcome and I thank him for his attendance. I raise the teacher exchange scheme which is designed to facilitate primary school teachers to temporarily exchange their posts for educational purposes. The minimum period for which they can do this is one year and the maximum period is five years. I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Teacher Exchange Scheme (30 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Most teachers who have taken part in the teacher exchange programme for five years will have set down roots in the area. If the school, local community and teacher in question are happy, it would seem fair and reasonable that a mechanism would be put in place to allow such exchange teachers to make their positions permanent. The issue appears...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: Yesterday, Donegal County Council unanimously voted no confidence in the Health Service Executive, HSE. It was an unprecedented move by the councillors and it springs from their total frustration and anger at the lack of availability of health services and the ongoing overcrowding at Letterkenny University Hospital. We heard this morning from Members in various parts of the country about...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Authority Members (1 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the House. As Senator Daly has outlined, this issue has been floating around for a while, and some would say for too long. I appeal to the Minister of State, and the Minister to grasp the nettle. We have all recognised that the workload and travel has increased significantly for councillors. Effectively it has become a full-time job....

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I was delighted to see that representatives of the Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces have been presented with a specially commissioned medal to mark the role they played in the 2016 centenary year.The presentation was made by President Higgins last Sunday. The medals are in recognition of the role played by soldiers, sailors and Air Corps personnel in the 1916 commemorative events...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I second the proposal by my colleague, Senator Mark Daly, on No. 27.

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: Yes. Today is National Missing Persons Day and an event hosted by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, is being held at Farmleigh House with some of the affected families. Every year in this country, 9,000 people go missing but, thankfully, most are reunited with their loved ones. It is estimated that approximately 50 to 80 people remain missing and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I too welcome the contributions. Professor Hegarty made an interesting point on private colleges and how we can use that facility to cater not alone for current demand but projected demand going forward. With regard to the current situation in this country and other jurisdictions that Professor Hegarty is aware of, how do the private colleges contribute?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, to address the shortage of substitute primary teachers in our primary schools. School principals are reporting that they are finding it increasingly difficult to get substitute teachers on a short or long-term basis. Last week, a number of principals highlighted that in the case of maternity leave...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I put on record my support for what the previous two speakers said on mortgages. We in Fianna Fáil were slightly disappointed, in particular those of us who come from a Border area, in terms of provisions relating to Brexit. I felt that more could have been done in that regard, specifically for businesses along the Border. Something must be done to cushion them from the future effects...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (15 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the issue of the need for increased funding for local roads in counties Monaghan and Cavan and record our appreciation of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, who met a delegation from Monaghan County Council a few weeks go, for which I thank him. The condition of roads in County Monaghan is particularly poor. There are a number of considerations we...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (15 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome the fact there will be an increase in funding for regional and local roads in 2017 but I am disappointed with the word "modest". Monaghan and Cavan are classified as a special case and I ask that additional funding is forthcoming.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Dec 2016)

Robbie Gallagher: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: North-South Interconnector (24 Jan 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I propose to share one minute of my time with Senator Diarmuid Wilson.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: North-South Interconnector (24 Jan 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. An Bord Pleanála published its decision on the North-South interconnector just before Christmas. It is remarkable in the case of a project of such magnitude that the decision has only nine conditions attached. An ordinary punter would have more conditions attached to a proposal for an extension to a dwelling house....