Results 1,221-1,240 of 4,178 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: It was a difficult time. Frankly, we were isolated at the time during that campaign. I came back on Friday to see a huge crowd of people marching through Athlone demanding justice and a "Yes" vote. The extraordinary passion and integrity of that crowd struck me. Regardless of the result on Friday we have to recognise the tremendous contribution of the Together for Yes campaign. I think...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: Well said.

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: Hear. Hear.

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I will begin by asking the Minister of State to withdraw that disgraceful paragraph in his speech which makes reference to "some" of the protesters being non-violent, to Molotov cocktails and to members of Hamas being shot. There is no evidence for any of that. I do not know who wrote that script but the Minister of State must be honest enough...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: What peace process?

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: An end to apartheid.

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: On behalf of my party, I welcome this motion and acknowledge the tremendous contribution that Senator O'Sullivan has consistently made in this Chamber. I have learned an awful lot from the work she has done. What I really like about this motion is that it presents a really coherent vision for what we should be doing with our ocean resources. I am genuinely disappointed the Government could...

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: We have heard that before.

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: Disappointing.

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: Years.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I welcome to the Visitors' Gallery my colleagues, my comrades, from SIPTU's Limerick district council: honorary president Frank McDonnell, John Higgins, Marian O'Callaghan, Mary McElligott, Antoinette Sheen and Breffni Monahan. I am delighted they are here today to see us reflect on the referendum result. It was a very conclusive result in Limerick, with 67% in favour of repeal. There is...

Seanad: National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am speaking on behalf of my colleague, Senator Warfield, who is also at the Seanad reform committee. I commend the general objectives of the Bill, which are most welcome. Sinn Féin will be supporting the Bill on Second Stage. However, we feel a number of issues must be addressed at later Stages so that we can move fully to a 20-year rule as...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Removal of Sub-minimum Rates of Pay) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. The purpose of this Bill is very simple. If enacted, it will end sub-minimum rates of pay for workers over the age of 16 unless the worker is engaged in an apprenticeship. We are delighted to be co-hosting this Bill with the Civil Engagement group. We believe the intention of this Bill is based on a...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Removal of Sub-minimum Rates of Pay) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister for her detailed response. I can summarise the position by saying that we have a genuine difference of ideology, which will not come as a terrible shock. Sinn Féin is a party of the left, while it is fair to describe Fine Gael as a party of the centre-right. I am being generous by using the word "centre". I would like to go through some key points in response to...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Removal of Sub-minimum Rates of Pay) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I did not interrupt the Minister.

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Removal of Sub-minimum Rates of Pay) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I did not interrupt the Minister. This provision reflects unfortunately on the ideology of her party, because it implies that the national minimum wage is fine for an experienced worker. I do not believe it is fine. As someone who worked as a trade unionist for ten years I do not believe it is fine to find minimum wage workers working in our meat factories, for example. That system is...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Removal of Sub-minimum Rates of Pay) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: National College of Art and Design: Chairperson Designate (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I thank Dr. Thorn for his presentation. The key question of funding came through in the presentation. I was struck by Dr. Thorn's comment that he is "agnostic" with regard to the Cassells report. I must question this because I do not understand how he can be agnostic about it. There are three clear options here. Which one would Dr. Thorn prefer to see? Each one has different outcomes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: National College of Art and Design: Chairperson Designate (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: It is very important that we hear this message from the witness, so I thank him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: National College of Art and Design: Chairperson Designate (29 May 2018)

Paul Gavan: I give my apologies also. I am speaking on the next two Bills in the Seanad and I will have to leave the meeting shortly.