Results 1,621-1,640 of 1,954 for speaker:John Gilroy
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: I remember having conversations with many people in this House around Christmas before the referendum, and it was universally held by every speaker who contributed to the informal meeting in the ante-room that the Seanad was a cooked goose. Everyone was of that view, so who would have predicted that-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: I make the suggestion that if we did have a referendum and that referendum failed, the unintended consequences would be that some Government in the future might use that to achieve the exact objective we are trying to prevent and to argue that the Irish people have spoken in a referendum about public ownership of Irish Water and have rejected it, so the Irish people are obviously in favour of...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin - God help us. Would there be anything left in the economy within 12 months if both of those parties were in power together? A referendum certainly seemed a good idea to me when we were voting here two months ago or six weeks ago. However, when we reflected on the intricacies and logistics of holding a referendum that would achieve the objective everyone...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: In a referendum.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: That does not affect the ownership of Irish Water.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: That is not what we said.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: You just want it for free.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: Only by his own party.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: Will the Senator please show respect for the Chair?
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: The Senator has no respect for anything.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: This Chamber could certainly do with having more female members because of the testosterone-fuelled cheers coming from the opposite side, which are only a display of machismo. I had a long chat this morning with Senator Byrne about this amendment. It is a decent attempt to reach some sort of compromise on the matter. I have put a lot of thought into this since we spoke this morning. While...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: Absolutely. That is one of the questions.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: I understand that but we should not legislate to refer this to a constitutional convention because doing so would be interfering with the autonomy of the convention. We would be obliging it to consider something it may feel is not appropriate. The Senators opposite may shake their heads but my remarks comprise a genuine attempt to address the concerns that arise. If we want to start...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: On a point of order, the Minister has no role in ruling amendments out of order.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: It is a point of order.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: I find it unpleasant in this debate that male Senators of a certain age are casting a tonal reflection on the Minister. The Minister is a young man. Some of the comments made appear to hint that because he is a young man he is easy capture and prey for the officials. I have known the Minister for 20 years. He is no easy prey for anybody in the Customs House. Anybody there who thought...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: I am testifying to his good character.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: All I am saying is that I have known the Minister, Deputy Kelly, for 20 years. I know no better man. There is no man I would trust more than him in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Earlier, I made the point that I would like some consideration given to the motion. As legislators we can only speak to the amendment before us.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: If the Senator were to provide the Minister with alternative wording, it could be considered on Report Stage.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
John Gilroy: If my good friend requires me as a member of the Government to provide the Opposition with a-----