Results 1-20 of 318 for speaker:Eamonn Coghlan

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: It was a great honour for me to be nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad. One of my friends said to me, "Eamonn, you might have been chairman of the boards, broken world records and won world championships, but that is all in the past. You are now a Senator." It is with great honour that I join Senators. All they have to do now is break a few world records to keep up with me. Sport and...

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: I became aware of opportunities to promote my country through the medium of my sport. I brought magazine journalists to Ireland. I asked them not interview me in New York but in Ireland in order that they could show photographs of Ireland in Sports Illustrated and maximise the coverage of the country in that market. I will go into more detail on these opportunities with the Minister at...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: There has been much debate in recent years on the new national children's hospital to be located on the site of the Mater Hospital. Most people welcome the construction here of a new national children's hospital but I have been greatly involved with the volunteer sector that has raised funds for Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin for the past 20 years. In my new role in the Seanad I...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: Having come to the House from the outside world of sport, having noted the doom and gloom associated with the economic recession and the various cutbacks that have been implemented over recent years and having heard the moaning and groaning, I reflect on the Irish sportsmen and sportswomen who continue to instil in us tremendous pride and passion and lift the spirits of the nation, not just...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jul 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: It would be remiss of me on the last day before the recess not to say a few words. It is 70 days since I first attended the Seanad. It has been most rewarding and fantastic to meet all the old and new Senators and the Members of the Dáil. Senator Ó Murchú stated the arts and culture are not prioritised by the Government as much as other areas where funding is concerned. Six years ago or...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: Looking outside, it is a beautiful autumn day. This kind of weather brings out the best in everyone. A walk on the beach, a walk in the park, a stroll around town makes everyone feel good and look good. Even a trip around the country on one's motorcycle is most enjoyable.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: Last weekend, however, I was baffled by the number of motorcyclists from all around the country who drove to Dáil Éireann in protest against the introduction of compulsory testing of their motorcycles, similar to the test for cars that was introduced a few years ago. I was baffled by their protest about the compulsory use of visibility jackets while riding their motorcycles. I am an avid...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: One of the things I learned when I took up motorcycling was that I had to wear personal protection equipment at all times, from helmets to visibility jackets, as well as having a properly functioning motorcycle. One of the organisers of this protest is an RSA certified instructor, and for him to lead the protest was complete hypocrisy. As I drove into the office here today, I noticed...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: Cyclists are a law unto themselves. They get tax breaks when they purchase their bicycles. The safety of pedestrians and cyclists is a major area that needs to be addressed. I call on the Minister for Transport to explore a way in which the law could be used to cover cyclists who might be prosecuted for not wearing protective and visibility equipment.

Seanad: Sport: Statements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: I too am particularly delighted for obvious reasons that the Minister of State with responsibility for sport is present.

Seanad: Sport: Statements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: Go raibh míle maith agat. Having listened to the contributions of the Minister of State and Senator Ó Domhnaill, the three of us are singing off the same hymn sheet. As a former athlete and one who proudly represented Ireland at the highest level around the world, I know at first hand how important sport is to the people of Ireland and how important the success of Irish sportsmen and women...

Seanad: Sport: Statements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: -----Barry McGuigan won the world boxing title, and yours truly, glanced, clenched his fists and ran by that Russian and won a world title. People to this day recall to me where they were. We know the pride and euphoria felt in our parishes and counties all over Ireland when their favourite team wins. We will remember where we were for years to come when the Dubs won the All-Ireland title...

Seanad: Sport: Statements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: This year alone sports success has brought big smiles to the faces of Irish people worldwide, in particular, the major golf wins of Rory McIIroy and Darren Clarke, our rugby team, our cricket team, Katie Taylor and our other European boxing champions and our Special Olympic athletes who won numerous gold medals in Athens, just to name a few. Sporting victories are etched into the minds of...

Seanad: Sport: Statements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: The forum was designed to feed into the diaspora around the world to help grow and foster our economy. What better way to do that than through our sporting heroes. The statistics prove that sport is business, particularly in the area of tourism. Our sports people are in a powerful position. They are highly respected throughout the world. They generate good will. They open doors to a...

Seanad: Sport: Statements (4 Oct 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: Winning is not everything. Winning is the only thing. It is okay to have the will to win but it is more important to have the will to be prepared.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Oct 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: I notice the young students in the Visitors Gallery today, who are all looking very fit and obviously come from a very good school. I was watching the "Prime Time" television programme last night, which dealt with the epidemic of obesity that is facing Ireland and much of the rest of the world. The forecast is not very good for our nation. I am currently doing some research on schools in...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: Later in Private Members' business, the Independent Senators will present a motion on child health issues. Yesterday, Members attended a briefing in the audio-visual room by Professor Donal O'Shea, University College Dublin, and Professor Niall Mynagh, Dublin City University, on childhood obesity levels and learned of the shocking statistics concerning the long-term health implications of...

Seanad: Health Awareness and Physical Fitness: Motion (23 Nov 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: I move: ''That Seanad Éireann: — recognises that the delivery of an effective Health Awareness and Physical Fitness programme in both primary and secondary schools is essential for the overall well-being of children; — notes that while there is a new Physical Education curriculum in place at primary school level since 1999, it is not being implemented in full in 65% of schools, 54% of...

Seanad: Health Awareness and Physical Fitness: Motion (23 Nov 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: It is difficult to know how to begin in responding to colleagues' contributions. I wonder whether it is the first time that everybody in the House is in agreement. I particularly welcome the Minister's statement: We must take a more holistic approach to promoting, maintaining and improving rates of active living. By encouraging physical activity and active living from an early age, the...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Eamonn Coghlan: This week was one of highs and lows for Irish sport. The week of highs was referred to by Senator Paschal Mooney when he said that Mr. Trapattoni's contract had been extended for two years and for God only knows how many million euro. It was a week of lows because the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland resigned from the Olympic task force which was asked to identify opportunities...