Results 1-20 of 1,058 for speaker:James Lawless in 'Dáil debates'

Housing and Homelessness: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

James Lawless: I am on my own. In my first contribution in the House and as a fellow Kildare man, I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on his role.

Housing and Homelessness: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

James Lawless: I commend him on the diligence and professionalism he has displayed in office and I wish him well in his role. A number of factors contribute to the housing crisis: purchase and rental affordability; availability; the backlog in social housing; and the lack of private home construction and supply across the board, which are functions of affordability. As a councillor until three weeks...

Insurance Costs: Statements (20 Apr 2016)

James Lawless: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the insurance costs. I want to concentrate on the areas of public liability insurance, health insurance and general insurance. On public liability insurance, much has been made of the recent decision to award €40,000 to a hill walker, which was referred to by my colleagues in their contributions. That has generated a general...

Irish Water: Statements (27 Apr 2016)

James Lawless: I thank the Acting Chairman for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate, although with only two Members on the Government benches, I am not sure it qualifies as a debate. I am glad, however, that this issue is now being brought to a head. It is an important issue but by no means the most important. The amount of airtime it has received in recent weeks has been...

Climate Change: Statements (4 May 2016)

James Lawless: We heard about the Paris accord from the past few speakers and I acknowledge as well the Buswell's briefing. I was delighted to join representatives of Trócaire a week or so ago when they presented to invited Deputies the organisation's plans to tackle climate change. It is great to see an Irish non-governmental organisation taking a leadership role in such a challenge, and...

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 May 2016)

James Lawless: This is not my first time speaking in the House but it is my first time to speak on a Bill and it is an honour to do so. I begin by congratulating the Minister on her appointment. I am not sure if she is aware that she is a constituency neighbour of mine as the steps of Killinarden run up to the hills of Kilteel as Kildare North and Dublin South-West border each other. As such, I extend my...

Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 May 2016)

James Lawless: I welcome the opportunity today to speak in favour of this Fianna Fáil Private Members' Bill. All present in the Chamber today are aware of the fact that a mortgage is the biggest single outgoing facing any family. There are at least 300,000 households in this jurisdiction operating under standard variable rate mortgages, including my own. Tens of thousands of variable rate...

Adjournment Debate: Public Transport Initiatives (18 May 2016)

James Lawless: Before I get into the substantive matter, I congratulate the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, on his appointment. I was a constituent of his in his previous role as a Trinity Senator when he did us proud. I wish him well. I commute from Kildare and represent commuters from north Kildare and wider commuter belt constituencies. It was with concern, shock and...

Report of Sub-Committee on Dáil Reform: Motion (Resumed) (19 May 2016)

James Lawless: I am sharing with Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin. I welcome the reforms in the Dáil. As a new Deputy, I suppose I know no different to the previous arrangements. However, as an observer of the House and being in the political process for some time, I would be familiar with them. I commend my party colleagues, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív who has just spoken and Deputies Thomas Byrne and...

Insurance Costs: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: I welcome Fianna Fáil's motion on insurance costs and affordability. There are two facets to this - competitiveness in the market and the issue of affordability and cost for the consumer. The price of motor insurance has increased by approximately 60% since 2014. During Fianna Fáil's last Private Members' business we championed mortgage rates. Today we turn our attention to...

Other Questions: IDA Site Visits (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: I wish to raise a concern about IDA Ireland site visits to County Kildare, an area with which the Acting Chairman, Deputy Durkan, is familiar. A reply to a parliamentary question I submitted a month back illustrated that County Kildare had 13 site visits between 2011 and 2015, during the term of the previous Government. Seven of these arose in the final year of the then Government's term,...

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: 45. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will provide funding to scientists engaged in basic research following the publication of Innovation 2020; the provisional deadline for applications in 2016; the scientific disciplines he will accommodate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15842/16]

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: The question relates to specific funding available for research under Innovation 2020. The strategy has a number of admirable components but is short on specifics, so the question to the Minister-----

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: It is Question No. 45, in my name.

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: I have given the introduction to it.

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: Whichever one of the Ministers is most equipped can reply.

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: Or all together. As long as I get an answer, I do not mind who gives it.

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: I thank the Minister and note his support for Science Foundation Ireland, a Fianna Fáil initiative and a very successful one. The question remains unanswered, unless I misunderstood something in the answer. We are attempting to attract researchers and scientists and people of such professions into industry and into the country to begin their programmes. Without the specific funding...

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: I thank the Minister for his invite and I will take up that offer to join him at his meeting with Science Foundation Ireland. I would also be interested in the 14 RPAs. The Minister of State ran out of time while reading out the priorities, but I would be interested in getting that document from him at another stage.

Other Questions: Research Funding (15 Jun 2016)

James Lawless: Very good. I thank the Minister of State for that final clarification but we are approaching the end of the academic term and it is the summer months when people will be making decisions about where they position themselves into the new academic research year. It is therefore imperative that over the next three to four weeks we begin to make movement. If we can indicate to these people...