Results 221-240 of 1,387 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister is welcome here this afternoon. From the discussions today and from the discussions with the representative associations a couple of weeks ago, it is clear that there are problems within An Garda Síochána as regards recruitment and retention. That can be taken as a given. The members of this committee deserve credit for arranging, through the secretariat, these...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like the House to join me in wishing the Holy Family School, Cootehill, a very special 50th birthday, which it celebrates today. Celebrations are kicking off around now, at 11 o'clock. The Holy Family School is a special school for children aged between four and 18 years and its origins date back to 1966 in Carrickmacross. It then moved to Cootehill in 1973. The Minister for...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister is welcome back to the House this afternoon. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I compliment the members of Young Fine Gael on their work on this issue. I also commend all Members of this House who fully support this very important legislation. Senator Doherty outlined a specific case in her area. I am sure there are cases throughout the country. Spiking is a horrible,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sports Funding (24 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte ar ais go dtí an Teach seo roimh an Aire Stáit inniu. I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. I, like many other sports fans in the country, was delighted with the successful bid by the UK and Ireland to host the 2028 European championship. This has given sports fans a major tournament to look forward to. I commend...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sports Funding (24 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I issue an invitation to him to visit Clones to see St. Tiernach's Park for himself. I have no doubt that he will be hugely impressed with it. In many ways, the future of Clones depends on the future of St. Tiernach's Park. We certainly do not begrudge the redevelopment of Casement Park one penny but the Government must also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (24 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome all of the witnesses and thank them for their contributions. I also thank An Garda Síochána for the difficult job it does every day on behalf of us all. I am sure I speak for all committee members when I say that. The word "morale" has been bandied about quite a lot this afternoon. Based on the contributions, it is clearly a big issue. I am astonished things are as...

Seanad: Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister back to the House. I, too, extend a warm welcome to Lucia and Jim and their two daughters. I take this opportunity to pass on my sincere condolences to you on the tragic loss of your dear son, Shane, at the early age of 23. No parent should live to see that happen. To lose a child in sudden circumstances is a traumatic and life-changing event for any family. To...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (10 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Byrne, go dtí an Teach. The World Health Organization estimates that one in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, but some studies have reported a figure as high as one in 59. Whatever the figures, we all know that the number of children being diagnosed with autism is continuing to rise. That is a worrying...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (10 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. As I outlined, quite a number of parents from Monaghan town are transporting their children to different parts of the county in order to access special needs provision for their children. They ask genuinely asking whether there should be more places available in Monaghan town where...

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (4 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo inniu. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House and I thank him for taking this Commencement matter. Unfortunately, we are all very aware of the problems caused by the increased incidence of flooding in many parts of this country in recent years. For those affected, flooding can have devastating...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (4 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. As I outlined in my contribution, and as the Minister of State has accepted, flooding can be very traumatic for all involved. Unfortunately, the flooding problem in Donaghmoyne village has gone on for a long number of years. The local authority is investigating the pipe infrastructure in the general area but local engineers say that funding...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire ar ais go dtí an Teach. The Minister is welcome to the House. I thank her for outlining in good detail the bones and framework of this important legislation, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023. From my party's perspective, we very much welcome and support the Bill, which, as the Minister outlined, provides a new framework for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to give credit to and commend the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, IPAV, under the stewardship of Mr. Pat Davitt, on the work it has done in providing a seller's legal pack for property buyers. The aim of the seller's pack is to speed up the process and make it more cost-effective in property transactions. Everybody knows that the conveyancing process can...

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I move: “That Seanad Éireann: recognises that: - protecting citizens is a founding duty of the State and policing has a defining role in that basic function; - incidents of violence, crime and anti-social behaviour in our capital city and large urban areas such as Galway and Athlone are increasingly worrying for the public; - high-profile incidents of violence, crime and...

Seanad: Crime and Policing: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State back to the Chamber. In her absence, I thank the Minister for making herself available for the vast majority of the debate. I also thank all my colleagues who contributed, in one way or another, to the debate. Unfortunately, Senator Lombard is no longer with us, but he raised several issues concerning the defence portfolio and lack of investment, etc. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to request that the Minister for Health come into the Chamber at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss ambulance response times. Last Saturday in Castleblayney in County Monaghan an under-12 soccer match took place between the local club and a club from Monaghan town. Unfortunately, an 11 year-old child fractured his leg in two places during the game. It was a horrific...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister back to the House. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I very much welcome and support the legislation. As she outlined, it provides for the use of body-worn cameras for gardaí, the expanded use of automatic number plate recognition and provisions relating to the use of CCTV footage and the recording of telephone calls. Any measure we can introduce that...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: In my capacity as Government Whip, I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Cathaoirleach, Leader and Deputy Leader for their courtesy throughout the year. I thank Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and Orla Murray sincerely for their assistance throughout the year. I thank all Members for their assistance and co-operation in trying to get business done throughout the year. I wish them a happy and...