Results 281-300 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

James Heffernan: This will be a long tiring night. I have tremendous empathy for the Minister who has a difficult job. I commend her on the work she is doing. I was less than impressed with the contributions from the Dáil to which I listened last week. It was uncomfortable to listen to personal jibes that were directed at the Minister. I have a problem with the proposed cut. Regardless of what...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

James Heffernan: I apologise to the Leas-Chathaoirleach, but I cannot let this go. What annoyed me most during the campaign was the contributions made by two of the privileged Taoiseach's eleven who derided Members and this Chamber. I say to those two Members from Galway that they know where the door is. Let them use it and make way for Senators such as Senator Katherine Zappone who has the courage and...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

James Heffernan: I hope the House will join me in proposing a special vote of thanks to the Leader of the House, Senator Maurice Cummins, for the courage, commitment and dignity he showed during the campaign.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

James Heffernan: I understand there are time constraints but I must put a couple of matters on the record after listening to what was said here today. It is particularly audacious for my colleague, Senator David Cullinane, to lay the blame for the referendum result at the door of the Taoiseach. I remind the Senator that his party collaborated in the Taoiseach's solo run and was only too willing to act like...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Sep 2013)

James Heffernan: I was not going to say much about the Seanad referendum because it will be played out over the next couple of weeks. We all know that the argument put forward by the abolitionists is absolutely flawed. It is up to each and every Member of this House to go out in the highways and byways to put that message across to the people because the battle is not going to be won in here. I wish to...

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: This Bill has been a while coming. The Minister of State was also present when I spoke previously on issues addressed in the legislation. I refer to a case that came to light in my parish of Kilfinane involving contractors who were not paid for work done on a school. This was the second time the contractor in question had been left high and dry by unscrupulous individuals. Ugly scenes...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I did not take that position.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: It was not my party's position.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: We are supposed to be democrats.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to the Chamber. I am sure he would prefer to be on his holidays.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: It was with interest that I listened to some of the debate in the Chamber on this Bill, particularly today's contributions by Members who are apparently independent. Yesterday Senator Ned O'Sullivan referred to them as quasi-Independents. The debate spurred me to enter the Chamber. I have already made my feelings on this legislation well known, but I must take exception to Senator Fiach...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: Maybe he was on Ballygowan. I apologise and withdraw that comment. I will focus my fury on the Independent voices who claim to be independent but do not act like Independents at all. Senators are as one in what the Bill is about. We reject it, yet we must vote for it. That is ridiculous. I urge Senators, particularly the Independents, to be honest, to throw the Bill out and vote against it.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach, a Mayo man, on his win at the weekend. It was a proud day for everyone in London's GAA circles who have done a great deal of work down the years. It is good to see that work bearing some fruit. The situation is a good indication of the size of our diaspora, given the fact that a team can return and compete with the best. This strengthens the argument for...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: Yes. I thank my comrade, Senator Kelly, for his principled stand.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I also thank other Labour Party comrades who abstained from the vote. Loyalty and friendship in politics can be very fickle at times and as genuine friendship is rare, I thank them for it. Is the underhand and deceitful way in which it took place right? Is it also right that Standing Orders of this House can be set aside in such a fashion by the Government to enable it to stick the boot...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil): An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed): Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Brian Hayes, back to the bosom of his political life. When introducing this Bill, the Taoiseach stated that there were too many politicians in this country and his remedy to this terrible malaise was to abolish, abolish, abolish. The Government has taken a wrecking ball to the sum of our democracy. Town councils, for instance, are being done away with...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil): An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed): Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: -----which is one arm of the Oireachtas equal to the Dáil and the Presidency. It is not to be debated there at all. What a load of rubbish. It is complete bunkum. I do not know whether that word is allowed but that is what I feel. It is very alarming - I think this goes for every citizen - to see how dictatorial the Government has become. Power and decision-making are in the hands...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Economic and Monetary Union: Discussion (Resumed) with Central Bank (30 Apr 2013)

James Heffernan: I thank Professor Honohan for his presentation and presence. I heard on the news today that he had given back a fair chunk of his salary, for which I thank him. It is a very important gesture of goodwill and solidarity with families and working people who are finding it difficult and at the coalface of the austerity experiment. A couple of weeks ago we heard the former chief of the IMF,...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2013)

James Heffernan: I concur with Senator Ned O'Sullivan's remarks concerning Charleville train station. I am familiar with it because it is the closest train station to me and perhaps the problem is that there is no train station in County Limerick since Kilmallock and Knocklong stations closed. Perhaps the Minister can look into this and deliver a train station for us. I go along with the remarks of Senator...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (6 Mar 2013)

James Heffernan: It is not the fault of the Seanad.