Results 3,221-3,240 of 4,178 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2017)

Paul Gavan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2017)

Paul Gavan: I begin by wishing my colleague and comrade, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, well in to the future. I will develop the theme on which he spoke. Precarious work obviously impacts the restaurant sector and an excellent report has been published by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. It is excellent because it is facts based. It tells us that in 2016 some 158,000 workers had their...

Seanad: Diplomatic Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2017)

Paul Gavan: I would like to speak briefly about this section. I accept fully that our amendment is out of order. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to the House. We would argue that this Bill is technical in nature. It makes clear citizenship and immigration rules for diplomatic staff and consular staff and their private staff by amending the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956...

Seanad: Diplomatic Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2017)

Paul Gavan: Yes.

Seanad: Diplomatic Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2017)

Paul Gavan: Okay.

Seanad: Diplomatic Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2017)

Paul Gavan: I appreciate the Acting Chairman's clarification.

Seanad: Diplomatic Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Dec 2017)

Paul Gavan: I am genuinely disappointed. We would like to support this Bill. Unfortunately, this leaves us in a position where we are unable to do so. We will have to agree to disagree. The Minister of State is correct to acknowledge the excellent work of the MRCI. There is just a lack of generosity on the Government's part in this section. As the Minister of State acknowledged, several people have...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: I pay tribute to our colleague, Senator Norris. It was a different country 30 years ago. Frankly, I cannot imagine the courage it took to campaign the way the Senator has so successfully and with such courage. He has been a spokesperson for justice and equality, as well as for the underdog, for people who do not get a fair go in our society as things stand. He has been an inspiration. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: I wish to discuss the horrendous situation of the President of the United States retweeting Britain First, a fascist grouping that left the British National Party because the latter was not fascist enough. I have seen the videos. They are videos of hate. They are horrific. It is worth bearing in mind what Britain First is. It was founded by Mr. Jim Dowson, an anti-abortion campaigner and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Termination in Cases of Foetal Abnormality: Mr. Peter Thompson, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: I thank Mr. Thompson for his presentation. The committee has received consistently high-quality presentations. I was struck by the large number of facts and statistics. It gives a very good insight into practice in Britain. I thank him for that. I am not sure if Mr. Thompson can comment on this, but I will ask anyway. We have had medical professionals from Ireland and Britain, people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Ancillary Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly Report: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I am convinced that education in this area has come a long way since I was in school. I recall my sex education class really consisting of one word, "No". That said, I see a contradiction in the idea that the Department will roll out this quite progressive education programme and at same time say that it can be taught within a particular...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Ancillary Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly Report: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: Thank you. Younger colleagues of mine were genuinely interested in this paper. Some of them only finished school a few years ago and they say, "Look, it sounds great but we never got it". Will the witnesses comment on that? Has there been a significant take-up in the last number of years? The people I am referring to would have finished school at some time between 2006 and 2012. They...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Ancillary Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly Report: Discussion (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: I thank the witnesses. I will finish with just one comment. I do not think we will have the type of relationships and sexuality education we need until we have a democratic, secular system of education in this country.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: Today is international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Yesterday, SADAKA held an excellent conference which unfortunately I was only able to attend briefly. It had contributions from across the political spectrum and all were welcome. I remind the Leader that I requested a debate on the Palestinian issue, which is more important than ever. The Palestinian people are calling...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: I am calling for -----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: The Leader's obstruction is becoming beyond a joke at this point.

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: The Leader had his chance to answer the question. The fact is that he has not given one good reason why the Taoiseach should not come in here. The reason is that there is a huge lack of confidence in the Taoiseach among Fine Gael Party members. He had his first major test and he failed it miserably so the Leader does not want to bring him in to answer our questions. That is the fact of...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: What about the health crisis, the homeless crisis-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Paul Gavan: Fianna Fáil should be putting the Government out of power.