Results 321-340 of 1,000 for speaker:John McGahon

Seanad: Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I have just arrived in the Chamber as I was at a meeting and would like to read the Minister's speech. Could I ask if someone else could go ahead of me and I could come in after?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I thank my colleagues in the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. This important matter first came across my desk in my office in Dundalk a number of months ago. It came across my desk because somebody's partner had passed away and they came into my office to see what kind of financial supports were available. I instantly thought of the widow's pension or something like that. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I have tabled this matter after the Minister of State's recent visit to Dundalk. Two weeks ago she kindly came to County Louth and went to Coláiste Chú Chulainn and the CBS primary school. She met the principal of Coláiste Chú Chulainn, Thomas Sharkey, and she also met Maria Doyle, a teacher in the CBS primary school. Mr. Sharkey and Ms Doyle made some key points that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: Eighteen places. Three classes.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I thank the Minister of State. That is very reassuring, especially when she mentioned Mr. John Kearney, who I know the Minister of State has said will facilitate a visit to Dundalk in the future. One point I will make is that the extra staff are very welcome and will provide a real ability to cater for these children however there is an issue of actual physical capacity. By that I mean...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I have raised before in the Seanad the vision for high-speed rail on the island of Ireland, in particular between Belfast and Dublin. I am raising it again today following a meeting that Deputy Carroll MacNeill and I held last week with people who want to support the concept. This would be one of the largest infrastructure projects on the island of Ireland. It is something that will take...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I would like to follow on from the points made by Senator Gallagher. The Good Friday committee, of which I am a member, went on a trip to Belfast approximately a year ago. We met with the families of the disappeared. We met with Oliver McVeigh, who is Columba McVeigh's brother. It is utterly heartbreaking to say the least. I am praying for the McVeigh family and I hope that finally after...

Seanad: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (4 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I welcome Colonel Sean Grant, the British defence attaché to Ireland, to the House. It is obviously a very important debate and it is great to have him here.

Seanad: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (4 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I am due up next but I can stay in the Chair. After the next Fine Gael slot, it will be Senators Chambers, Ward and Buttimer. I was to speak in the next Fine Gael slot so Senator Buttimer is the next Fine Gael speaker.

Seanad: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (4 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for taking the Chair. I was not planning on speaking and I will be brief. A number of months ago I visited Aiken Barracks. I was there for the retirement of a friend of mine from the Reserve Defence Force, where he spent 35 years. I was really amazed at the amount of people there who have so much dedication and commitment to the Reserve. I believe this has...

Seanad: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (4 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: Senators Ward and Buttimer are sharing time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (4 Oct 2022)

John McGahon: We only have a few extra minutes, Minister. We need to move on to the next piece of business.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: That is the benefit of coming slightly later. I have met Mr. Durkan previously. It is good to see him again. One of the useful things about the debate here is we have the opportunity to ask architects of the Good Friday Agreement about the past but also about their views of events today. Mr. Durkan has been an MP for more than 12 years. He knows Westminster inside out. He knows it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: That is an interesting point about the concept of review and renew. Over the last couple of months, when we have been speaking to people, there have been two very clear views on the Good Friday Agreement. Some people argue that it should be left alone, as it was in 1998, and that an agreement is an agreement which cannot be altered and changed. Others have suggested that it should be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: That is a great way to describe it. It is not a golden thing on a hill that we should observe and leave it at that. It is a tool kit that we can use to move forward in the modern era. That is very astute. Mr. Durkan mentioned the Executive. There was an election in May but five or six months later, there is still no functioning Executive. While we know the reasons behind that, it must...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: On the subject of Liz Truss, when Mr. Durkan looks at the ministers she appointed to the Northern Ireland Office, they come from a very clear political slant when it comes to Brexit. They come from the European Research Group, ERG, which is a particular home within the Conservative Party. Would Mr. Durkan be worried about their political outlooks when it comes to Northern Ireland based on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: As a lover of history, I love that analogy. I have a minute left, so I will be brief. Does Mr. Durkan think we that we will see a united Ireland in our lifetimes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: That was excellent. Mr. Durkan has held elected office both as an MLA and an MP for the last 20 years and has been at the forefront of Northern Irish politics. I think that insight shows how important these discussions we are having with the architects of the Good Friday Agreement are. I thank Mr. Durkan for coming today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

John McGahon: I could chair next.