Results 4,321-4,340 of 6,412 for speaker:Gerald Nash

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: -----but this image is from 2016, a period which mostly predates the Supreme Court judgment at the end of 2016, which stated quite clearly that this had no legislative foundation and that, therefore, from that date, any fishing by Northern Irish vessels in the Republic of Ireland's zero to six nautical mile zone was not lawful. It is a moot point whether there is any reciprocal arrangement...

Seanad: Pensions (Equal Pension Treatment in Occupational Benefit Scheme) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: I wish to share my time with Senator Humphreys.

Seanad: Pensions (Equal Pension Treatment in Occupational Benefit Scheme) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: I am delighted to second the legislation tabled by my colleague, Senator Bacik. As we all know, she has been at the vanguard of progressive social change in this country and has sponsored a considerable amount of important legislation in this House in recent years. Today's Bill is another example of trying to advance the agenda for progressive social change in this country, which I very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: ConnectIreland's 'Succeed in Ireland' Programme: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: It seems to me that ConnectIreland has very much delivered on its targets. I know there is a dispute about the number of jobs to be verified versus the number of jobs that ConnectIreland would claim are actually on the ground at the moment and they are evolving over the next period of time. That is very much at the heart of what we are discussing here today. I place on record my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: ConnectIreland's 'Succeed in Ireland' Programme: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: Is Mr. Scannell saying that the definitive position of the Department is that no bridging contract is feasible or permissible under law?

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: On behalf of the Labour Party, I want to pay my respects to the families of the late Annmarie O'Brien and that of the children who lost their lives in the horrific circumstances of a fire in Clondalkin yesterday. Our collective hearts go out to all of the people who loved and knew them. We wish those people who were caught up in the fire a speedy recovery. I join with my colleague, Senator...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation Announcement on Tuam Mother and Baby Home: Statements (9 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: I acknowledge the work that the former Minister, Senator Reilly, did in the previous Government. It was very necessary work which started then and we all want to see it finished. The rights of those who suffered so badly have to be vindicated and respected. I wish to pay tribute to my colleague, Senator Ruane, who spoke so movingly about her own personal experience. I thank her for...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Mar 2017)

Gerald Nash: I wish to share time with my colleague, Senator Kevin Humphreys. The Labour Party has some concerns about the proposed legislation. From the perspective of greater clarity and public scrutiny, I am pleased we will have a Committee Stage at a later point. The legislation could benefit from that process. I look forward to some of our concerns being addressed or assuaged in some way during...

Seanad: Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme: Statements (Resumed) (22 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: I recognise the compassion the former Minister for Health, Senator James Reilly, has consistently shown in this regard and the eloquent case he has made in defence of the redress scheme. I was involved in the design of the scheme on behalf of constituents of mine, with the Minister of State, Deputy Regina Doherty, and others. Senator James Reilly has been a consistent supporter of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: When will this or the Lower House see Government legislation regulating the use of zero-hour, if-and-when, and low-hour contracts? We can all be gratified and satisfied that, through the work of the previous Government and the continuing work of elements of this Government, there are now 2 million people in work across the economy. That is a record. The unemployment rate has decreased by...

Seanad: Hospital Waiting Lists: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: I commend Senator Colette Kelleher for sharing her personal testimony with us. It is very brave and courageous for a person to share his or her personal story with the House. It is very difficult and I congratulate the Senator on doing so. Since she entered the House she has been a very strong advocate for maternity, gynaecology and obstetric services at Cork Univeristy Maternity Hospital....

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: It is clear that we will not be having a commission of investigation into the issues surrounding Sergeant McCabe because there has been a political move towards a full public inquiry or tribunal of investigation. As a result, this week we will not be dealing with the business that was originally slated.The Leader might, at some point in time in the next few days, inform the House what he...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (8 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: Last December I met a group of 40 Egyptian fishermen who are, or have been, working in Ireland. They travelled across the country to my home town of Drogheda to tell me their individual stories on foot of a report in The Guardianin November of 2015. The then Government, of which I was a member, moved to introduce an atypical permit scheme for non-EEA fishermen. It sought to do a couple of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (8 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: -----were in fact broken by the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department which has been charged by the State to operate the scheme. I have spoken to a number of decent, compliant trawler owners who wanted the scheme to succeed and who have pointed out the flaws in the scheme to Departments. They want to be able to hire the skilled workers they need to operate their businesses, and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (8 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: -----between the International Transport Federation, the trade union representing the workers, and the industry. Both want to see the scheme reformed, and want to see a new scheme in place to protect workers and works for the industry. That is something I believe that the agencies of the State need to consider seriously and urgently.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (8 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: I am glad that there are moves afoot to review the operation of the scheme, but it has been brought into disrepute to a certain degree by what I have heard directly from fishermen from Egypt, some of whom have been in Ireland for years and are still operating without permits. I was shocked to read testimony in The Irish Timesyesterday in an article by Ms Lorna Siggins who had attended a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Employment Rights (8 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: Those who come to Ireland in good faith need the State's protection to vindicate and enforce their rights, but I cannot conclude that this is happening to a successful degree. Efforts are being made, but more needs to be done.

Seanad: National Children's Hospital: Statements (8 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: We are dealing with a runaway train in terms of the cost for a national children's hospital. In reality, construction inflation does not account for the rise in costs that the Minister of State indicated earlier this evening. She said that the cost rose by 9% per year since the project was first announced. To the best of my knowledge, when I was in government we signed off on a project...

Seanad: Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016: Second Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I will be sharing time with my colleague, Senator Ó Ríordáin. I am pleased to move the Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016. Less than two years ago the people of this Republic came together and declared that all citizens should be treated equally no...

Seanad: Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016: Second Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Gerald Nash: I thank all the speakers who contributed to this important debate. Depending on how we progress, this could be considered a landmark evening for the Chamber. Much of what is positive about Irish politics, including the effects on the transformation of our society in recent decades, has emanated from legislative propositions that started their journeys in this House. I am satisfied that the...