Results 4,541-4,560 of 6,623 for speaker:Gerald Nash

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...

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

Gerald Nash: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Health Service: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Gerald Nash: I am glad-----

Seanad: Health Service: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Gerald Nash: I am happy to cede to Senator O'Donnell.

Seanad: Health Service: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Gerald Nash: Where was I before I was so rudely interrupted? I forgive you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, for interrupting me. We will not fall out over it.

Seanad: Health Service: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Gerald Nash: I was happy to cede the floor to my colleague. I am pleased that what we have heard to date has been a measured approach to the debate on health because that has not always been possible in this Chamber or in the other Chamber. I can understand why colleagues would want to take some time to focus their attention and that of the Minister on the emergency department crisis around the country....

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I will try to assist. I know what Senator Mac Lochlainn is driving at but it might be useful to propose that Ireland keep a repository of this information. Senator Higgins seems to be referring to information retained on a regional basis, which would help with policy development for bodies such as Enterprise Ireland and with the development of the regional action plans for jobs. These are...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: This is an area that would be of deep interest to Enterprise Ireland because it relates very much to the SME sector. The Minister is only too well aware of the importance of innovation in terms of accessing better markets, particularly in a post-Brexit situation, not that we are yet in such circumstances. That said, we are trying to diversify our markets all the time. Enterprise Ireland...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: There is always a cost to introducing tax subsidies. We see the ongoing subvention of the hospitality sector through the reduced VAT rate, which has cost several hundred million euro over the past five years. There is always a cost to the Exchequer when a subsidy is introduced. It is not only good practice, but it is good government and good governance to require the Minister of the day to...

Seanad: Cystic Fibrosis Treatment: Statements (8 Dec 2016)

Gerald Nash: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him, on behalf of all of those we represent, for his investment in this issue. I know he is personally heavily invested in it as I have been following his progress on it for some time now. For what it is worth, he has my support in terms of the approach he is taking. I think it is the right, responsible and sensible approach. I hope he can...