Results 541-560 of 704 for speaker:John Kelly

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

John Kelly: I commiserate with the Cathaoirleach on Mayo's loss on Sunday. We were all rooting for Mayo but it was unfortunate that it came up against a very strong Donegal team. I congratulate Donegal on winning the all-Ireland. The only regret I have, which I am sure the Cathaoirleach has, is that we did not have the best player in the country on display in Croke Park. Andy Moran was out through...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Sep 2012)

John Kelly: I call on the Leader to allocate some time for a broad debate on the proposed property tax in advance of any announcements being made on it because we have form here with successive Governments in that issues can be overlooked. When the second home charge was introduced, the first thing property owners were told was that if they paid rates, they would not be liable for the second home charge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Beverage Exports: Discussion with Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (25 Sep 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the delegation. How big a factor do commercial rates play in sustaining jobs in the sector? Several years ago there were 72 licensed premises in the small west of Ireland town in which I live but there are only eight today. I see pubs closing on a regular basis. Is this a big issue for publicans and has a submission been made to the Minister? A national review of commercial...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I will not comment on Senator Leyden's accusations in order to spare the family any further hurt. Before I raise an important matter, I wish to welcome friends in the Visitors' Gallery, who have come from California and are on their honeymoon. It would be the last place I would go to celebrate my honeymoon.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: If they knew Senator Leyden was here they would probably have gone to the Dáil.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I do and I want to make a point. I support Senator Clune's call for a debate in September on wind energy and its viability because it is a very important issue. I also want to raise an issue which is very close to my heart. I am conscious we will be in recess for a number of weeks and I am always concerned about the security of small post offices in rural Ireland. Criminal gangs target...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: -----like staff at two other local post offices which were robbed.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: Will the Leader call on the Minister for Justice and Equality to put in place extra security in rural Ireland over the summer recess when this House and the Dáil are not sitting and to ensure there is a greater Garda presence particularly where there are small rural post offices? It is too late when the horse has bolted in this instance.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: This is dreadful.

Seanad: Civil Service (17 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I am glad the Minister of State pointed out that we are talking about the same Civil Service. I am not talking about the Civil Service at large but senior advisers in the Civil Service who have been giving the same advice to the last three Governments. I am not suggesting we get rid of all of them but there has to be some kind of accountability which does not apply at present. Deputy Hogan...

Seanad: Civil Service (17 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the Minister of State. He is on the home run now. I question the role of the Civil Service and ask who is running the country. Is it the Civil Service are the Government? I was a civil servant and I am mindful the majority of them are good people and do a very good job. However, I am also of the opinion that certain civil servants think they are more powerful than the Minister...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the recently announced stimulus package. My home town of Ballaghaderreen is to benefit from a new primary care centre. It is much needed in a rural part of the country that has been neglected for many years. I support Senator Whelan's call for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, to come to the House to discuss the two new wind farm...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: On this occasion, I do not.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I want to question the role of the Civil Service here. Who runs the country? Is it the civil servants or is it the Ministers and Government? Since I was elected to this House, I have been infuriated by various Departments and how the Civil Service has misguided Ministers. The Department of Education and Skills recently gave the wrong information to the Minister on the issue of a small...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I support the call by Senator Reilly for a debate on youth unemployment. The Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education, of which I am a member, is taking this issue very seriously. We are concerned about emigration among the youth of this country. I have previously suggested that we should give half of social welfare payments to employers in order to employ people but if we...

Seanad: Rent Supplements: Motion (4 Jul 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, back to the House and commend Sinn Féin on tabling this motion. Contributors have spoken a lot of common sense thus far and despite the Minister for Social Protection's description of rent allowance as a short-term scheme, it is far from short term. From my own experience as a community welfare officer, I am aware of people who were...

Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the Minister to the House again. Similar to Senator Whelan, I am a little out of my depth on this issue. I am no J. R. Ewing but I do want to talk about some of our energy resources. I would like to question the Minister on the Corrib natural gas field. I know he received a report from the Western Development Commission some months ago which contained recommendations about...

Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)

John Kelly: The Senator can stay offshore.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2012)

John Kelly: I support the call for a debate on local authority rates, an issue I have raised on numerous occasions. It is time we had a look at the rates being charged to small businesses. In the North there is a rates holiday for those wishing to set up a new business. This is the type of idea we should take on board. I call for a debate on how the medical referees in the Department of Social...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2012)

John Kelly: I find it incredible for Senator Walsh to call for a reduction in social welfare rates when Fianna Fáil bought three elections by increasing social welfare.