Results 621-640 of 1,389 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Committee for the Executive Office, Northern Ireland Assembly on Impact of Brexit (2 Feb 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I had a technical problem. I would first like to issue a warm welcome to our colleagues from the North; it is great to hear their voices. It is somewhat unfortunate that the development of last night seems to have dominated the discussion this morning, and rightly so. We would hope, when temperatures cool, that the issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned. Like Senator...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: Thankfully the incidence of Covid-19 is on the decrease in this country and we have many people to thank for that, from the gallant efforts of our front-line workers to the general public, the vast majority of whom have been adhering to the strict guidelines that have been laid down. We must always ask ourselves how we can do better. We had much debate this week about the zero Covid...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I raised two issues that the Leader might address. Those are increased co-operation and protocols to be put in place between the gardaí and PSNI and the non-attendance of people for Covid tests.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Feb 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State to the House to discuss this important legislation. I listened attentively to his contribution. I welcome that increased financial and personnel resources will be made available to beef up the Garda Síochána's specialised unit and address an ongoing problem. We in Fianna Fáil are delighted to support this legislation, which further strengthens...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Feb 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: Next Monday.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jan 2021)

Robbie Gallagher: I too wish the Cathaoirleach, Martin, all the staff on the Leinster House campus and, indeed, Members a healthy and happy new year. I would like to raise the issue of the long-term future of the cross-border healthcare directive. This scheme has been a significant success since it was introduced in June 2014. To emphasise how popular it has become, in 2014, only seven people were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: My comments will be confined to discussing the end of the year. This time last year, little did those of us who were in the Chamber think we would have the year that has just gone by. It has been a strange and tough year for many families, especially those who have lost loved ones along the way in difficult and strenuous circumstances. It has also been a very tough year for many in the...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: I appreciate the latitude the Leas-Chathaoirleach is giving us and I appreciate that other Senators want to say a few words on this matter. With regard to the two previous speakers, Senator Martin mentioned that the time for talking is over. None of us need to say any more on what councillors do. Everyone knows what they do. Senator Gavan summed it up very eloquently in his contribution....

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: Fianna Fáil has been in government for less than eight months. Like Senator Martin said, I intend to do all I can, along with my colleagues, to ensure that councillors get what they are entitled to.

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State back to the Chamber. As the Cathaoirleach outlined, Fianna Fáil is delighted to support this important legislation which is referred to as Coco's Law, in memory of Nicole Fox Fenlon. We are thinking of Nicole's family at this time, particularly given the time of year, and our thoughts are with them. The Bill provides for the creation of two new offences...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: This week marks the 37th anniversary of the murders of trainee garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly. They were both killed by the Provisional IRA in Derrada Woods in County Leitrim in 1983 while trying to rescue the businessman Mr. Don Tidey. There was no justification for the murder of these two young innocent men or, indeed, for the kidnapping of Mr. Don Tidey. Their families...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (16 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: Mr. Russell is very welcome and I thank him for taking time out to be with us this afternoon. He has mentioned the word "tragedy" a number of times in the context of Brexit. Unfortunately, that term cannot be overused when it comes to Brexit. However, we have to move on from where we are. On the future and where we are going, where does Mr. Russell see the future of the UK going forward,...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (16 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: Mr. Neal is very welcome. I thank him very much for taking time out to be with us here this afternoon. We really welcome his contribution. We thank him personally for the work he has done on the Good Friday Agreement and the peace we enjoy on our island. For someone who was born and lives in a Border county, we more than most are grateful and appreciate every day the change it has brought...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: Like other Senators, I wish to raise the issue of Bus Éireann. For many people in rural Ireland, their only form of transport is Bus Éireann. If someone from Monaghan, Cavan or many other parts of rural Ireland wishes to travel to Dublin, the only hope of getting there is a Bus Éireann bus. People in Cavan and Monaghan do not have a train service that links directly to the...

Seanad: Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “Seanad Éireann declines to give the Bill a second reading in view of the fact that: Seanad Éireann: - recognises that both the Department of Justice and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are taking a pragmatic approach to Deportation Orders in the context...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: The loss of a loved one is a very traumatic and harrowing experience for any person, but the loss of a loved one who is living abroad is an even more stressful and harrowing predicament. That is the situation in which Colin and Eithne Bell found themselves when their son, Kevin, died tragically while living abroad in 2013. The family was heartbroken and shocked, as Members will imagine, and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (2 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to be here this morning to discuss the nursing homes support scheme. Calls for the overhaul of the fair deal scheme have been made for a long time. Many people have been calling for a new scheme which would ease the crippling burden that is currently on small farm families and small businesses. As...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (2 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for that. That is positive and I do not doubt her sincerity and commitment to sorting this issue out as soon as practically possible. Did she hope to have this invoked by the second quarter of 2021?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (2 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: That is great news. Will the Minister of State make a brief comment on the fair deal-type scheme for home care packages going forward?

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (2 Dec 2020)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister and thank him for his time and presence here and, indeed, the exhaustive work he has done on the Brexit scenario since it first arrived on our shores. I note that my colleagues are all behind him provided he gets the right result. They did not say whether they would be if he did not get the right result, but perhaps that is for another day. I am sure the Minister...