Results 6,601-6,620 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Gerry Horkan: Was none of those reasons, including clinical standards, anticipated? Hospitals are built all over the world all of the time. I am sure that this hospital will be best practice - it would want to be at this price - but surely many of those reasons should have been anticipated by the quantity surveyors and architects, officials in the Department of Health or people involved in the project...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Gerry Horkan: It would have some effect, but no one looking at this proposal would expect the projected cost to almost triple. The Minister is a fair person, and if he were sitting here and I were sitting there, he would challenge me on how the cost tripled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Gerry Horkan: Was the figure of €650 million unrealistic? It was in hindsight, but is the Minister concerned that it was pitched low - contractors sometimes do that, although I am not saying that €650 million was the contractor's figure - so that people would think they could live with that amount? Should it always have been €1.4 billion or €1.6 billion? Why was it so low?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister for his response. My concern is that, if the machinery of the State got this so wrong, it might end up being €3 billion or €4 billion. How can we say with any certainty that the new figures are right if all of the previous figures so far have been proved so wrong? I will take 30 seconds to raise one other issue. I have mentioned to the Minister the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach (5 Feb 2019)

Gerry Horkan: Another 30 seconds, if the Chairman does not mind. It is difficult to get people if they have to travel two or three hours per day each way. That is not conducive to good teaching, good nursing, good policing or whatever. This matter must be examined. If we could drive down the cost of housing and make it more affordable, perhaps they would not need the same rate of pay. At the moment,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: The Leader could write to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Leader for outlining the Order of Business today. Regarding the nurses strike yesterday, another three days of overtime bans are planned for 5, 6 and 7 February and further strikes from 12 February if there is no resolution. Will the Leader update us on what progress has been made and what is happening? I understand the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform,...

Seanad: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I welcome the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to the House.

Seanad: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister for her very comprehensive opening statement. She will be back in the House dealing with legislation on gift vouchers on Thursday, I believe. Group spokespersons have ten minutes and other Senators have five. Those are maximum rather than target times.

Seanad: Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: It has worked so far.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister for an equally comprehensive opening statement on this relatively simple and straightforward legislation. Group spokespersons have eight minutes each and other Senators have five minutes each. Again, I must mention that the time allocation is a maximum rather than a target. I call on Senator Aidan Davitt to commence.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: As Chair, I am neutral on all matters. I thank the Senator for his brevity and call Senator Mac Lochlainn.

Seanad: Companies (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second and Subsequent Stages (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: Does the Minister have anything further to say following the conclusion of very comprehensive statements by three Senators?

Seanad: Housing Provision: Statements (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I will let Senator Kieran O'Donnell in in the fullness of time.

Seanad: Housing Provision: Statements (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: The Minister will have one minute per page.

Seanad: Housing Provision: Statements (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I must stop the Minister there because, in fairness, Fine Gael Private Members' business is scheduled and if he continues, it will eat into that time.

Seanad: Housing Provision: Statements (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I am sure the House would welcome that but out of deference to the Minister's party colleagues, I do not wish to deprive them of their Private Members' time.

Seanad: Housing for Elderly People: Motion (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: The following motion relates to housing for the elderly but I prefer to call them "elderly people" because that is the more correct phrase in the current parlance. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, and call Senator Reilly to move the motion.

Seanad: Housing for Elderly People: Motion (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: I thank Senator Reilly. I believe the Senator's seconder is Senator Colm Burke.

Seanad: Housing for Elderly People: Motion (30 Jan 2019)

Gerry Horkan: Senator John O'Mahony has eight minutes