Results 741-760 of 1,354 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services (25 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to raise a matter relating to Annalee Respite Care Centre in Cootehill, County Cavan. This time last year, Annalee Respite Care Centre was forced to close its doors because of an oil leak in the building. As a result, for 12 months there have been no respite facilities for families in Monaghan and Cavan. The situation is causing great hardship for many families in both counties....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services (25 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response and appreciate that this is not his brief. I am disappointed the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is not here to address this issue but I understand he may have other commitments. I have two questions and I would appreciate if the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, would pass them on to the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. On...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services (25 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Relationships and Sexuality Education: Statements (25 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo tráthnóna. A number of my colleagues and I are members of the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills which does much work on a wide range of issues. The committee undertook some work recently on the sexual health and relationship education curriculum for schools and youth organisations. The committee sought...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Recently released figures in respect of home care packages funded by the HSE make for grim and depressing reading. They show that the number on the waiting list increased from 6,238 at the end of March to 7,346 at the end of July, an increase of 18% in four months. The list for the Cavan-Monaghan region now stands at 326 people. It is important that we do not forget that behind these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Eligibility Criteria of Student Universal Support Ireland: Discussion (12 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome Ms Fanning, Ms Fitzpatrick and Mr. Connolly and thank them for their presentation. I am conscious that all the guns seem to be pointed in Mr. Connolly's direction this morning and the two ladies are getting an easy ride. To be fair, it is important to acknowledge that for all its faults, a lot of families would not have experienced third level education without SUSI. As other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Eligibility Criteria of Student Universal Support Ireland: Discussion (12 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Does the review carried out by SUSI go to the Minister or the Department at the end of each year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Eligibility Criteria of Student Universal Support Ireland: Discussion (12 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Basically, all the eyes in the room are on the Minister and the Department given that all the queries we have raised will require the Minister to act so they can be addressed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Eligibility Criteria of Student Universal Support Ireland: Discussion (12 Sep 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I must compliment SUSI. It is doing an excellent job.

Seanad: Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (11 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State, as well as our guests in the Visitors Gallery. I echo the Minister of State's comments in welcoming the legislation. I am delighted that it is on its final journey. It is a very welcome development that the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, now has a path towards becoming a university. I am delighted that Fianna Fáil has played its part in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Like other colleagues, yesterday I attended a briefing on the Mercosur deal organised by the Irish Farmers Association. Representatives from the association informed us how Irish farmers are terrified at the potential consequences for the future of farming here and, by extension, the future of rural Ireland. Today, the Beef Plan movement is holding a protest outside the gates of Leinster...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House to discuss the important issue of rates. By and large, I support the principle of the Bill but I firmly believe it is tinkering at the edges of an issue that is long past its sell-by date. There must be a root and branch review of the rate collection system for commercial property. The world has changed and, as other Members...

Seanad: Defence Matters: Statements (9 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House to discuss this very important issue. We have spoken many times about the great pride Irish people have in members of the Defence Forces and the great work they do on behalf of the nation both here at home and overseas, where they distinguish themselves with great honour. Regrettably, we have also spoken many times in the House...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Children's Hospital (3 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber this morning and I thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to come here. There has rightly been much outrage at the savage and massive overruns with the children's hospital, the detrimental effect that is going to have on the health services in the future, and how taxpayers' money has been squandered by those who failed to do their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Children's Hospital (3 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response and I look forward to the delivery of the primary care centre and other health projects on time and without delay in County Monaghan. Last year, the Minister, Deputy Harris, made a comment that he proposed building new hospitals to take on elective surgery to deal with the long waiting lists, despite the fact that small hospitals such as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Children's Hospital (3 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Those are wise words from the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Earlier this morning, like other Members, I attended a briefing organised by the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland. It was a pre-budget submission about dementia support across the country and the headline, as far as the society was concerned, was that it is still asking, still waiting and still struggling. We often attend submissions and briefings organised by different groups but this was a...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Jun 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality back to the Seanad for this debate. The purpose of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019 is to achieve one simple goal, namely, ensuring that sufficient measures are in place to protect our nurses, gardaí, firefighters, accident and emergency personnel, ambulance...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Jun 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I, too, extend a welcome to our guests in the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their evening in Leinster House. Getting back to the business at hand, I thank Senator Murnane O'Connor, who seconded the Bill, for her support. I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate for the support they have shown in respect of the legislation. I acknowledge the Minister's comments, which were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: As we know, life is a very precious thing. We know also that it can change dramatically in the blink of an eye. Last Sunday, I attended the Ulster football final in Clones between Donegal and Cavan.Approximately an hour before kick-off, supporters gathered outside the stadium. There was banter and a sense of giddy excitement in anticipation of the game ahead, but news then began to filter...