Results 801-820 of 1,354 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: State Pensions Reform (2 Apr 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I welcome that some progress has been made with an increase on the 4,254 figure I gave to 11,646. I welcome also and accept that 121 temporary staff members have been recruited to tackle this job. That said, it will continue to be a time-consuming and slow process.Can the Minister of State, give me, or more important, the pensioners concerned...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I have been contacted by many people in the last few days from counties Cavan and Monaghan in respect of a new charge being introduced for elderly people and those with disabilities availing of facilities laid on by the HSE.The charge is €4 per day return journey to and from the HSE service. While people are not totally against the service per se, they have serious concerns about the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Development Funding (28 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Go raibh maith agat. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur raibh an Aire-Stáit go dtí an Teach seo. I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of his schedule to be here. As he knows, the Border, midlands and western, BMW, region has now moved back from what is called a developed region to a region in transition. This reflects the two-tier economy on the island of Ireland....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Regional Development Funding (28 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for the response. I appreciate that this is not a matter for his Department, but the increased EU funding of 55% for any particular project is a serious opportunity for Government to invest in the region. I ask the Minister of State to stress to his colleague that it is vitally important that the regions should be responsible for the allocation of that funding...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: The Valuation Office is re-evaluating commercial properties and business premises throughout counties Monaghan and Cavan with a view to revaluing the rates relating to properties used for business purposes, namely, small shops, offices, bars, public houses or whatever. In recent days, I have been contacted by a number of business owners in Clones, County Monaghan, who have received...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Senator Buttimer is going then?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: The Leader is putting fuel on the fire.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: If the Leader did not have Fianna Fáil to talk about in every single response he gives in this House he would have nothing to say, which, upon reflection, might be a welcome development.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Traveller Education: Discussion (26 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome all the witnesses and thank them for their straightforward and though-provoking presentations. Mr. Joyce outlined the history of this issue and how we arrived at this point. He mentioned the 80% cut in funding for Traveller education in 2011. Senator Ruane made the point that that in itself was not a target, but the Government has to address that issue at the very least. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Traveller Education: Discussion (26 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: As Ian noted, he is an inspiration and he should be proud in that regard, as I am sure his parents also are. What came across in his presentation was his determination to succeed. He is an inspiration to all young people throughout the country and I wish him well. He stated he wants to be a garda and that he wants to end up in Leinster House. I was a member of An Garda Síochána...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (6 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. We all know and appreciate the great work the ambulance service does on behalf of all of us, sometimes in very trying and difficult circumstances. It is disappointing that 500 ambulance service personnel who belong to the National Ambulance Service Representative Association, NASRA, branch of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (6 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I note the comment to the effect that "The Minister stated in the Dáil on 13 February that he would ask his officials to engage." I understand that this has not happened yet. Perhaps the Minister of State might chase that up for me today in order to ensure that it does happen. The other issue is ambulance cover in the north east generally...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to raise again the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme we discussed yesterday and the disappointment when we learned this scheme is now closed to new applicants. It is disappointing for young people who thought they were on the road to getting their first home to discover the scheme is closed. It highlights alarmingly the incompetence of this Government when it comes to dealing...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Surely someone should have been monitoring the drawdowns in regard to mortgage approvals but, apparently, no one did. All of a sudden, we discovered there was no money left in the kitty. It is simply not good enough in the midst of a housing crisis. It would not inspire people with confidence in this Government's ability to do something about the housing crisis.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: The other issue we learned about in regard to this scheme concerns mortgage protection insurance. I have learned that the applicants who draw down their mortgage have no option but to go with the provider recommended by the Department. Surely people should be free to go where they get best value. People have told me they have shopped around and discovered that other providers are offering...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: The housing crisis in this country is very serious. The way this Government is handling it at the moment would not inspire the people of Ireland with much confidence.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I am raising the issue of rural broadband. The Government’s national broadband plan was announced in 2012. We are still waiting seven years later. The delay and uncertainty continues, unfortunately. That uncertainty has been added to in recent days by comments made by the Taoiseach. He seemed to indicate that a hard Brexit, and a resultant bailout for farmers, could affect the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an event organised by the Irish Cancer Society in Monaghan town. It related to regional awareness of the disease itself but was mainly based around national daffodil day, which is on 22 March. I found it very informative, interesting and, in many ways, harrowing. It was very well attended by many volunteers from counties Monaghan and Cavan. Some...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Feb 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 15, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019 be taken before No. 1.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019: First Stage (27 Feb 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for a mandatory prison sentence in respect of an assault on a member of the emergency services; to provide for the introduction of an offence of ramming an emergency services vehicle and to provide for a mandatory prison sentence in respect of such an offence, and for that purpose to amend the Criminal Justice (Public...