Results 9,761-9,780 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: I welcome Mr. Healy to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and thank him for his submission. I was a bit taken aback with regard to Mr. Healy's submission. Is he saying that there are 200,436 guns out there under the firearms certificates issued and that out in the public at the moment there are over 200,000 firearms of which 873 are restricted?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: I find that figure extraordinarily high for a small country. Would that be correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: The other figure that jumps out at me is that of 1,683 handguns. Looking at it objectively, I would say that is very high. What kind of people would have those handguns? Why would a person in broader society want a handgun, except perhaps if a person needed protection or is threatened by someone or something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: Mr. Healy says in his submission that the Garda Commissioner in 2013 observed the risk about the availability of these large calibre weapons. Mr. Healy used two examples, the one in Hungerford and the massacre in Norway. In the situation in Norway, a licensed firearm was used.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: In the situation in England, the prohibition came in after the tragedy. These are two classic examples of needing stronger regulation and prohibition to prevent instances such as this happening. How does Mr. Healy respond to this from a Garda point of view?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: Mr. Healy also states in his submission that the majority of certified farmers are of impeccable character and integrity. I have an issue about access to firearms. Sometimes a small trivial issue, because they have access to firearms, can lead to a worse situation. One might have an innocent farmer with a shotgun who has a row with a neighbour over land or cattle or a fence. All of a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Pension Provisions (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 27. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a pension fund and the role of employers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48489/14]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Career Breaks (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding career breaks and leave of absence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48658/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 158. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) in view of the appalling treatment of persons with an intellectual disability; his plans to alleviate the plight of parents with children with intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48532/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointment Status (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 173. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment and operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48643/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 174. To ask the Minister for Health if all proper procedures were adhered to at a centre (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48656/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services Provision (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 175. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the proposal for an independent confidential recipient to deal with complaints around persons with intellectual and physical disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48657/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 177. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter regading funding for a group (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48660/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the impact of cutbacks in school guidance counselling services in post-primary school students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48531/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 229. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on new information on Article 9.4 of the Water Framework Directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49075/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Eligibility (17 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: 273. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48655/14]

Topical Issue Debate: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: The Minister's response shows that it is a national emergency and crisis. It also shows the priorities of this Government. Intelligent people can plan for the seasonal problem issue and the cold winters. There will be times when there are build-ups, but there can be a long-term plan and a crisis or emergency plan put in place. As Deputy Kelleher said, there is the wrong patient in the...

Topical Issue Debate: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: He is trying to sort his life out. He is a busy man.

Topical Issue Debate: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: Beaumont hospital, which is located in my constituency of Dublin North Central, faces a serious crisis. The Minister needs to wake up and face the reality because many families of patients have the impression that he does not understand what is happening on the ground. One nurse who worked in one of the wards expressed disgust that people were being left on trolleys for 70 hours and that 20...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Ceart chun Féinriarachta Pearsanta agus Sláine Colainne) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Personal Autonomy and Bodily Integrity) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Dec 2014)

Finian McGrath: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this new legislation, the Thirty-Fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Personal Autonomy and Bodily Integrity) Bill 2014. I welcome this debate and commend my colleague, Deputy Clare Daly, on bringing the legislation before the House. She made an excellent contribution and put the facts on the table. She showed the world the reality of...