Results 961-980 of 1,954 for speaker:John Gilroy

Seanad: Domestic Violence: Motion (8 May 2013)

John Gilroy: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. Much of what I had wanted to say has already been said and I will not labour the Chamber with repetition. However, I welcome the opportunity to make some points. I welcome the comments of the Minister of State, especially those on forthcoming legislation on alcohol and public health. He identified that a major and significant contributing...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2013)

John Gilroy: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP (30 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: They do.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP (30 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: I welcome Mr. Kelly. It is often thought that the sum of human experience is contained in this House. It probably is, but it is also good to have an opportunity to hear what representatives in other Houses of Parliament have to say. I listened carefully to Mr. Kelly's contribution which I found to be astute and incisive. If any evidence was needed that he was a more than ordinary and...

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I note his obvious determination to deal with this public health matter, which is also a private health challenge, and restrict, reduce or prevent smoking. To use the Minister's own words, to wage war on this product is commendable. This level of determination is welcome but will, unfortunately, be necessary. He painted a very powerful image in his...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: On a point of order, it is appropriate for Senator Ó Domhnaill to criticise the Minister politically, but the personalised attack must be withdrawn.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: We take it for granted.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: "Exonerate Fianna Fáil" will be our next slogan. It was not Fianna Fáil's fault; the party was not in government for 14 years.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: On a point of order, it is convention that part of the Oireachtas would not criticise another element of it.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: I will clarify it. It is called the separation of powers and as part of the Oireachtas, of which this House is one third, it is inappropriate to criticise another part of it.

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: I welcome the Minister to the House. Some 94,000 mortgages are in arrears, which is shocking. There is an onus on Members to do what we can. Let me acknowledge the constructive ideas put forward by Fianna Fáil in particular Senator Darragh O'Brien's contribution was very thoughtful. The idea, whether it originated in Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin and they can argue over that, of...

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: -----has been described as a useful model. There are some operational, legal and constitutional difficulties but I think it is a good idea that could be reworked. It could be part of a solution. I acknowledge that Senator MacSharry has done a great deal of work on this area, but his contribution today has me perplexed and requires a response, but I will leave it to somebody who has a...

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: What will I say about the Sinn Féin contribution? If one strips away the rhetoric of concern, the Sinn Féin contribution is pure political point scoring and does not merit another mention. What is a sustainable mortgage? It has been said that a sustainable mortgage is one that requires no more than 35% of income to service it, but even FLAC and New Beginnings have pointed out that...

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears: Motion (17 Apr 2013)

John Gilroy: It is.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

John Gilroy: I support Senator Barrett?s aspiration to have such a measure included, although I cannot support the amendment. Senator MacSharry put it very well, that the replication of means testing is time consuming and wasteful of scarce resources. It is something the Minister could usefully bring back to Cabinet not in the context of the Bill, but as part of a wider legislative measure.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

John Gilroy: On a point of order, with the Chair's permission, may I try to ascertain what this speech has to do with the section under consideration?

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

John Gilroy: He is entitled to speak to the section.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

John Gilroy: Only to the section.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

John Gilroy: Perhaps it is the reason the House will be abolished, that we are not doing our job properly.

Seanad: Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2013)

John Gilroy: It is important that we act responsibly and the words we use are those of responsible Senators. There is no question that we are introducing fear of persons losing their medical cards in the sense that Senator MacSharry has casually mentioned there. This is a targeted measure aimed at those who have pension funds, perhaps to the value of ¤650,000, who will also benefit from GP only cards...