Results 1,081-1,100 of 1,354 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (24 Jan 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to the House. I would like to discuss the ongoing overcrowding in accident and emergency departments and the potential role of smaller hospitals, such as Monaghan Hospital, in alleviating the current problem. To put it mildly, it is very unsatisfactory to see thousands of citizens, most of them elderly, lying on hospital trolleys. We need...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Waiting Lists (24 Jan 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response and welcome his commitment to visit Monaghan. I will contact his office to arrange the visit as soon as possible. He has said we cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results. I am heartened by the fact that he is a doer rather than a sayer because this problem requires new thinking and somebody to lead the HSE away from its...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: At the outset I would like to remind the previous speaker that, unfortunately, Fianna Fáil is not in government. If we were, I can assure him that we would not be having this conversation because we would have already had it.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: Moving on-----

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to move on without interruption. I would like to raise an issue which I have raised here on a number of occasions, namely, the chronic shortage of teachers throughout our schools. I have highlighted this issue in the House on a number of previous occasions but, unfortunately, nothing has happened on it to date. I understand that our party, Fianna Fáil, has a Private...

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister to the House and I acknowledge the help and assistance I have received from his office with regard to this ongoing issue. I acknowledge the guests in the Public Gallery, including former Ceann Comhairle, Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, and some of the people affected by and involved in this campaign from Carrickmacross. I acknowledge all the work done by the group here and others,...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I concur with the views of Senator Paddy Burke. The terms and conditions of councillors in many spheres need to be addressed and I look forward to the Minister coming in early in the new year to do just that. I wish to raise the terms and conditions of some school secretaries. The school secretary is the first point of contact when one enters a school. The secretary is a vital link...

Seanad: Special Needs Assistants: Motion (13 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh na daoine atá ag éisteacht linn inniu fosta. Fianna Fáil fully supports the Labour Party motion. I compliment the Labour Party Members on raising it. From a Fianna Fáil perspective we have been consistently critical of the manner in which the Government allocates SNAs. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to raise an issue I raised previously, as have others. That is the fodder crisis facing farmers. It is a very serious issue, particularly in the Border counties and the west. Teagasc recently conducted a survey in those affected areas. It claimed that 60% to 70% of farmers surveyed were of the opinion that they were going to be short of fodder now and for the remainder of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Today, we woke to hear about another shooting of a member of An Garda Síochána as they went about their duty. I suppose it highlights once again the dangers the men and women of An Garda Síochána face so that the rest of us can go about our daily lives in a safe fashion. Today, I acknowledge the honour and bravery of our gardaí as the Scott Medal ceremony is due to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Safety (6 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister to the House this morning. I acknowledge he is very good when it comes to attending Commencement debates that relate to his portfolio and I thank him for that. Today, I would like to talk about road safety. I am conscious of the most recent horrible fatality that occurred a few days back. Our thoughts and prayers are with that family and all connected to them at...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Safety (6 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister referred to the cost of this initiative. I assure him that little or no cost is involved in it. I acknowledge the Minister's contribution to road safety. I know he takes the issue seriously. Perhaps the Minister and the RSA could take a lead role in this regard. I cannot emphasise enough the impact of this event on the 400 students who attended it. I believe this worthwhile...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I take this opportunity to invite the Senator to Glenveagh National Park where I am sure he will have a very enjoyable experience. At the outset I would like to pass comment on and pay tribute to RTÉ on the programme it broadcast last night. The programme showed very clearly that the carers of Ireland do not want to be listening to us trying to score political points against one...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (6 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte mór go dtí an Teach roimh Mona agus a clann uilig. Tá mé cinnte go bhfuil siad iontach bródúil as saol Des. I welcome Mona Hanafin, Mary and John Hanafin and the grandchildren of Des Hanafin to the House this afternoon. I also acknowledge the presence of Deputies Cahill and Mattie McGrath. I am sure the Hanafin family can be very proud of...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I join my constituency colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, in his forward pass in respect of the Cavan Rugby Club choir, to use the words of the Cathaoirleach. I welcome them to the Oireachtas. It is an historic day for them. I have no doubt that they will enjoy the occasion and that members will enjoy their singing this evening. It is with great disappointment that I learned of the...

Seanad: Department of Rural and Community Development: Statements (5 Dec 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister, Deputy Ring, is very welcome and I thank him for his presence in the House. I congratulate him and wish him well in his new role. What does hearten me is that the Minister is a man born from the roots of rural Ireland. That does give me some confidence that he does understand the plight of rural Ireland and the pressures and strains that rural Ireland currently is going...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I, too, would like to be associated with the remarks about Senator Norris. Like other Members, I have only known him since I was elected to the House some 18 months ago. I have enjoyed his contributions. He is very witty. Of his many qualities, I mention his light-hearted attitude to life and everything he does. We could all learn from it. While I am on my feet and contemplating the...

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 Nov 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit agus fosta roimh mhuintir Charraig Mhachaire Rois atá anseo inniu. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy John Paul Phelan, to the Chamber. I also welcome the delegation from Monaghan. I wish in particular to mention the three councillors from the Carrickmacross and...

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 Nov 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank sincerely the Minister of State for his comments and all the Senators who have contributed to this debate. There is much talk nowadays about new politics. This is an example of good politics. This is a good idea that is shared by all political classes and people are rowing in behind it. Legislation can address an issue that has been hanging over not just Carrickmacross but many...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Nov 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I too would like to be associated with the remarks in respect of Denis Landy. I wish him good health and happiness to himself and his family, whatever he chooses to do from here on. I raise the issue of road safety. In 2016, 188 people lost their lives on Irish roads. We can all imagine the pain and suffering those families are going through. One interesting statistic is that for every...