Results 1,161-1,180 of 1,356 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I too would like to join with others in the House in congratulating the Leader on his engagement. We can all look forward to a date in Cork in the not too distant future. On a more serious note, along with many other Members, I have raised the issue of the future of rural Ireland many times. This, unfortunately, would appear to have fallen on deaf ears, as proved by two media reports this...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the issue of farm safety in the context of the regrettable decision to slash the farm safety budget for 2017. The decision taken by the Health and Safety Authority to cut the budget by 25%, from €384,000 last year to €287,000 this year, is alarming and very hard to fathom when one considers that, so far this year, unfortunately, there have been 13 fatalities in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the delegates and thank them for their presence. I have found all of the contributions very informative but also quite disturbing, particularly those of the two principals. Some of the problems they highlighted are a sad indictment of the education sector, specifically those who have decisions to make and are tasked with looking after the education of children. Dr. Anne Ryan...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to the Chamber this afternoon and thank him for attending on this issue calling for the reintroduction of a specific ring-fenced allocation of funding for local improvement schemes. I have no doubt the Minister is aware that this is an important issue, particularly for people in rural areas whose only access to their homes...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for his response. It is clear from his contribution that he is very aware of local improvement schemes and their importance, particularly to rural Ireland.I am, therefore, heartened by his response. Perhaps we might look forward, towards the end of the year or at the beginning of next year, to the reintroduction of an allocation. It would be very welcome if that was...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I hope that will not prove necessary.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the issue of the North-South interconnector, the high voltage electricity cable that will run from the South to the North, passing through the Southern counties of Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal. Owing to great public concern in the past decade the project has yet to proceed, but a very sensible and practical motion has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas calling for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: The House will join me in congratulating Mr. Peter O'Mahony, the Irish rugby player who yesterday was appointed as captain of the British and Irish Lions team to face the All Blacks on Saturday. I wish him and the other Irish players on the team every success in their exploits ahead. I want to discuss the issue of corporation tax and our dependence on tax receipts from a few multinationals....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pensions (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach seo ar maidin fosta. The Minister is very welcome. I join the Cathaoirleach in congratulating her on her nomination and in wishing her every success in her post. As the Cathaoirleach said, we look forward to seeing her here on a regular basis. I wish to ask the Minister about pensions and pensioners. Thousands of pensioners, mainly...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: State Pensions (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for outlining that. I am heartened by her contribution and I look forward to having her back to this House at a later date, when hopefully the unfairness of the scheme can be addressed. I have every confidence that she will do that.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte an Aire Stáit agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis fosta. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, is very welcome to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him all the best in his new rule. I call Senator Conway-Walsh to speak on the Bill.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (21 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome Deputy Pearse Doherty, who has sponsored the Bill, to the Chamber. Tá fáilte romhat.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by my colleague, Senator Ardagh, to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to address the appointment of the Attorney General. It is important that this issue is clarified and I support her call for that. Every year 2,500 people in Ireland are diagnosed with bowel cancer. Of those, 1,000 lose their lives...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (31 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo ar maidin. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this morning and I thank him for his presence. I want to discuss the issue of rural sewerage schemes. The Minister of State's Department has a multi-annual rural water programme that runs from 2016 to 2018. It is due to expire at...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (31 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I appreciate that his Department is under financial constraints and can only spend the money as it is given it, but he should consider extending the scheme and examining how it is constructed. Finding funding is an onerous and unfair responsibility on groups. Perhaps local authorities could be given sole control of the matter. I take the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (31 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I do not know whether I would use the word "poor", but I take the Cathaoirleach's point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Amendment) Bill 2015 and Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I too enjoyed the contributions of all speakers. It is unique in this building to get so much consensus in a room and it is very welcome. The first thing I note is that a few phrases kept repeating themselves, things like resources in respect of overload, on which Deputy Nolan just touched. That is a key issue and a point worth making. When one talks to principals, they all complain of...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to again raise the issue of Brexit. Recent evidence that has emerged from the Irish Exporters Association clearly shows Government inaction in regard to preparing Irish business for what lies ahead. The Irish Exporters Association has described business as "woefully unprepared for Brexit", which is very worrying and is something the Government would need to sit up and take...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 May 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: That would be an awful tip.