Results 101-120 of 174 for long speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Children's Hospital (3 Jul 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...projects on time and without delay in County Monaghan. Last year, the Minister, Deputy Harris, made a comment that he proposed building new hospitals to take on elective surgery to deal with the long waiting lists, despite the fact that small hospitals such as Monaghan Hospital could do more. Clearly, projects will not go ahead because of the cost overruns and I would imagine that...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Jun 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: .... They risk their lives as they work to help and save others. It is disappointing and even distressing that those we call on for help can themselves be put at risk through assault. Those working long hard hours in the emergency services repeatedly put themselves into dangerous situations for the sake of our safety and care. As a result, the onus is on us, as legislators, to protect our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...what the problem is and now we have to try to find a solution to it. That is not simple. The previous two speakers alluded to another point. It is the fact that this has been going on for so long but it is only now that we are having a conversation about it. That is alarming. I appreciate that Ms Cregg outlined the Department's case but it is not convincing based on the evidence we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...point. From the contributions we have heard so far, this seems to be a serious problem. There seems to be confusion as to when reduced hours are implemented, why they are being implemented, how long they are implemented for, what happens when a child is on reduced hours, who looks after the child and what is that person meant to be doing. From the contributions we have heard so far,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Use of Reduced Timetables: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...heartened by what our guests outlined is the procedure within their schools. I appreciate Mr. Goff's and Mr. Golden's points and their experience, given that they have been school principals for a long period. On the face of it, there seems to be a conflict, although that might be too strong a word, between their contributions and those we heard earlier. I am heartened that when reduced...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 May 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: We all know well that the life of a farmer is a tough one. Farmers work long hours, many work seven days a week, and much of that time is spent working on their own. The HSE recently conducted a survey, on which I compliment it, on farmers' health generally. It conducted a pilot scheme in livestock marts throughout the country. The findings are very worrying. Farmers are more inclined to...

Seanad: Farm Safety Agency Bill 2018: Second Stage (29 May 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...2018 put forward today by my colleague, Senator Paul Daly. At this point I wish to compliment Senator Daly on bringing forward this important legislation. I wish to compliment him on the many long hours and days he has put in to bringing this critical legislation to the House this afternoon. We all know that the farm is potentially a dangerous place to work. Unfortunately, the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (8 May 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...could remain there for the rest of his life. I ask that common sense prevail and that the HSE postpone the decision in order that the man can reside where he is happy and content to reside for as long as he wishes.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...to discuss the issue a few months ago, the Minister indicated to me that legislation was imminent. However, I am disappointed to learn that the heads of the Bill have yet to be published. Such a long delay is unacceptable and many farm families are losing out as a result. Many families who have loved ones in a nursing home for a long period will be facing severe financial hardship....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...surgery, a life-changing procedure that should be available in this country but, sadly, is not. Despite the fact that there is no cure for these people, they are not automatically eligible for the long-term illness scheme. The association itself is not in receipt of any core funding from the State.It shows that more needs to be done to assist these people suffering from this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Property Tax (11 Apr 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...elections but I will await the Minister of State's comments on that. There are serious consequences for the Government's inaction on property tax. Many low and fixed-income households will no longer be able to defer the property tax when it is due. As the Minister of State knows, a couple who are both on the maximum State pension of €248.30 per week, which gives them a total...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to raise the cross-border health directive and the urgent need for additional staff in that unit. As Members are aware, people who have been on a waiting list for a long time can avail of healthcare in another EU state and recoup the costs from the HSE. It can be availed of anywhere in Europe but the reality is that most people, including people from Monaghan, Cavan and elsewhere,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Apr 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...when I understand that no overtime is available for the investigation of such crimes in the Border counties. This matter clearly illustrates that we have a serious problem. I have preached here for long enough that we are totally exposed in the Border counties and it is time that the Government gave us the resources that we need. The banks also need to step up to the plate as they have a...

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

Robbie Gallagher: .... That is proved by this recategorisation backwards from what is called a developed region to a region in transition. The EU has stated and confirmed what we have been saying in this part of the world for a long time. The BMW region has been left behind in recent years. It is no surprise to anybody living there. People living in the Border region are at a greater risk of poverty...

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

Robbie Gallagher: ...clarity on this issue. Broadband is not just an essential tool for the farming community. It is also vital for rural businesses and rural families throughout the country.Rural Ireland has been waiting long enough for broadband. Why should the people of rural Ireland be treated like second-class citizens when it comes to modern communications? Rural Ireland needs certainty and clarity...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...and emergency department of the local hospital, which is in Cavan. That is a very sad state of affairs. Unfortunately, this issue has been with us for some time. GPs have been banging this drum for a long time but the Government has not taken any notice. It has now reached a stage where people simply cannot get access to healthcare. When we get sick the first door we knock on is that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...their workload. That illustrates in very simple terms the gravity of the situation. I note from the Minister of State's comments that talks are going on. GPs will say they have been going on too long. There is a crisis, particularly in the rural counties such as Monaghan and Cavan.It is past time that this issue was taken more seriously and that the Government addressed the situation....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Discussion (12 Feb 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...that are thinking about sending their children to colleges in the North of Ireland. The Minister and I, being from Donegal, understand, and Deputy McLoughlin also outlined, that for students along the Border, going to a college in the North is nearly the first option. There are currently about 2,000 students from the Republic attending colleges in the North. It is our first port of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jan 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ..., an orthopaedic surgeon based in Letterkenny University Hospital. He said that nurses have been "poorly treated and poorly paid for many years and the only surprise is that they have waited so long to take industrial action". This is from a gentleman who works shoulder to shoulder with members of the nursing profession seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year. We all appreciate the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Respite Care Services Availability (24 Jan 2019)

Robbie Gallagher: ...me that the family had been waiting for two and a half years to get into the system. Given the high care needs of some of the individuals in question, it is disappointing to learn that it takes so long for them to enter the system. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that is simply not good enough. I understand a number of buildings are lying idle on the St. Davnet's complex in...