Results 1,181-1,200 of 1,416 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: If I may without interruption, I will compliment the contribution of Senator Paudie Coffey who hit the nail on the head. This is a complex issue. On a global point, when we drill down to this section it is important that we do not lose sight of the fact that in many ways we are discussing the symptoms of a problem without discussing the problem itself. However, I think common sense will...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to raise the issue of Garda numbers, particularly in Border counties. I refer, in particular, to comments made by two members of the Garda Representative Association, one from the Donegal division and the other from the Cavan-Monaghan division, in which they highlighted their concerns about Brexit and what might happen in the event that there was a hard border. They were putting the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Tackling Obesity and the Promotion of Healthy Eating in Schools: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the delegates and thank them for their informative presentations. As colleagues noted, when it comes to healthy living habits, problems often begin before children arrive in school. As well as educating children, we also must educate their parents. That is a particular challenge we face in this area. Children are only at school for X number of hours a day and it may be too late...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Tackling Obesity and the Promotion of Healthy Eating in Schools: Discussion (24 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: The one thing that comes through this afternoon is all the great work that is being done by a broad section of people, both the present witnesses and the previous speakers as well. It is great to see that level of awareness. As groups, do the witnesses meet collectively to pull their ideas and thoughts together? On a lighter note, there is the famous €5 million that was allocated...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Response Times (24 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for his visit to the Holy Family school in Cootehill yesterday, which went down very well. Everyone enjoyed the occasion and we look forward to a new facility there sooner rather than later. I raise the issue of ambulance delays, particularly in rural Ireland. One might ask what chance ambulance crews have if they do not know where they are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Response Times (24 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Unfortunately, the experience of the family I described does not match the statement made by the Minister of State, but I hope the future will look much brighter for others. The family contacted the Minister for Health at the time through my office and sought a meeting with him. Unfortunately, he was not available but directed us to the National Ambulance Service with a view to arranging...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: As a result of the inequality in the present system of teachers' pay, young people who have qualified as teachers since 2011 are losing €6,000 per annum by comparison with those who qualified before that year and they have lost €30,000 to date. We learned yesterday that the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, ASTI, has joined the Irish National Teachers Organisation...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 10 be taken before No. 1. I concur with my colleagues' comments on the banks and the manner in which they have treated their customers. It is difficult to comprehend that they would do such a thing. The ordinary person on the street is legitimately asking who is in charge of the banks. It is time that the Minister attended the...

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (19 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 so as to better enable a lessee to acquire fee simple; and to provide for related matters. This Bill seeks to amend the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 to make it easier for lessees to acquire fee simple in commercial property.

Seanad: Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (19 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Flood Prevention Measures: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, to the House. I join him in praising all our first responders on the manner in which they conducted themselves in regard to Hurricane Ophelia. It was a massive undertaking. I compliment Met Éireann on the manner in which it was able to assess and progress the path of the storm and on the manner in which it kept the nation informed of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to raise the disappointing manner in which the more than 8,000 special needs assistants, SNAs, in our primary schools are being treated by the Department of Education and Skills. Their frustration is borne out by the 97% vote in favour of industrial action over the delay in the publication of SNA allocations for the 2018 academic school year, which is very disappointing. The problem...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Good man, Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to raise the issue of the North-South interconnector and the total disregard for the majority of Members in both Houses of the Oireachtas by the Government and, by extension, EirGrid.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Back in February of this year a Fianna Fáil motion, which was supported in the Dáil and the Seanad, called on the Government to ensure that no further work on the North-South interconnector takes place until a full analysis of the true cost of undergrounding and a full community consultation are complete. This independent expert group study on undergrounding commenced in August and...

Seanad: Well-being in Schools: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister and thank him for his presence. There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the most important issues we have ever discussed in the House and I contend it is one of the most important issues Deputy Bruton will ever deal with as Minister for Education and Skills. The good health and well-being of our children in school is critical to their success, not just at...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I would like to raise the issue of the report from the review group set up to examine the issues around granting access to the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court to representative bodies of members of An Garda Síochána - both the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI. I echo their calls this morning...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (27 Sep 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. It is disappointing in many ways that we are back here discussing this same issue despite, as my colleague, Senator Davitt, outlined, the promise that was made about its resolution. I am sure the Minister of State will agree we are fortunate to have so many hard-working local authority members throughout the country. The problem is due...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Breaches of Fire Safety Standards: Discussion (26 Sep 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I will hold off for the moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Breaches of Fire Safety Standards: Discussion (26 Sep 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I apologise for being late and ask for forgiveness if I cover old ground. A number of questions spring to mind. How many schools are involved? Perhaps an audit has been carried out in that regard. Whenever a building is handed over, even a basic dwelling house, someone has to sign off somewhere along the line to confirm that it has been built according to planning and building...