Results 1,221-1,240 of 1,354 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: North-South Interconnector: Motion (1 Mar 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister for his response. He mentioned in his contribution that he met the action groups. I know he was in great physical pain at the time. On behalf of the elected Members present and the people from the communities that met him, I thank him most sincerely for meeting the action groups. I welcome Deputy Shane Cassells to the House and Councillor Clifford Kelly from County...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the issue of the withdrawal of the telephone allowance for elderly people, which has featured in the media in recent times. This has raised its head again in light of the tragic death of an elderly gentleman in County Waterford last weekend. Elderly people, especially in rural Ireland, depend on the telephone and as a result of the withdrawal of the allowance in 2014, many were...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: A national bus strike now seems inevitable. The financial challenges of Bus Éireann are not new, nor are the State's obligations under the public service obligation agreement. It is estimated that 110,000 people per day use Bus Éireann services. The bus is a vital mode of transport in rural areas and it allows people to travel to do business, students to travel to college, and...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Going back.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I join with Senator Rose Conway-Walsh by discussing the Bus Éireann issue. It is very serious for the entire country, particularly for rural Ireland. It is estimated that Bus Éireann carries approximately 110,000 passengers per day, which is a startling statistic. It is mind boggling to consider the huge social impact a strike would have on the citizens of this country. As part...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I refer to the apparent slowness and reluctance of energy companies to pass on reductions to hard-pressed householders. A recent report issued by the regulator has found that wholesale electricity prices fell by almost 39% between 2013 and 2016, due mainly to wholesale prices of oil and gas falling during that period. However, the electricity and gas bills of consumers have only reduced by...

Seanad: Recent Education Announcements: Statements (21 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Ba mhaith liom an tAire a fháiltiú go dtí an Teach inniu. I congratulate him on his work. There have been many good announcements, but the old adage about the proof of the pudding being in the eating springs to mind. I do not know whether the Minister will be in situto reap his harvest, given that he might be in the process of filling in an application form for another job...

Seanad: Recent Education Announcements: Statements (21 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I apologise for interrupting the Minister, but would it be possible to introduce an appeals mechanism for DEIS schools?

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: A number of commitments were contained in the Action Plan for Education when it was announced with a degree of fanfare towards the end of last year. One of them was a commitment to hire 65 educational psychologists in the first quarter of 2017. The Leader will agree that the version of this commitment in the updated version of the action plan, as published last week, represents a...

Seanad: Establishment of a Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (16 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is disappointing he is in the House addressing an issue such as this and the fact that it has come to this point where we have to have a tribunal of inquiry to ascertain the truth of what went on in this long-running sad saga. I feel for all members of the Garda force, including Sergeant McCabe. Untold damage has been done to the morale of...

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister is very welcome to the House this afternoon. I wish to concentrate on the tourism industry. As the Minister is no doubt aware, as we all are, Brexit hold difficulties for us across many sectors, and tourism is one example. It is especially important as almost 41% of all the visitors who come to this country are from Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom. That shows how...

Seanad: Transport and Tourism: Statements (15 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Yes, it is hard to get a ticket as well. There is the rugby international between Ireland and France, the all Ireland club championship finals and we have GamerCon, which I understand will be the largest gaming event in Europe this year. All that adds up to a hugely successful weekend. The challenge we have is getting the tourists from the capital, Dublin, Kerry and the west to regional...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish to raise an issue I have raised previously in the House - the chronic and severe shortage of substitute teachers in the State's schools, which issue has been to the forefront in the media in recent days. The situation has become so bad that it is anticipated that some schools may actually have to close because they have no other choice as they have no substitute teachers to stand in....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: Last week or the previous week, I raised the issue of ambulance response times throughout rural Ireland. I cited two incidents in County Monaghan, one before Christmas and one in early January, and another in County Cavan. In one of the Monaghan incidents, an individual fell down the stairs in the family home and an ambulance was called, but it took almost two hours to collect the person....

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: The Senator had an opportunity to solve that problem, but he did not take it.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: In the Senator's opinion.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: With respect, Deputy Colm Burke's party did not even want to have a Seanad.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: With respect, Leader-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: When was the last time the Leader looked in the mirror?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Passport Service: Senator Robbie Gallagher (9 Feb 2017)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Chairman and committee members for affording me the opportunity to address them. As I know that their time is precious, I promise this will be short and to the point. It is fair to say and widely acknowledged that no part of the country will be affected more by Brexit than the Border counties. The impact of the referendum result and a hard Brexit will be magnified in County...