Results 161-180 of 1,096 for at speaker:Eugene Murphy

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Meals Programme (13 Dec 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving me a platform to raise this matter. I welcome the Minister of State. I thank him for the good work he is doing in the Department as part of the Government's programme. We appreciate it. The free school meals programme is outstanding. I compliment the Government, which has constantly acknowledged this. More schools will be in the programme from this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Meals Programme (13 Dec 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I welcome the response from the Minister of State. I am particularly glad he points out that this evaluation should be finished by the end of the year and that the cost factor in terms of the meals will be looked at because that is what is needed now. Again, I complement him on the work he does in that area. The funding is even more significant than I thought which is great news. As I...

Seanad: Statements on COP27 (8 Dec 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I welcome the Minister and commend him on his leadership in this area. He challenges us all at times in regard to the importance of our environment. In that regard, I join my colleagues and say again that the COP27 talks were a success. People question whether they were successful but when you get most of the world's nations coming together, meeting, discussing and acknowledging that we...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I was going to make this point before Senator Martin made it. The reality is that all of us in this House know we are in a dreadful situation with An Bord Pleanála at the moment, and it simply cannot be allowed to continue. I accept that amendments have been put forward by Senators Warfield, Higgins and others, but it has to be an improvement to implement what we are proposing here....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2022)

Eugene Murphy: ...of the agricultural and food supply chain Bill 2022, which is now ready to be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas. When this important Bill is enacted, it will establish a new independent statutory authority to be known as an rialtóir agraibhia, or the agrifood regulator. The legislation is being progressed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: Like all of my colleagues - the Leader, the Cathaoirleach and my many friends around the House - I deal with a large number of people every day and every week. I am concerned that so many people are saying everything is doomsday. Everything in this country is not doomsday. I accept when the Opposition and others say we have challenges with housing, the environment, etc. We have all of...

Seanad: Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I fully respect Senator Boyhan's right to stand up and say what he said. However, I am quite surprised and astounded by it. I could not let this debate continue without putting the record straight. Like most of my rural Fianna Fáil colleagues, I have at least six engagements per year with the IFA. I assure the House that at not stage did the IFA representatives express to me any...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I join with the Cathaoirleach and Senator Conway in welcoming Aimee, her family and friends here today. If Aimee and people like her did not stand up, they would not get that justice. I will support and work with her and I admire what she has done. I will continue by welcoming all those who have been in the Gallery today but also by extending congratulations to our junior certificate...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I thank the Minister of State for being here. The issue of safety on our streets applies to the whole country, not just to one part of it. However, I acknowledge that where there are bigger populations there can be bigger issues. I sympathise with the two gardaí who were attacked recently in this city. I also extend my sympathies to a friend of mine from Longford who was viciously...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: The Government is toughening up on the issue. Great work is being done in respect of those criminal groups at the moment. It is necessary, and it is what people want. Of course, we all have to be sympathetic towards young people who are in the situations where they are, for example, acting as money mules. This is a massive issue that is happening in our own counties. Young people's lives...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I accept fully what the Leas-Chathaoirleach said. I wish to speak briefly about the importance of farm payments to many counties. Today, counties are getting green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, payments for 2022, which have been announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue. These are coming at an important time for farm families. In my...

Seanad: Private Nursing Home Sector: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I thank the Minister of State. I am sure all Senators would join me in acknowledging the great work she does. It is hard to get all things right but she and her officials make a real effort. I think that is acknowledged by the House. I was to be the lead speaker on this but I cannot be in two places at one time. With the agreement of the House, I will instead call on Senator Dooley to...

Seanad: Private Nursing Home Sector: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I thank Senator Black. Her co-operation is always first-class. The next speaker will be Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, to be followed by Senators Maria Byrne and Aisling Dolan, who are sharing time. Senator Sharon Keogan then has five minutes. If there is two minutes left at the end of the speaking time of the next Acting Chair on the rota, who is Senator O'Loughlin, she can give it to me. If...

Seanad: Private Nursing Home Sector: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I will keep my contribution brief because I chaired this debate up to a few minutes ago. Whatever the reshuffle is, I hope it is right for the Minister of State. Many comments were made in her favour. I will refer to when, some time ago, she visited the Roscommon-Galway region. I saw the respect she has for older people from watching how she engaged and sat down with them. We spent a day...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (9 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I will be very brief. I thank the Minister of State and everybody for their participation. I took what Senators Doherty and Craughwell said very seriously. While we have concerns, we agree that the Bill is an awful lot better now than it was two and a half years ago. It is to be hoped that everything will run smoothly. The matters Senators Doherty and Craughwell tried to get across are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Schemes: Discussion (9 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: On hedges, orchards and so forth, three or four months ago when I spoke to farmers about these kinds of issues, they would have laughed at me. When I was young every second farmer had an orchard. It was what people did. I find people are increasingly buying into that now. They are giving serious consideration to it because an orchard is simple enough to look after and a way for them to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: Our health is our wealth. It is really fantastic to see the Minister of State back here in good form and I thank her for letting me know the good news two weeks ago. I am delighted for her because at the end of the day good health is what we all wish for. Many people get challenges with their health every day of the week. I am just going to endorse what Senator Dolan has said. I think...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I remember a number of weeks after the announcement being contacted by some of those people in Ballinasloe, family members of the contract cleaners. I sought clarification. The clear answer I got at that time was that staff of any company the HSE contracted to do work on the hospitals were eligible. I think they will come under that. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Reliefs (8 Nov 2022)

Eugene Murphy: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming.

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Taking in Charge (Resumed): Tipperary County Council (27 Oct 2022)

Eugene Murphy: No, none at the moment. I discussed this with Deputy Buckley the other day. I was not aware of the whole situation. I can see now it is an issue that must be addressed. I am listening to the conversation and what I get from it is that there seems to be a commitment to act on this. At the moment I will not make any further comment.