Results 161-180 of 969 for speaker:John McGahon

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

John McGahon: Okay. In Mr. Gannon's opening statement he spoke about the need to try to expand the commission's staffing and how there is a particular labour shortage in the Irish energy sector. With that in mind, what is the commission doing, perhaps across the EU, to try to attract people here to meet that shortfall?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

John McGahon: What is being done to target graduates? Is the CRU going out to universities across the world selling Ireland, saying to people that they should come and work here and asking them to fill the gap? How are graduates targeted for that recruitment drive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

John McGahon: Following on from Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan earlier, it was mentioned that Ireland has a geographical disadvantage when it comes to trying to attract competition into the market. What are we doing to try to attract more companies to the Irish market to create competition?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

John McGahon: The market will be a different one by then. The EU Commissioner is appearing in the Seanad so I have to go, unfortunately.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 May 2023)

John McGahon: I would like a debate on public lighting in this country, and what our local authorities are doing to try to increase our energy efficiency with public lighting. We have 31 local authorities with 480,000 public lights across the country. Local authorities have already embarked on a process of changing them to LED lighting to make them more carbon efficient and environmentally-friendly....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cross-Border Co-operation (30 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: I wish to discuss cross-Border tourism initiatives, focusing on the Carlingford ferry, a ferry service that goes from the shore in Greenore across Carlingford Lough to Greencastle, County Down. It is similar to several other ferries that operate around this island, particularly in Strangford Lough and between Tarbert, County Kerry, and County Clare. Making sure the communities on both sides...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cross-Border Co-operation (30 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: As I said at the outset of this debate, and as the Minister of State mentioned, the reason I have raised this matter is because of the value and importance of the Carlingford Lough ferry not just to the local community in north Louth but also to the local community in south County Down. While I accept that the concept of this is transport related, and perhaps is an issue that rests with the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: I wish to speak about the vacant homes grant the Government announced a number of months ago. We all know what that grant is. It is an excellent scheme allowing people to get between €30,000 and €50,000 to renovate derelict and vacant homes. I would like a debate on the operation of the scheme which has now been open for three months. I am concerned about how different local...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: No pressure, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: Absolutely no pressure. Here we go.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: This is it. Before I begin, it is great to have both my parents here, and in particular Cora. At 32 years of age, I would not be a Member of this House if it was not for love and support of my parents over those 32 years, so I thank both my mum and my dad so much.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: A very important vote is taking place today in the House of Commons on the Windsor Framework agreement. It is clear that vote is going to pass with a resounding majority. Even parts of the Conservative Party that were for a long time sceptical about it are going to back this deal. That sends a strong message about how important it is going to be to have the institutions in Northern Ireland...

Seanad: Location of Victims' Remains: Motion (22 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: I thank and congratulate my colleagues in Fianna Fáil, namely, Senators Blaney and McGreehan, for proposing this motion. Both Senators have been strong advocates for this on the Good Friday committee, which I sit on, and in this House. I warmly welcome the families. I have met Oliver before. I thank them for being here. I am 32 years of age, from Dundalk and grew up in the 1990s...

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement and Windsor Framework: Motion (8 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: It is clear that we have a significant deal in the Windsor Framework. I say this cautiously, but I think there is cause for much optimism as a result of that. We want to be able to capitalise on that optimism. We want to try to build on the momentum we have seen from Northern Ireland, the Government here and the British Government. What I mean by capitalising on that momentum is being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Ms Bronagh Hinds (2 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: Ms Hinds's opening statement outlines the real impact of the Women's Coalition, as well as the female perspective on the Good Friday Agreement and the negotiations leading to it. Ms Eleanor Kane, who is in transition year at Dundalk Grammar School and is with me today, looked at the statement and drafted a number of questions on it. Much as I would like to take credit for these very good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Ms Bronagh Hinds (2 Mar 2023)

John McGahon: It is almost like gatekeeping. That is a good way of describing it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Ms Liz O'Donnell (16 Feb 2023)

John McGahon: I thank Ms O'Donnell for coming in. What I find interesting about her outline is it shows the pressured situation she was in as part of the negotiation team. One of the things I have enjoyed about this is being able to get the different perspectives and views from people like her who were there. It seems like it was such a pressure cooker. Moving to the points she had about David...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Ms Liz O'Donnell (16 Feb 2023)

John McGahon: Ms O'Donnell mentioned the huge strain on David Trimble. Another individual under great strain was Mo Mowlam, who had been diagnosed with brain cancer beforehand. I do not know whether it was public knowledge at that stage or not. It was the tabloid media in the UK that ended up revealing it, but I am not certain whether it was public knowledge during the negotiations or not. Will Ms...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

John McGahon: The Bills Office has been informed by email that I am moving Senator Currie's amendments today. She is out of the country as part of an Oireachtas delegation, so I apologise on her behalf. She has been a very strong advocate of this Bill for the past two years. I just want to make sure that a couple of her points are put on the record of the House.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2023)

John McGahon: I move amendment No. 22: In page 14, to delete lines 2 to 4. In Senator Currie's view, amendment No. 22 requires a straightforward deletion of the requirement to work for 26 weeks before there is an entitlement to request a flexible working arrangement or remote working. As the legislation stands, the idea is that a person still has to prove himself or herself before being entitled to...