Results 1,801-1,820 of 1,954 for speaker:John Gilroy

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I support the call for a debate on education. It is gravely worrying that no Irish university is in the world's top 100 institutions. We must explore this in an education debate. The idea that the Minister for Education and Skills, who is in the photograph which Senator O'Brien is enthusiastically waving around-----

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: Has the Minister presented the budget to the Senator? Perhaps he has.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: The word "pathetic" was mentioned earlier but a better word might be "prophetic". Either Senator O'Brien is endowed with the gift of clairvoyance or the Minister has already spoken to him. It is one or the other.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: The suggestion is that we discuss the budget in advance of its announcement but parliamentary procedure is a bit faulty in that respect. I am calling for a debate on education and a discussion of the chronic under-investment in the past 14 years in third and fourth level institutions, which means not one is in the top 100 universities in the world.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: Fianna Fáil ruined the country.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: The Minister has not done so.

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I am sorry about the confusion surrounding the closure of the debate.

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I am speaking in the absence of the proposer.

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I will allow Senator Colm Burke some time.

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: He is summing up.

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: He is acting as Leader to close the debate.

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: All of them?

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I welcome the Minister of State. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this issue because, until recently, I worked in services that dealt with alcohol addiction. I have seen at first hand what alcohol misuse can do. By the same token, many people enjoy a drink and when Members debate alcohol policy, they should not move to a position by which they take polar opposites of the...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: In addition, I note the strength of the drinks industry in advertising and lobbying and acknowledge the extent to which alcohol is ingrained in our culture. Virtually all events that are celebrated and even some events that are not appear to revolve around alcohol. When Members hear arguments made by particular lobby groups, they should be somewhat suspicious when the proposed solutions put...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: Moreover, his idea of introducing café bars certainly is worth exploring. However, matters will not change overnight but in incremental steps over a long journey. The step proposed in this motion constitutes the first step in that journey. If one approaches the issue by suggesting that minimum pricing alone will solve the problem, it will not. However, it will solve it as part of a...

Seanad: Alcohol Pricing: Motion (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I could talk all day about this subject. There are obstacles in the path to the introduction of minimum pricing and I wonder whether it should be approached by way of taxation. If so, how would one differentiate between alcohol products, such as standard and premium beers for instance, and how would the taxation system capture that difference? If it is not intended to use taxation to...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: If we can ignore the sarcasm from Senators Leyden and Wilson, perhaps we can focus on political irony.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: Perhaps we could focus -----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: Perhaps we could focus on political irony. When we refer to Deputy Penrose's resignation, we speak about honour. Can we recall any honour -----

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: Can we recall any honour when a former senior Minister swore a false affidavit in front of the courts or when a former Taoiseach cajoled people to -----