Results 1,841-1,860 of 1,954 for speaker:John Gilroy

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I support the call for the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to attend the House to discuss this issue in a balanced, mature and democratic way and without demonising one party or the other, which adds no merit to the argument.

Seanad: Reform of Junior Certificate: Statements (8 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. He is well known as a reformer, something which is widely recognised. The reform of the junior certificate is timely, important and one which everybody involved in education will welcome. I note the six key skills, which is an excellent development. Are those set out in the presentation exhaustive? If they are, I suggest the Minister might consider...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: That makes a change.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2011)

John Gilroy: It would be worse.

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: It may be an incorrect statement, but it is not outrageous.

Seanad: Health Services: Statements, Questions and Answers (27 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: I welcome the Minister for Health to the Chamber. He probably has the most difficult job in Ireland, if not the world. He has started extremely well. His decisive early decision to disband the board of the HSE sent a signal that he and the Government were serious about health service reform. The previous Government spoke about reform but, in the main, failed to deliver it. The...

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: This is a short and technical Bill but is important nonetheless. It represents the outworking of the Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act 2010, which requires the Commission for Energy Regulation to assume responsibility for the safe regulation of petroleum exploration and extraction in Ireland. The Minister's thorough and comprehensive explanation has shown us that all bases...

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: ----- I do not have much to add to the debate. I conclude by asking the Minister whether the terms and conditions attached to the levy will apply retrospectively to existing licences. I support the Bill and urge the House to do likewise.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: I have heard some outbursts since I became a Member of this House six months ago, but what we have heard this afternoon is rather extraordinary. If we are talking about political reform and trying to save this House, perhaps the first thing we might be able to do is abolish Senator Terry Leyden.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: Indeed, they have.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: I support Senator Ivana Bacik's call for a full debate on constitutional reform. We have heard another extraordinary outburst from Senator Rónán Mullen. It was very ungenerous of him to suggest the Government was defending this proposal in some spiteful fashion, or putting it forward just because we thought the tribunals were costing too much money. There is no doubt that they are...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: I do not see the controversy. A contrived controversy is being stirred up by the Opposition.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: I would like to respond to Senator Darragh O'Brien's suggestion that the Government is not campaigning on the issue. It is campaigning strongly on it.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: Perhaps if Fianna Fáil-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: The Cathaoirleach is quite right.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: If the entire Fianna Fáil organisation is not out campaigning for Seán Gallagher, perhaps it might put a bit of effort into this.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: The voices of the ordinary people, as well as the other voices, of Ireland should be heard in this Chamber.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: Rightly so. I ask the Leader to intervene with the Minister for Health or the Minister for Education and Skills in regard to a case I came across recently. I will not mention names but it relates to a 15 year old boy who suffers from muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. He will be made homeless within the next week due to a tenancy arrangement which is rather unsatisfactory.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: The Leas-Chathaoirleach is correct. I am raising the issue on the Order of Business because it points to the disconnect in thinking between different agencies in the State. When this issue is resolved - it can be resolved very easily but it needs a ministerial push - we could have a debate on the lack of joined up thinking in our agencies. South Dublin County Council and Dublin City...

Seanad: Army Barracks Closures: Motion (19 Oct 2011)

John Gilroy: I did not intend to contribute to this debate but I feel compelled to do so when I hear the arguments from the other side of the House and the language that has been used. It is terrible to hear Fianna Fáil Senators speaking about our soldiers as if they were economic units, how much they spend locally and how much they are worth to the economy. Is that all the Defence Forces are to Fianna...