Results 1-20 of 446 for speaker:Niall Blaney

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Niall Blaney: I wish to be associated with the welcome to the Clonakilty women's shed group and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, in his new role. It is clear that he is hitting the ground running. I welcome his officials. I will address what the Minister of State finished on relating to the new fisheries EU-UK agreement and that 12-year...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2025)

Niall Blaney: I rise today to raise the decision in recent days on the A5. For us in the north west, it is not just the A5 but is also the N2. The decision by a judge in the Belfast courts has hit the headlines in recent days. It is shocking news for many of us. The first time we had a shock in relation to this was when funding was first put in place for it. The Executive was pulled down in 2016 over...

Seanad: Enterprise Matters and Business Supports for SMEs: Motion (Resumed) (18 Jun 2025)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Minister of State for coming here today and wish her the best of luck in her new role. I have no doubt that she will do more than well. I am also delighted to see her mum here. She is keeping a close eye, I am sure, full of pride sitting up behind there. I commend my colleague Senator Ollie Crowe on bringing forward this timely motion. I support the vast majority of what...

Seanad: Balanced Regional Development: Statements (17 Jun 2025)

Niall Blaney: I too welcome the Minister to the House and wish him well in his portfolio. It is appropriate that we are discussing balanced regional development because the Minister is well-equipped to know about balanced regional development and what we in the western and northern and midland regions are missing. Like others, I was at the Northern and Western Regional Assembly presentation last...

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: The Business of Seafood Report 2024: Bord Iascaigh Mhara (17 Jun 2025)

Niall Blaney: I thank the BIM team for its presentation. I have just one question and it relates to private investment versus public support. I suppose the witnesses would agree that traditionally there was a massive scale of private investment in the fishing sector versus a low level of public support by way of capital grant aid, and I mean that exclusive of the piers, harbours and centres or the...

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: The Business of Seafood Report 2024: Bord Iascaigh Mhara (17 Jun 2025)

Niall Blaney: The obvious difficulty there is that fund has to be repaid. That is different from a grant because there is less money available now to invest in the sector. That is the piece I am referring to because there has been that much loss post Brexit. Has the Department any plans to make that up?

Seanad: Breast Cancer Services: Statements (10 Jun 2025)

Niall Blaney: The Minister is welcome. I thank her for staying for the whole debate. I am certainly no expert when it comes to breast cancer diagnosis, but I have been lobbied by people in my constituency, and one in particular in County Donegal who is part of Lobular Ireland. Senator Costello and others discussed breast density. What Lobular Ireland is calling for is the introduction of standardised...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Niall Blaney: I wish the Chair well on his role in the five years ahead. It is great to see such a large gathering here today. I suppose the committee was smaller heretofore, and this augurs well for it over the next term. This is my third time being a member of this committee. I was a member of the first committee in 2007. The committee has done some great work over the years but the piece missing is...

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (20 May 2025)

Niall Blaney: What is that period of time?

Seanad: International Trade and International Relations: Statements (3 Apr 2025)

Niall Blaney: I welcome Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. The comments from the Tánaiste this morning are most welcome. His tone and approach are very welcome. It is very important that we are not caught up with what a lot of media have been caught up with since the US presidential election and throughout the whole era of Trumpism, namely, the constant rhetoric about what Trump is doing today and...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (2 Apr 2025)

Niall Blaney: Not today, Chairman. I welcome the Minister to the House and say goodbye to the students. Slán anois. The Minister is very welcome. I congratulate him on his new appointment. No doubt it is quite a task, but he has very capable hands and I have great trust in him. I know the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, put everything into the Department. Some people believe it is a matter...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Second Stage (4 Mar 2025)

Niall Blaney: The Minister of State is welcome to the House with this, his first Bill. Fianna Fáil welcomes and supports the Bill. As the Minister of State outlined, the Bill provides for the establishment of the marine accident investigative unit within the Department of Transport and for a regulatory regime to be put in place for the construction and operation of offshore service vessels operating...

Seanad: Cathaoirleach a Thoghadh - Election of Cathaoirleach (12 Feb 2025)

Niall Blaney: Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá. First, I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his success last night in being democratically elected to the Chair. I wish him very well for the term ahead. The father of the House gave him a fair run for his money. I am sure Senator Wilson finds it strange to be called father of the House. I do not know whether we should call him "Father Wilson" or...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Oct 2024)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Minister. Before I call the next speaker, I welcome the deputation from Stormont to the Public Gallery. The members of the committee on health are very welcome - Ms Liz Kimmins, MLA, chair, Mr. Danny Donnelly, MLA, deputy chair, Ms Linda Dillon, MLA, Ms Órlaithí Flynn, MLA, Ms Nuala McAllister, MLA and Mr. Colin McGrath, MLA. I hope our visitors enjoy the proceedings....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Chair. Donegal people have spread their wings throughout Ireland and beyond. I thank Ms Deane and Mr. Duffy for being here today and for their presentation. I am sorry I was not here for all of it. The work they do is vital for the future of this island. They are doing some fantastic work and long may it continue. The recent announcement was very good. Following on from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Niall Blaney: I recall being approached by a guy who was a Protestant in Donegal one day who said, "We don't have great rights in the South. They have better rights in the North." I asked him what he meant and he said, "I can't own a British passport". It is the things you do not think of. That said, I thank our guests.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (21 Feb 2024)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber for this debate on the A5, the N2 and the TEN-T in the North. It was fantastic that there was an announcement yesterday of €600 million for the A5. It is brilliant news. I would like to know where everything moves from here. The A5 has been the blockage for so long. I remember being told on air by some of the Acting Chair's...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (21 Feb 2024)

Niall Blaney: I agree with everything in the Minister of State's statement. Yesterday's news that the Irish Government's money is back on the table was absolutely fantastic. I implore both the UK Government and the Stormont Administration to step up now and make this project a reality. I ask the Minister of State to take a message back to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Department of Transport. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Key Issues Affecting Youth: North South Youth Forum (15 Feb 2024)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Chairman. I also thank Ms Ní hUisceith, Ms Lindsay, Ms Morton, Ms Whelan, Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Taylor very much for their presentations here today. It is fantastic to come in here to a full house. A lot of the time, particularly during Covid, we would be in here talking to a screen. It is good to have the witnesses here in person and moreover to hear their views. It is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (8 Feb 2024)

Niall Blaney: Before we start the next Commencement matter, I welcome Dwayne Edgar to the Public Gallery, along with Senator Fitzpatrick. Dwayne was responsible for setting up the Inner City Running Club. He is very welcome to the proceedings this morning.