Results 201-220 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan
- Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank him and his Department for the courtesy extended to me and the way they have dealt with a number of issues I have brought to the attention of the OPW and the Department. I come from County Limerick and the closest city to me is Limerick city, obviously. It is where I spent my college years and got my education. Limerick city has had trouble with...
- Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: ----- led the citizenry of the city through the streets. It was a hugely poignant moment. Through terrific policing and real community support the city has rooted out those people who have been brought to justice and put behind bars. However, what is operating north of the Border is shocking. There is a crime gang operating there which is one of the largest in Europe if not in the world....
- Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: While I welcome the Minister's response, having the Border still in existence enables these people to keep profiteering. There seems to be such bureaucracy in cross-Border policing, and the criminals are operating because of that. These people claimed they were fighting for a united Ireland at one time. We are coming up to the anniversary of 1916 and we have to have that debate about a...
- Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: It abhors me to see that the Border, which is being used to divide communities, is also being used by these people - who claim to object to it - to profiteer from crime.
- Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: The people there feel that they have been abandoned to the wolves. These criminals are running around the Border areas still armed to the teeth. The Government has to be serious about meeting them head on with everything we have got.
- Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: The Minister of State should know that one seizure gives an idea of scale----
- Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: This morning I listened to the Newstalk "Breakfast" show hosted by Ivan Yates. It contained an interview with Bobby Kerr, a proven successful entrepreneur, who spoke about the post office business development group. This body has been set up under the auspices of the Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs, Deputy Ann Phelan. I commend the Government on having a Minister of...
- Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (28 Jan 2015)
James Heffernan: I welcome to the Seanad the former Cathaoirleach, Rory Kiely, who has been a friend of mine for a while. I also welcome the family of John Carty to the Seanad. I did not know John but from what people have said and from the tributes paid, including the very touching tribute by Senator Wilson, I gather he was one of the old crop and one of the good guys. He was of rural, decent and...
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: Yesterday saw the defeat of the Bill proposed by Deputy Clare Daly on fatal foetal abnormalities. I found the defeat distasteful and shameful. I remember when the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill was debated in this House that I voted in favour of an amendment to include families and women affected by fatal foetal abnormalities-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill was debated in the House and an amendment was tabled to it to cover fatal foetal abnormalities.
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: Senator Jillian van Turnhout proposed the amendment and I voted in favour of it. I wish Deputy Anne Ferris the very best. She stood by her principles and the longstanding principles of the Labour Party.
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: It has brought the rigid Whip system in the Oireachtas into focus.
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: This issue certainly affects the business of the House. It has also brought into focus the issue of the advice of the Attorney General.
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: According to various media sources, yesterday and this morning, the Attorney General's advice was divulged and spoken about at a Labour Party Parliamentary Party meeting. While I understand from media sources that leaks from the Labour Party Parliamentary Party rooms are not always the most reliable or the most credible-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: Is it true that the advice of the Attorney General was debated and discussed at a meeting of the Labour Party-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: It is necessary to discuss the issue because the advice of the Attorney General-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: It was given to the Cabinet to show that the legislation was unconstitutional. The recommendation was debated by the Labour Party and not divulged to any other parliamentarian, which is utterly wrong.
- Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: That is an outrageous statement.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: There has been a great deal of reporting recently in media circles on members of the Traveller community, including Sarah Dunne, the daughter of the Pecker Dunne and a very positive role model in the Traveller community.
- Seanad: Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)
James Heffernan: Gabh mo leithscéal. I had a number of other people whom I would have liked to name, but I cannot do so. There was an issue the other day involving a Wicklow hurler who had received a great deal of racial abuse because he was a member of the Traveller community. There are positive aspects, including "Norah's Traveller Academy", Norah Casey's television show on RTE, although the...