Results 21-40 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for the comprehensive briefing. As many Members know, the agricultural sector is hugely beneficial to local rural economies. The contribution made by farmers cannot be overestimated. Farming and agriculture are the life blood of rural Ireland. The Minister stated one will not see many millionaires farming and that is true. When one...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

James Heffernan: This is not a matter for the Minister. It is a farming organisation.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements, Questions and Answers (1 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: I thank the Minister for his presentation and recent visit to County Limerick. I was not there to meet him, for which I hope he accepts my apology. The Minister has said there are two distinct elements to local government, the first being effective and accountable democratic representation. From my colleagues I understand that in County Donegal there are 65 town and county councillors and...

Seanad: EU Fiscal Compact Treaty: Statements, Questions and Answers (7 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: I thank the Minister of State for once again attending the Seanad and engaging with Members on the detail of the legislation that will come before the House. In putting this question, I am playing the Devil's advocate. While it may be a hypothetical situation, there is a push to have this issue put to a referendum of the people, regardless of what the Attorney General states. I received a...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: I second the Government amendment to this Private Members' motion. Education is one of the core values and principles of the Labour Party and was one of the reasons I joined the party. To be debating spending reductions in education this evening is, therefore, difficult for me. I acknowledge the fantastic contribution that various Ministers have made to education. One of the most...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: Let us not go down that road. The Senator's party is grasping at straws and floundering. Every week we see a new stunt. A former Minister is proposing to go to jail for refusing to pay the septic tank charge. This is how the Fianna Fáil Members approach politics, especially on Private Members' time. Last year voters young and old, rural and urban, completely rejected them.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: Eleven months later they expect us to wave a magic wand.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: The voters said they had enough of Fianna Fáil.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: I apologise.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: Shortly after the election, Fianna Fáil's leader in the other House pledged to act progressively and responsibly in opposition but unfortunately that has not happened. I understand the adversarial nature of politics but given our current position, we should be able to work together on some issues rather than introduce politically motivated motions. I remind the House that we would not be...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: I recognise that some in government gave commitments prior to the election.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: The fact remains that the previous Government cost us our economy, our competitiveness and our reputation.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: Easy now, I did not interrupt other speakers. All the parties in this House have agreed to the debt reduction targets set out by the troika. We are certainly not happy with them but that is another story. We accept them and we must meet them. The Departments of Education and Skills, Social Protection and Health account for 70% of public expenditure. Spending has to be reduced. The...

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: The review was initiated by Mary Coughlan.

Seanad: Investment in Education: Motion (8 Feb 2012)

James Heffernan: They are amalgamating already.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend him on his Action Plan for Jobs 2012. I will travel to London next weekend to visit my brother who is working there and anything that will get young women and young men like my brother back working here is welcome but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. The Minister stated that the plan will be reviewed on a quarterly basis and...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

James Heffernan: My question concerns the county enterprise boards. I want to be clear on an aspect of the Minister's contribution. Will the county enterprise boards have local autonomy and will there be a local assessment body that can arrive at quick decisions? Will the local enterprise offices, or LEOs as they will become known, be able to issue grants or will they be required to get further approval...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

James Heffernan: I ask the Acting Chairman to bear with me. I have been here a while waiting to ask questions.

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs 2012: Statements, Questions and Answers (6 Mar 2012)

James Heffernan: On small and medium-size enterprises which employ between ten and 50 people, the Minister said there was a break in the ladder, so to speak, between enterprise boards and Enterprise Ireland. Will the new one-stop-shop take those businesses under its umbrella because the Minister will understand they provide valued employment, especially in areas in rural Ireland? I refer to those...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister. He has been busy in the Seanad this week and it is good to have him back. I broadly welcome the Bill, the purpose of which is to strengthen competition law and enforcement through increased sanctions. I hope that the Bill will prove an effective deterrent to white collar crime such as price fixing and cartels, which are not of much benefit to the State or the...