Results 101-120 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: Yes. I thank my comrade, Senator Kelly, for his principled stand.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I also thank other Labour Party comrades who abstained from the vote. Loyalty and friendship in politics can be very fickle at times and as genuine friendship is rare, I thank them for it. Is the underhand and deceitful way in which it took place right? Is it also right that Standing Orders of this House can be set aside in such a fashion by the Government to enable it to stick the boot...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to the Chamber. I am sure he would prefer to be on his holidays.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: It was with interest that I listened to some of the debate in the Chamber on this Bill, particularly today's contributions by Members who are apparently independent. Yesterday Senator Ned O'Sullivan referred to them as quasi-Independents. The debate spurred me to enter the Chamber. I have already made my feelings on this legislation well known, but I must take exception to Senator Fiach...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: Maybe he was on Ballygowan. I apologise and withdraw that comment. I will focus my fury on the Independent voices who claim to be independent but do not act like Independents at all. Senators are as one in what the Bill is about. We reject it, yet we must vote for it. That is ridiculous. I urge Senators, particularly the Independents, to be honest, to throw the Bill out and vote against it.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: I did not take that position.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: It was not my party's position.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Tuarascáil (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: We are supposed to be democrats.

Seanad: Construction Contracts Bill 2010: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Jul 2013)

James Heffernan: This Bill has been a while coming. The Minister of State was also present when I spoke previously on issues addressed in the legislation. I refer to a case that came to light in my parish of Kilfinane involving contractors who were not paid for work done on a school. This was the second time the contractor in question had been left high and dry by unscrupulous individuals. Ugly scenes...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Sep 2013)

James Heffernan: I was not going to say much about the Seanad referendum because it will be played out over the next couple of weeks. We all know that the argument put forward by the abolitionists is absolutely flawed. It is up to each and every Member of this House to go out in the highways and byways to put that message across to the people because the battle is not going to be won in here. I wish to...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

James Heffernan: I understand there are time constraints but I must put a couple of matters on the record after listening to what was said here today. It is particularly audacious for my colleague, Senator David Cullinane, to lay the blame for the referendum result at the door of the Taoiseach. I remind the Senator that his party collaborated in the Taoiseach's solo run and was only too willing to act like...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

James Heffernan: I apologise to the Leas-Chathaoirleach, but I cannot let this go. What annoyed me most during the campaign was the contributions made by two of the privileged Taoiseach's eleven who derided Members and this Chamber. I say to those two Members from Galway that they know where the door is. Let them use it and make way for Senators such as Senator Katherine Zappone who has the courage and...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

James Heffernan: I hope the House will join me in proposing a special vote of thanks to the Leader of the House, Senator Maurice Cummins, for the courage, commitment and dignity he showed during the campaign.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

James Heffernan: This will be a long tiring night. I have tremendous empathy for the Minister who has a difficult job. I commend her on the work she is doing. I was less than impressed with the contributions from the Dáil to which I listened last week. It was uncomfortable to listen to personal jibes that were directed at the Minister. I have a problem with the proposed cut. Regardless of what...

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Industry: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes. I take issue with Senator Landy on the home of dog racing. The area I come from is steeped in the dog industry. My uncle kept dogs for many years.

Seanad: Greyhound Racing Industry: Statements (19 Feb 2014)

James Heffernan: Neighbours and friends have a stake in the dog. Indeed the dog syndicate that my sister is involved with had a good win lately. I take this opportunity to congratulate the O'Brien family of Cush and Kilfinane who had a tremendous success in the race at Clonmel with their dog, Vale View Flyer. I am assured by all that the craic was a terror both on the way down and back. I spent many a...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2014)

James Heffernan: I join with others in saying "Fair play" to Senator Mulcahy for his statement yesterday to the committee regarding domestic abuse. It was not easy for him and took a lot of guts. It was good to see, as we need a bit more of that. I also join with others regarding the threat to rural post offices. I was brought up beside a post office. My grandmother had the post office and my father is...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

James Heffernan: There is a famous ballad from my county entitled, Shanagolden. The Cathaoirleach may know it. I will not sing it -----

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

James Heffernan: I will give the Senator a bar of the song later: The cold wind from the mountains comes calling soft to me, The smell of scented heather brings better memories, The wild and lonely eagle all in the summer sky, Flies high o'er Shanagolden where my young Willie lies. The song is a romantic ballad about a lad who died for Irish freedom and is buried in Shanagolden. The eagle in the sky...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2014)

James Heffernan: One of these fantastic white-tailed eagles, a fledgling, was brutally shot down by senseless idiots.