Results 1-20 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)

James Heffernan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)

James Heffernan: A cover-up.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)

James Heffernan: I do not know what happened over the Christmas break but some of the Government Senators sound as if they are in opposition. Senator Conway has just given out about the decline in rural GP services even though the Government has cut the services and made them unviable.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)

James Heffernan: Senator Hayden gave out about drop-out rates from college but the Government cut guidance counsellors. It is a bit ridiculous. The Senators should get real. Hunger strike has been a weapon of last resort in Ireland as far back as bards and poets who used it during the time of the Brehon laws and it has been used by political prisoners from Thomas Ashe to Bobby Sands. Even Mahatma Gandhi...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)

James Heffernan: Pontius Pilate.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: A Private Members' motion from the Social Democrats was moved in the Dáil last night calling for the establishment of an anti-corruption agency. This is most timely. It is something we announced a number of weeks ago. The "RTE Investigates" programme was only the tip of the iceberg. Corruption is endemic in public life and includes more than just three county councillors. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I will clarify what I mean. I consider Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA to be groups that have covered up rape and child abuse.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I do.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: My evidence is not sitting too far away from me.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I do have a question for the Leader. I call on Government Deputies and I call on my Senatorial colleagues to call on Government Deputies to support this motion to establish an anti-corruption agency. It is essential if we are to restore confidence in Irish public life. It is very timely measure and one that the public demands from politicians.

Seanad: Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2015: Second Stage (9 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I am delighted to see the Seanad progress this Bill and, hopefully, we can get it through this Chamber and on the books so that it does not die in the event of this Government not being returned. I see tremendous merit in this. It is something I called for in the wake of the retirement of Henry Shefflin this year. I argued for it on the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Missing Persons (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate him and Oulart-The Ballagh on the terrific win at the weekend. It has been a long time coming for the club and well done to them. I would also spare a thought for Clough-Ballacolla. They threw it away against Oulart-The Ballagh a few weeks ago and it would have been great for Laois hurling if they had succeeded, but I wish the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Missing Persons (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I realise the Garda authorities are doing everything in their power to get to the bottom of this. Indeed, Ambassador Apals is quite pleased with their work on the case. However, the fact remains there are ruthless, violent and callous killers on the loose. The Maughans attended the Missing Persons Day event yesterday to which the Minister of...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I second the amendment as proposed by Senator Ó Clochartaigh. It is ridiculous the way this House is being treated and has been treated year on year as we come to a break, with this type of legislation being rammed through so that we have to sit here until all hours of the day and night. It is not on. It is time this Chamber stood up for itself. I would gladly support that amendment....

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: Withdraw it and go back to the drawing board with it. Doras Luimní and all of the immigrant rights bodies are not happy with it. They all have an issue with it.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: It is the only small element they welcome.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: Returning to what Senator Leyden stated, it was a dangerous development to have UK bombers going to Syria last night. It is a frightening development. In the words of Edwin Starr's famous single, "War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing." I would very much agree. This is an issue that I have raised here and that we should be concerned about in this country. It is one that came up,...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: Does the use of Shannon Airport affect our neutrality?

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: I do not question the Minister of State's bona fides in this area. I am aware of all the work he has done on migrants' rights issues since he became Minister of State with responsibility for equality. Senator Bacik has also a very proud record in this area. I have spoken to representatives of some of the migrants' rights bodies, including the one operating in Limerick, Doras Luimní....

Seanad: International Protection Bill 2015: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2015)

James Heffernan: It can still be relevant to this section and the interpretation. Are we not debating section 2?