Results 201-220 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Improving the Quality of Early Years Education: Statements (21 Jan 2015)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. It is good to have another Limerick person here for a change. I do not feel as alone any more. I wish her continued success in her big portfolio. She will continue the work undertaken by her predecessor, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, who was a very fine Minister for Education and Skills. Senator Jim D'Arcy said he used to have about six minutes...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2015)

James Heffernan: I would like to support what Senator Whelan has said. It is a shame that libraries seem to be the first thing on the chopping block when a few bob needs to be saved. It is something that should certainly be looked at. Yesterday's Irish Independentreported that toxic sludge is being dumped in waterways around the Border counties, particularly around north Louth, by people who are involved in...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey. The establishment of Irish Water has been a mess from the start. The public has not accepted it from the get-go. The issues have all been mentioned here previously. The squandering of millions on consultancy fees and bonuses drove people mad. People were pulling their hair out when they heard the different revelations about Irish Water....

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: They are ornaments.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: Ridiculous.

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I have been to Sao Paulo and have stepped over people in that city in Brazil and the scene I saw there of people stretched out all over the place was unbelievable. One sees the same in Delhi in India.

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: What is happening on the streets of Dublin is very similar.

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I apologise but I have a few brief questions.

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I acknowledge that and thank the Acting Chairman. Could the Minister of State give a breakdown of where the allocation of €50 million will be spent? How much is the Government spending on housing homeless people in hotel style and apartment style accommodation, as such money could be spent much more wisely?

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I was going to mention the rural resettlement programme-----

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: -----but I will leave it at that. I thank the Acting Chairman for his indulgence.

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State. Unfortunately I did not hear the speech of the Minister, Deputy Kelly, and I cannot seem to get a copy of it so I apologise if I go back over points that have already been covered. I welcome the forum the Minister has put together, although it is a bit behind schedule. I do not know what was happening for the previous 15 or 20 years that something was not...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I concur with Senator Gilroy's comments. The same point was eloquently made on radio by Councillor Dermot Lacey yesterday. People have operated a populist position on property charges-----

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: -----which has perhaps resulted in services not being delivered. I rise to discuss the issue of the Aughinish Alumina plant in Askeaton in west Limerick. No bond against the company has been secured by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. The bauxite waste pools contain corrosive elements and irritants. Should an accident occur, the potential consequence would put Haulbowline in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I was speaking to representatives of the homeless services and there was a sad and despondent air amid the news of Mr. Jonathan Corrie dying outside the gates of Leinster House. Mr. Corrie was known to the homeless services as "Teardrop John" because he had a teardrop tattoo on his face. To see the reporting of it, it takes away from the human aspect of this. Mr. Corrie spoke to a friend of...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: I intend to. It extended past the Custom House, the Connolly memorial and Store Street Garda station where there was a number of people stretched out inside, and men were huddled in threes and fours in doorways trying to shelter themselves from the cold and wet of that night. We came across an Internet café on Talbot Street where there were a number of lads stretched out all over the...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: That is not taking into account those who sleep on couches, who sleep in hallways and who are inside in homeless centres.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: The scale of this is significant. While we can have the debate-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: -----that is fair enough,-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

James Heffernan: -----instead of listening to the Minister and us talking about it, and throwing it back and forth,-----