Results 101-120 of 394 for speaker:James Heffernan

Seanad: Growing Tourism to 2025: Statements (1 Jul 2015)

James Heffernan: I thank Senator Bradford for sharing time. As the Minister knows, I am from County Limerick and the city has had a very successful year being the capital of culture. It got off to a shaky start but things were ironed out. I ask the Department to support the 2020 bid for the European capital of culture. People in Limerick often feel forgotten about when it comes to the Government. The...

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (17 Jun 2015)

James Heffernan: I make this contribution as a student of history, a subject in which I have been interested since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Young people should be interested in history. If we do not understand or have knowledge of our past and the mistakes we made, we will not be in a position to create the brighter future to which we aspire. Irish people are surrounded by history, whether in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2015)

James Heffernan: I join other Members in offering my sincerest condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible tragedy that occurred in Berkeley, California, in the early hours of this morning. It is every parent's nightmare and it has shaken all of us. I raise the issue of the "Collusion" programme broadcast last night, which other Members raised also. This was state-sponsored murder by loyalist...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motion (11 Jun 2015)

James Heffernan: It is very interesting to hear the Sinn Féin comments on the Special Criminal Court. I commend this motion and wish to put my support for it on the record of the House. I understand it is a tough task trying to deal with organised crime. My own city of Limerick has been plagued by criminal gangs for a long time. I would argue, however, that one of the biggest criminal gangs operating...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2015)

James Heffernan: I wish to speak about an article that is being widely reported in today's media about the presentation given to Amnesty International's seminar yesterday by the master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dr. Rhona Mahony. If anyone knows anything about pregnancy and pre-natal practice, it is she. She is certainly an expert on the subject. It confirmed the fears I had about the Protection...

Seanad: Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (10 Jun 2015)

James Heffernan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Waste Disposal (28 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I welcome the Minister of State. There was confusion within the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government yesterday when I proposed this item. It did not understand whether it came under its remit or that of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. That says it all about this gasification technology, that senior people in Departments are unaware...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Waste Disposal (28 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. The last part of her reply says it all when gasification and incineration are put in one bracket. That is what people fear, certainly in Ballyhahill, Foynes, Shanagolden and such areas, as they see them as all the one. I cannot see how this will improve the 2020 targets in the slightest. The Minister of State mentioned other renewable sources...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Waste Disposal (28 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Judging from what I have heard from the EPA, I am not confident that it can fulfil that role, given that it has immunity from prosecution, which is an issue that the Department needs to look at. That has been raised here by me and others on a number of occasions and is the big elephant in the room. I do not see how the response from the Government can inspire confidence in this plant.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Waste Disposal (28 May 2015)

James Heffernan: It is certainly a matter that the Department needs to get to grips with, because this is going to become a big issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 May 2015)

James Heffernan: To follow on from what my two Fianna Fáil colleagues have said about Aer Lingus, a debate today is essential. As other colleagues have said, Senator Sean Barrett will be busy at the banking inquiry this afternoon and will not be here. In fairness, Senator Barrett is one of the few independent voices on this issue. He is a man who makes quite a lot of sense and is someone who should be...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I join my colleagues in calling for that debate on the sale of Aer Lingus. It should probably have happened yesterday, but I support calls for that debate to happen tomorrow. The justification for many decisions in this country seems to be that it makes good economic sense and a few bob can be made out of it. That is not a good enough reason for many decisions. I was interested to see a...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Where does the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government stand on all this? Where do gasification and incineration fit into Ireland's waste management strategy and where does that fit into our 2020 targets? It will not help at all and other waste management strategies would be much more appropriate. What we are opening up here is a monster gasification plant that will be...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I do not think it is something that the communities in Shanagolden, Foynes, Loughill, Ballyhahill and other areas in west Limerick will stand for and want.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

James Heffernan: I call for that waste management debate, which should happen sooner rather than later.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Would the Senator not extend the same respect to us?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Would it have happened without the Green Party?

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Without the Green Party.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 May 2015)

James Heffernan: Fianna Fáil sold half of it.