Results 161-180 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan
- Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2012)
John Whelan: They are not party leaders, they are Independent Members.
- Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2012)
John Whelan: With respect, in the context of political reform, is this not a fair point to raise? Can we not say that these Members are not party political leaders but Independents?
- Seanad: Order of Business (2 May 2012)
John Whelan: It is an absurd burden on the taxpayer at this juncture.
- Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)
John Whelan: I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's call for a debate, with the relevant Minister, on the proposed personal insolvency Bill. The Senator is right that it is a matter of huge public importance. People are crying out for some support to alleviate their personal indebtedness. I am not sure but I think it is the Minister for Justice and Equality that will introduce the Bill. I am concerned...
- Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2012)
John Whelan: It was established by Fianna Fáil.
- Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)
John Whelan: I wish to share time with Senator Kelly.
- Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)
John Whelan: I too welcome the Minister to the House and â not unusually â his pragmatic and sensible comments and observations on the report. I commend the committee, of which I am a member, on the report, in particular the Chairman, Deputy Andrew Doyle. The report is an important volume and a benchmark which allows us to have an informed debate on this important issue. I feel a little out of my...
- Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)
John Whelan: The report is important in that it puts to rest much of the wishful thinking and fanciful discussion that often surrounds debate on the issue. Every once in a while information appears to suggest that oil has been found off Dalkey but we must remind ourselves that it is Dalkey and not Dallas we are talking about. I concur with the Minister's position in that I am reluctant to race to...
- Seanad: Community Employment Schemes. (27 Jun 2012)
John Whelan: I thank the Minister for coming in because I realise how busy she is. I am conscious of the hours of work she has put into resolving the outstanding issues surrounding the community employment schemes. This Adjournment matter offers the chance to debunk any scare-mongering that has taken place about doubts surrounding the Minister's own personal commitment to the community employment scheme...
- Seanad: Community Employment Schemes. (27 Jun 2012)
John Whelan: I thank the Minister. It is really good news that the review is concluded and that schemes will be notified as and from tomorrow. This is very important for many schemes because, although many accepted there had to be modifications and changes and that there were budgetary limitations, the lack of clarity was crippling their ability to proceed with any vigour. The development is very...
- Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: I echo the sentiments expressed by Senators Mary Ann O'Brien and Quinn on the abuse of sick leave in certain limited circumstances around the country - not everyone is at it. I would be concerned if new legislation introduced to tackle this problem put any further burden on small businesses and employers who are already put to the pin of their collar in trying to keep their businesses open....
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: It is a Fianna Fáil fiasco.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: Another Bertie Ahern type project.
- Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: I share Senator Denis O'Donovan's concerns and apprehensions about events at the pilot training school in Waterford and its partner school in Florida. I urge the Leader to invite, at the earliest opportunity, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to intervene in the matter. The State cannot abandon these young students who have each forked out â¬85,000 for training. These are...
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: I would like to second Senator Bacik's proposal that at the earliest opportunity we should have a mature, honest and open debate in this House on the question of alcohol, alcohol abuse and on the sale, price and advertising of alcohol. Every Member has been inundated with requests from parents and teachers across the country for us to do so. Any sensible and right-minded person would know...
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: The worst fears of the community about a spider web of power lines across the country are now being realised. We have attended a briefing by another company which is promising not hundreds of jobs but tens of thousands of jobs, not millions of euro investment but billions of euro. They are promising to do so with the installation of 750 wind turbines in the midlands. This is in addition to...
- Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: I am in favour of renewable energy. I know the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has a difficult task to ensure energy security and sustainability and to take the future carbon issue into account but this will not fly and I call on the Leader, to have an up-front and honest debate on the question of energy provision and transmission at the earliest juncture with the Minister responsible for energy,...
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: I, too, share the concerns of Senators O'Donovan, Keane and Cullinane with regard to the trainee pilots. I would like to welcome to the Visitors' Gallery two young neighbours of mine from Laois who are caught up in this debacle, Cathal Simpson from Stradbally and Mark Ryan from Portlaoise. There is no point in playing games or politics here or in pretending that having a debate here and...
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: With respect, there is nobody stranded in Florida.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2012)
John Whelan: To give credit where it is due, the Irish Aviation Authority intervened this week and flew the last of the cadets home. I have been told by the cadets they were well treated and that Aer Lingus could not have been more co-operative or courteous, and it is important to acknowledge that.