Results 181-200 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

Seanad: Inland Waterways: Statements (26 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: I sincerely thank the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, for coming to the House for a good constructive debate on the proposed new by-laws for the canals and the proposed corporate development plan of Waterways Ireland. His attendance here is timely because it gives us an opportunity to contribute to the process, rather than discuss it when it is too late and after the horse as bolted, as it were....

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (20 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister to the House. Any move to enhance and add value to the State's infrastructure is positive, including the extensive infrastructure overseen by ESB Networks. I echo Senator Mulcahy's commendation of the Trojan work in ferocious, difficult conditions over the past number of weeks of ESB crews who braved the elements and put their own health in risk to restore power to...

Seanad: Mental Health Services Provision: Motion (19 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: The Senator has never agreed with anything.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: This is a matter of serious public concern. SEAI has a plan to develop 28,000 MW of energy from wind turbines.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: It will destroy the country, the landscape and people's homes.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: Can we have the debate on energy policy that Senator Kelly and I have been requesting for months?

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: We need to step back from walking this country into another NAMA for wind farm developers. The policy, as currently devised, is unsustainable economically and it will destroy the country environmentally for generations. This is a serious matter, which we will raise repeatedly.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: I want to put on record the following fact. This year the German taxpayer will subsidise the wind industry in Germany to the tune of €23 billion. That is not small change by any standards, even for the Germans. So much for cheap energy or for what we are being told is free energy. Yesterday, as part of an ongoing propaganda process, Sustainable Energy Ireland published a report...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Youth Cafés Provision (12 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: I am very grateful to the Minister of State for that very thorough and comprehensive response. It does set out a clear roadmap for qualification under the various headings. The Government is to be commended on ring-fencing the funding in this sector. I am a little surprised that the Monasterevin application did not meet the required standard for the appraisal criteria because I am certain...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Youth Cafés Provision (12 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: Anywhere we travel, we see the high esteem in which the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is held. People appreciate it is a full Cabinet portfolio and they respect the fine job she is doing despite the limited resources at the disposal of the Government. It is an important area to have designated within the Cabinet. Recently, I had the privilege and...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: On a day when the Oireachtas and the entire country are convulsed by revelations of bugging and the question of who is bugging whom, I raise an issue that is bugging me and people throughout the midlands who have a grá and affection for and an affinity with our inland waterways, namely, the actions of Waterways Ireland. As the previous speaker pointed out, we are hardly run off our feet...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: I am referring to the Government, and I make no bones about it.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Feb 2014)

John Whelan: I am not afraid to speak up, unlike Senators opposite who, when their party was in government, went along like sheep. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, who should be able to spare us an hour this Thursday or any other Thursday, to come into the Chamber, as Minister responsible for inland waterways, and explain how he...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: This is outrageous nonsense.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: The Senator is in a time warp.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister. When he goes to Europe, on our behalf, he will make strong, robust and significant cases for the country and in the country's interest. I commend him.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: I share the overall concerns that it is not good for democracy, Ireland at large and the electorate that there is a downward curve in our overall representation. I cannot believe my good fortune to be present for the maiden speech in the House from Senator Rónán Mullen, speaking as a candidate for the elections to the European Parliament and who is embarking on this difficult task....

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: I am not sure how independent the run is.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: Nonetheless, I wish all the candidates well because, as I said, it is not an easy task to put one's name on the ballot paper, particularly in these times. Politics, in some lexicons, has become a dangerous place to be in many people's eyes. Credibility is an issue. I agree with Senator Keane that we at the 11th hour in terms of the election, which has been set for Friday, 23 May. It has...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: We will prevail.