Results 201-220 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: Who shot JFK? These are conspiracy theories.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: We have nothing to hide.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: I agree with my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, that it would be absurd if there was a banking inquiry excluding representation from the Seanad. The finance spokespeople in the Seanad and others who have expertise in that area should be included in any newly constituted committee to inquire into the banking fiasco. I hate to say "We told you so" but for two years, Members on both sides...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Inland Waterways Development (21 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. I urge him, however, to use his influence and good offices as the Minister with line responsibility in this area - I know that he has a strong interest in heritage and tourism - to urge Waterways Ireland to extend the consultation period. What harm or hurt could come from that? Some 21 days is not sufficient. There is too much at stake....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Inland Waterways Development (21 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, to the House. I am grateful that he is taking my question. I have a great grá for the canals system in this country. I was fortunate to grow up in Monasterevin, along the canal, and have fond recollections of fishing and swimming there and encountering champion pike, roach, perch and bream. I...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (21 Jan 2014)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister to the House and commend him on an excellent Bill. He has been doing tremendous work in his Department and this is more good legislation that will have a significant impact on what we are all hoping to achieve, namely, to reduce the deaths and horrendous carnage that can happen on our roads, with terrible outcomes for families in terms of tragedies and trauma with...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: I support what Senator Mary Ann O'Brien said on the urgent need to expedite the establishment of the charities regulatory office. The Leader responded comprehensively on this question yesterday, but I was astonished to hear that it will take until autumn 2014 for the office to become operational. The Act to establish the office was passed in 2009. There are 8,400 registered charities and,...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: This is the biggest planning issue the country will face. I was pleased that the Taoiseach said, in his address to the nation, that we would never again take the road of greedy, development-led strategies. I earnestly believe the wind energy strategy being pursued in this country at present is being driven by developers. It is predicated on a false and flawed economic model, based on a...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: We are pursuing a flawed policy. It is unacceptable that we will destroy the landscape, the countryside, tourism and our amenities.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: I appeal to the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to the House. She has direct responsibility for this issue in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, along with the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. It is a huge concern across the country. The Seanad should take the lead, not the back seat, on this issue.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: I did not indicate.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: Our spokesperson has contributed substantially.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: No problem, Chairman. Thank you.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: I second Senator John Kelly's proposal. At the earliest juncture, the relevant Minister, be it the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, or the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, should be invited to the House to discuss, as a matter of urgency, the so-called new planning guidelines for wind turbines. I do not know how we can call them new...

Seanad: Critical Utilities (Security of Supply) Bill 2013: Second Stage (11 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: This is a timely and topical debate. I have the utmost respect for Senator Quinn not only as a captain of industry and entrepreneur but also as a commendable employer who set the highest of standards. He has the support of Senator Barrett, who also commands our respect when he speaks. However, not all employers are as decent as Senator Quinn or as forthcoming with their employees. We have...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: I would like the Leader to facilitate early in the new year a debate on the consultation process that has been commenced by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, on schooling costs for parents and families, particularly in regard to school uniforms. Parents state that putting children through school can cost over €500 per annum per child. This is quite a...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and commend him on the progressive and constructive content of this Bill. It is eminently fair and sensible. Most reasonable people will agree that the Government is playing catch-up and is putting to right decades of neglect. As Senator Clune and others mentioned, ours is a Victorian infrastructure. To cite a phrase from the politics of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: With no disrespect, it is more than a perception.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: What about the question on the conflict of interest?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

John Whelan: Is there an answer to that point about the cumulative effect of so many people who are former colleagues and colleagues moving from the boards? The interaction between EirGrid, An Bord Pleanála and the wind farm companies, in my opinion, has gone off the charts.