Results 221-240 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

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

John Whelan: I will be as prompt as I can. I welcome Mr. O'Connor to the meeting. I hope he is aware that my opposition to his appointment is not any personal matter. I have no doubts about his personal and professional integrity and his credentials. I am totally uncomfortable, however, because I believe that there is a conflict of interests. I do not mean a personal one whereby he would take...

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

John Whelan: I have to suggest respectfully that Eirgrid does not uphold standards and best international practice and neither has An Bord Pleanála, even on Mr. O’Connor’s watch. The period from 2000 to 2011 saw some of the worst planning excesses that ever blighted our towns and cities. If the Financial Regulator was asleep at the wheel so too was An Bord Pleanála as the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: On a point of information, when will members be given the opportunity to comment on the appointment to which Mr. Moloney refers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid Grid25 Project: Discussion (20 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I thank the Chairman.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Nursing Home Services (6 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister for the information he has put on the record of the House. However, I fear the words "shortly" and "soon", as I said back in April. I thought in April that would mean we would have a decision before the recess in July. We are one full year on since the original report was issued by the HSE to the Department. The public in Laois are entitled to clarity and a commitment...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Nursing Home Services (6 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, for coming at this late hour to take this Adjournment matter. There is a sense of déjà vu here in that I asked a similar question, with the tolerance of the Chair, on 24 April. I hope the Minister has some good news to convey tonight, as opposed to his having merely been handed a hospital...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I have had my differences in the past with the Minister for Justice and Equality, but this morning I would like to commend him for his courage in not continuing with the cover-up of the death of Fr. Niall Molloy, and for giving a glimmer of hope to his family, his community, his neighbours and friends in Offaly and Roscommon. This would not be possible were it not for the cross-party work...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I am grateful to Senator Kelly for so generously sharing his time. I welcome the Minister to the House but we cannot welcome these cuts. Not even the Minister has suggested for a second that anyone welcomes cuts of €290 million in social protection. Any such cuts for those who qualify and are reliant on social protection are harsh. They are hard cuts that affect individuals and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I commend her on the manner in which she has protected pensioners. She should not lose her spirit of reforming zeal. It is commendable that, as and from 1 January 2014, employers will receive a significant subvention and subsidy of €300 per month to take young people off the dole. That is not to be scoffed at.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: Surely, if even a small fraction of small businesses, which are the backbone of the economy, took one person off the dole we would be well on the way towards reducing the unemployment figures. I ask the Minister to review the manner in which the free travel scheme is operated. There are free travel passes going around this country like confetti at a wedding. A child could photocopy them....

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I concur with Senator O'Neill, Senator Cullinane and my colleague from Roscommon, Senator Kelly, who has been raising this issue until he is blue in the face. A grand deception has been visited on the people and EirGrid has sucked Government policy with it on the basis of its assertion that we need to double the capacity of the grid. It wants to erect a further 800 km of high voltage power...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: I am calling for that. We have been raising the issue of water in this House for the past three years. It is not the fault of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government that Dublin has no water this week. It is the fault of the previous Government, which for years looked on and did nothing about vital infrastructure. It wanted to build the Bertie bowl instead of a...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Nov 2013)

John Whelan: Will the Leader invite the Minister, Deputy Hogan, to come to the House at the earliest opportunity in order that we can prioritise the construction of the Garryhinch reservoir? If this problem were to arise in January, Irish Water would be blamed. It is not to blame because this is a legacy issue. We have three CEOs, three Ministers and three State agencies with responsibility for water....

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: From childhood, we are taught to donate and give. I recall from my school days when we made donations for the nuns on the missions overseas. It may have become a little more fancy and sophisticated now with the word “philanthropy”. However, I accept Senator Zappone’s point that everyone can be a philanthropist. The message of The One Percent Difference campaign is...

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister to the House. He has shown great leadership, vision and reforming zeal. This is a superb intervention. It is good that a Minister of Deputy Hogan's calibre and reputation is endorsing the campaign in the Seanad and giving it his imprimatur. That is important for public confidence and trust. I beg to differ with the esteemed former President of the United States,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I am grateful to the Minister for the information. In the matter he raised, I would like to respond by saying it is not on the part of the Senators that the schedule was changed at 2.30 p.m to reschedule the business of the House. I had anticipated the question would be taken at 6 p.m. With no disrespect, the question was tabled last Wednesday and deferred at the Minister's request to be...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte. I appreciate his taking time from a busy schedule to respond to the issue I am raising. I am taking the opportunity to seek clarification and reassurance on behalf of ESB workers in the context of the recent revelation of a significant shortfall in that company's pension fund. I have been...

Seanad: Issues Facing Small and Medium Enterprises in Rural Towns: Motion (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I second the motion and commend Senator Landy on taking the initiative to table it at an opportune time, the week before the budget. I know these are not necessarily financial matters being directly dealt with by the Minister, but there are budgetary implications in some regards. I am also grateful that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, has made herself available to the Seanad...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: Rumours of our demise were grossly exaggerated. However, I do not share everyone's joy on the basis that all will be well, that there will be reform and it will all be hunky dory, because if the schedule for the Seanad this week is anything to go by that is the level of contempt that would be visited upon us had the vote gone the other way at the weekend. That is how the Government intends...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----and ignore the referendum.