Results 241-260 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I fear the Government intends to ignore the outcome of this referendum as well. It will kill us with a sort of kindness. Despite the best efforts of the Leader and Acting Leader in this House to behave and perform in a professional and dignified fashion throughout the entire debate on the referendum, in which they kept their dignity and professionalism while still holding true to the cause...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----to respond to the outcome of the referendum and to tell us what will happen next because it was not gifted to him on Saturday to decide what happens next. It does not fall to the Taoiseach or the Government. I will make one last point if I could.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: Certain Ministers have said that people were confused and did not know what they were doing. That is not a Government that is accepting the will of the people.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: They said that people always vote “No”. They do not. They voted “Yes” to the court of appeal and to the children’s referendum-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----but they voted “No” to giving the Government more power on this occasion and in the Oireachtas committees referendum.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I thank you for your forbearance, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. My question for the Leader is that we should-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: -----sit on Thursday and we should have a Minister present, if not the Taoiseach to respond to the outcome of the referendum.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Oct 2013)

John Whelan: I share the concerns expressed by colleagues from across the House in regard to the grossly misleading information being peddled by elements on the Government side in regard to Friday's referendum. It is a pity the Government felt it had to resort to misleading the public in order to prevail and win the day. It is a pity also it did not put as much effort into ensuring a good turn-out on...

Seanad: Turf-cutting: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I am glad to have an opportunity to contribute to this discourse in the Seanad. I am a bog man. I am from the heart of the bog in the midlands and I am glad to say it. Like many of my neighbours and friends when I was growing up, I spent the summer months helping to stack turf and draw it home. It is something more than home heating and fuel. It is not about money in many cases because...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I fully respect the official and the Chair in this matter, but I assure them that I have been facilitated a number of times.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I appreciate the Chair's lenience. I do not want to delay the Minister.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: This is a divisive issue throughout rural communities. We repeatedly hear from the Government benches and Ministers that a robust planning regime is in place but I am sure the Minister will agree that people have been given reason in the past two decades to doubt the planning process. We are all familiar with the Priory Hall fiasco. There are other such examples throughout the country. I...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister for his frank and thorough response. Recent concerns have been voiced by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, ITBA, about the development of wind farms of the magnitude proposed in the midlands, amounting to some 2,500 turbines across a swathe of counties Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Kildare and Roscommon. One wind farm has been proposed for an area that is not...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: No. It is in process.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: I respect that. However, it is inappropriate for wind farm developers to seek permission in areas that are not zoned for wind energy. Public health issues should be strongly embedded in the new guidelines. While it is important that we take into account issues such as the environment, biodiversity, livestock and bloodstock, surely the health of families must be foremost in our...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: With the permission of the Chair, I would like to share my time with Senator John Kelly who has a profound and long-standing interest in this issue.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (18 Sep 2013)

John Whelan: No disrespect to the Chair, but I have shared time on the Adjournment on numerous occasions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Rural Transport Programme: Discussion with National Transport Authority (23 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: I welcome the officials from the NTA. I know full well the value of the rural transport programme to communities in Laois-Offaly. If it was diluted or diminished in any way, it would send shock waves through people who are already marginalised and isolated in many ways. Fewer people can afford cars and some lack the capacity to run basic errands such as travelling to town or making medical...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water Supply (22 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: I do. I welcome the Minister of State's answer. I think the problem is duly identified and there is a solution afoot. My concern relates to the answer in that the lead-in time is up to three years. Time is of the essence. Three Ministers are involved - the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government; and the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Water Supply (22 Jul 2013)

John Whelan: The country has been deemed officially by Met Éireann to be in drought. In some ways, this is to be welcomed because we are entitled to a good few days of weather. After the past five years of rain during the summer, I do not want to rain on anyone’s parade, so to speak, and spoil the moment as I am enjoying the good weather myself. The Internet, Twitter and Facebook seem to...