Results 121-140 of 704 for speaker:John Kelly

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2012)

John Kelly: They have invested heavily in plant and machinery to cut turf for local turf users in rural Ireland. Instead of bringing in Bord na Móna to supply these people this year on a tender basis, they should be bringing in the local contractors to provide the turf for these people well into the future. Rural Ireland has taken a battering of late and it is time that we reconnect with it across the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

John Kelly: I call on the Leader for an urgent debate on the future of wind energy. This issue is separate to my Bill on wind turbines' minimum distances from residential premises. In terms of the economic viability of wind power, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, has inherited a considerable problem from the last Government. The experts claim our policy...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

John Kelly: As other Senators noted, we are approaching the 11th hour for payment of the household charge and there is still confusion. I, for one, am now totally confused. It is bad that some legislators are advocating the people to break the law, but it is worse when officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government either misinform people about who should pay or else...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2012)

John Kelly: On the household charge, it would be wise to push out the deadline by a couple of months. There are vulnerable people who have been listening to irresponsible legislators advising them to break the law and I pointed out yesterday that there are people who pay their bills weekly by buying stamps in the post office. As a former community welfare officer, I can say that at the moment the CWO...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have about six questions for her, but I will confine myself to three because the Cathaoirleach is anxious not to waste time. When a person who is in a shared ownership scheme and who has been a social welfare recipient for 25 years pays off his or her mortgage, he or she may owe as much as €70,000 to the local authority, which will be...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements, Questions and Answers (28 Mar 2012)

John Kelly: And transfers.

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the Minister and all our guests in the Gallery. In line with what Senator Landy said about Labour Party Senators being involved in business, I was born and bred in a small retail shop in a rural area - my parents are still running it - so I know a little about small business. I do not claim to know everything but I have opinions on certain issues relating to business. I will speak...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the Minister to the House. The Bill is well intended and the intention is to increase fines and imprisonment where convictions are delivered. I am also aware that the Bill forms part of structural reforms agreed under the EU and IMF memorandum of understanding. Is it enough and will it deal with the issue? I am not sure of this, but I appreciate it sets out to strengthen our...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

John Kelly: Governments have always been great for telling us why they are doing things. The Government looks across the Irish Sea and says it is doing something because the British are doing it. Now the British are doing this so I suggest some research is done into how effective the whistleblowing legislation is there. Has it saved money? It has to be worthwhile to pay a whistleblower €100,000 or...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

John Kelly: It might deter the Minister of State, and me too, but it may not deter people who are making millions of euro from their involvement in cartels. When the Bill is passed we should keep it under constant review. If it is proved to be ineffective we must deal with that with a hard hand.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

John Kelly: I love Senator White too.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2012)

John Kelly: I support the Minister on this initiative. For far too long, there has been flagrant abuse of the ordinary PPS card where anyone can present with another person's card. In my experience in this field I have seen it happen for far too long. I recently heard of the case of a family returning from England who had been in the UK for 15 years and other individuals had been claiming social...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

John Kelly: A major issue is unfolding with the second property tax, particularly in rural Ireland. Many people do not realise that they are liable to pay the non-principal private residence, NPPR, charge of €200. It was not until such time as the household charge was being debated that people started to inquire with county councils as to whether they needed to pay the charge on, for example, empty...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

John Kelly: -----but it did not make it clear-----

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2012)

John Kelly: Yes. In fairness, Fianna Fáil did not envisage that the charge should be paid in these types of situation. It is all down to the finer detail in the legislation, which was highlighted during the debate on the household tax legislation. Will the Leader bring this matter to the attention of the Ministers for Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government with a view to...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2012)

John Kelly: Last weekend, I was concerned to read in a Sunday newspaper that the Minister for Health, to save money, is considering the withdrawal of medical cards from 200,000 people who have not used or activated their cards for more than two years. While I accept we should not make payments to general practitioners in respect of medical cards that are not activated, it must be borne in mind that the...

Seanad: Property Tax (9 May 2012)

John Kelly: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for his recent visit to Ballaghaderreen. He was well received by the Western Development Commission. When one is the bearer of good news, one is much appreciated. I thank the Minister for visiting the fire station and recognising the memorial on display for the firemen who died in the events of 11 September 2001. The issue I want to discuss...

Seanad: Property Tax (9 May 2012)

John Kelly: I appreciate the Minister's efforts on 14 March to make things a little easier for people. In fairness, I would not have thought many of the people who find themselves in this position would know this facility was available to them and I would be glad to announce it. I would like the Minister, however, to consider an amendment to the legislation in the longer term. The property being...

Seanad: Property Tax (9 May 2012)

John Kelly: My point is that it cannot be considered to be a second property for rental purposes because it cannot be accessed without going through the shop. I know the Minister is a fair man and that this is a common-sense issue, but the Government would be doing itself a favour in cleaning up another mess left by the last Government. I appreciate the response and thank the Minister for his efforts...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 May 2012)

John Kelly: I share the sentiments of Senator Tom Sheahan, not on his right to walk down O'Connell Street in September but on what he sees on it. I raised this matter in the Seanad on a previous occasion. It is embarrassing to be Irish and view what is happening on O'Connell Street. For every beggar, wino and druggie there is one tourist. The ratio seems to be 1:1. In walking down the street a...