Results 21-40 of 4,556 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Seanad: Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Jun 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I am delighted to support Senator Norris's Bill and thank him for bringing it forward. When I first met him when I came in here, he was very exercised about it and was determined to bring it forward early in the session, which is welcome. His legislation has touched on some really important issues. We need to be clear about what is meant by direct provision. It is a means of meeting the...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I rise to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI. It has been covered in all the media this morning. Ongoing issues have been a factor there since 2014. A whistleblower made very serious allegations under the various provisions of the whistleblowing legislation which I do not intend to repeat in this House. The NMBI is charged with the...

Seanad: Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2016)

Victor Boyhan: Yesterday we had a very long debate on the Bill with the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne. I came in with one view and I listened to the Minister of State but I subsequently took time to go to a centre in Dún Laoghaire yesterday evening because I thought it was important. A number of Senators said to me afterwards that nothing would happen and that the Minister of State would...

Seanad: Ibrahim Halawa Case: Statements (30 Jun 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister for taking time out of his very busy schedule this week. We know that he has been involved in many other activities as part of his brief. We all know the story of Ibrahim Halawa and the issues that arise from it. I remind the House that he is an Irish citizen. We know that his human rights are being violated and that the public at large is not quite convinced by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: In the context of the conference held by the Association of Irish Local Government last week, I wish to point out that more than 42 new Senators have been elected to the House and that many of us were elected by local authority members. The Association of Irish Local Government and the Local Authority Members Association have raised numerous concerns with each of us. I took the trouble last...

Seanad: Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister and thank her for giving of her time. Every time I look at the television monitor, I see her speaking in one of the Chambers. She is an exceptionally busy Tánaiste and Minister. I have read these proposals and the amendments, which I think are measured, balanced and appropriate. This is a balancing act and the measure has to be appropriate but the Minister is...

Seanad: Local Authority Members' Terms and Conditions: Motion (5 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I will share my five minutes with Senator Craughwell. I believe it was appropriate to alter the Order of Business today to raise this issue of councillors. I am delighted that there now appears to be cross-party consensus and I believe that is the way to go. It is appropriate that we work together. Across the House, we all have our own personal experiences in local government. I wish to...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I wish to raise two issues. I agree with Senator Catherine Ardagh in respect of her concerns about the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF. It is timely we had a comprehensive statement on it. I declare I am a former director of the NTPF so I know a good deal about it. It has had a great record in the past. I understand from a brief discussion here in response to another issue last...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Irish Blood Transfusion Service (12 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I wish to ask about the public procurement of products and services for the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS. I have already submitted details to the Department of Health. We know that, under statute, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is fully accountable to the Minister for Health. The principal activity of the IBTS is to provide blood and blood products for humans. The IBTS is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Irish Blood Transfusion Service (12 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State for a very comprehensive report. I was reading it line by line as the Minister of State delivered it. I note that in the last paragraph he raised the issue of the 2015 auditor's report and accounts and added that it will be laid before the House very very shortly - I note the Minister of State added the words "very very" to his script. I welcome that. I...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister to the House. I do not have a script. It is not my style to read scripts but to come into this House and try to push and promote issues that are dear to my heart and that of my constituents. The Minister has responsibility for class K contributions. I wish to speak briefly about a whole group of elected public representatives, city and county councillors, across the...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I have listened with great interest to the various parts of this debate, both inside and outside the Chamber. I suppose one wonders whether there is a yearning for reform in here at all. I will share my thoughts nonetheless. I am delighted and very proud to have been elected a Member of Seanad Éireann. It is something I never thought I could dream of. I have no academic...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister. I thank Senators Dolan, Grace O'Sullivan, Black, Higgins, Kelleher and Ruane for using Private Members' time to table this very important issue. I am a former director of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and I spent many years on its board. I remain pretty much involved in the whole disability sector. We had a catch phrase in Cork for the Irish Guide Dogs for the...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: That has changed. I accept it does not happen any more, but it took a hell of a long time for the political establishment to cop onto what was happening. There are substantial moneys held in Part V accounts. I challenge the Minister to request that every chief executive of every local authority in the State inform him this week as to the moneys they are holding on deposit from Part V.

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: Perhaps the Minister could instruct them tomorrow not to spend a penny more until they come back to him on that matter.I want to find out the amount of money, bonds or Part V funds that are due to local authorities. There could be a kitty for the Minister. If he had any sense, he would ring-fence the money and tell those involved that it will be part of his strategy. That is the only...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Action Plan for Housing: Statements (20 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister and congratulate him on the significant work he has done. I read his action plan three times last night and I then decided I would go back and look at A Programme for a Partnership Government. There was much play on the first 100 days and seven housing items in the programme were to be delivered within that period. Obviously, all of that has not happened but it is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for selecting this matter which relates to library services in County Sligo. I live in Dublin, but the issue has appeared consistently on my desk in recent weeks. Community representatives from County Sligo and the county's mayor, Councillor Marie Casserly, have raised it with me. There are three principal libraries and a mobile library service in County...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive report. I agree that there is a need to reform the library service. We both acknowledge the importance of libraries and the services they provide for communities, in particular, rural communities. What I am taking from the Minister of State's response is that there will be no library closures in County Sligo - I am glad that he has...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Library Services Provision (21 Jul 2016)

Victor Boyhan: Will the Minister of State contact the chief executive?