Results 1-20 of 1,188 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (30 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. She is very welcome to the House. Some 34,000 cases of domestic abuse were reported to Women's Aid last year. It truly is a shocking figure. I welcome the fact that Ireland is one of the first countries in Europe to provide paid work leave to victims of domestic abuse. I very much welcome that development. Statutory domestic violence leave...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (30 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am delighted this Government has prioritised the location of a refuge centre in either County Cavan or County Monaghan. It is imperative. I am heartened by the urgency this issue has been given, because it is vitally important that we have a refuge centre to protect these poor victims of domestic violence. The quicker that happens, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the witnesses and thank the Commissioner for attending today's hearing. At the outset, like others, I express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Garda who had to deal with what they had to deal with last Thursday. Would the Commissioner say that there was a failure of management of the situation last Thursday evening?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I appreciate that it was an unprecedented situation and nobody could have foreseen the level of violence that occurred, but is it fair to say that based on events of the last year to 18 months, we could see the level of activity begin to ratchet-up? Is it fair to say that perhaps Garda management should have been more aware of the potential for this to escalate? I am not talking about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Is the Commissioner satisfied that Dublin will be adequately policed between now and Christmas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Absolutely. Is it fair to say that the Garda will be depending on resources from outside the capital to beef-up the strength of the force in Dublin? By extension, is that not going to result in a situation where other parts of the country are going to be left short, as happened last Thursday as far away as in my own county of Monaghan, where resources had to travel down to assist? By...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I ask the Commissioner to comment on the need, in my opinion, for an independent body to assess what happened last Thursday, with a view to making recommendations to Garda management going forward.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Commissioner for his answers. The Commissioner used the term "chill factor" when it comes to gardaí using force in order to defend themselves and members of the general public. Would he say that perhaps more support and guidance needs to be given to members in situations like that? Why are we having this conversation today? Surely members of the Garda should be under no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: If the authorities do not accept that we have a problem with recruitment and retention, then we will have a bigger problem coming down the road. The reality is that there are serious issues in this regard. I speak as someone who served nine years as a member of An Garda Síochána, stationed in Monaghan. The attractiveness of the job back then as opposed to its unattractiveness...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (22 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. The N2 Ardee to Castleblayney road has become infamous for its high collision rate. Sections of the road have been classified as having twice the expected collision rate and the death toll, unfortunately, is alarming. There have been 17 fatal collisions in the last ten years and 24 within the past 18 years. This has left so many...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (22 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I acknowledge that he came to Monaghan County Council on this particular issue. I know he does not have direct responsibility for everything that goes on within this Department, but I ask him to bring the message back to someone who does - the Minister, Deputy Ryan - that funding is required in order to progress this road. We are talking...

Seanad: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (22 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister is welcome back to the House. I, too, very much welcome the establishment of this new body, which, as the Minister said, will be referred to as Cuan, which means "harbour" as Béarla. It is very much welcomed. A number of counties, numbering seven to nine, currently have no refuge centre. In County Monaghan, and as my learned colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, who is based...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: It is estimated that four out of ten shoppers - that is about 40% - plan to complete their Christmas shopping for gifts of non-food items on Black Friday at the end of this week. I was very taken by the campaign launched to encourage everybody to turn Black Friday into "Buy Green Friday". The campaign highlights the massive importance of people supporting local businesses and service...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I raise the issue of housing and pay tribute to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for the raft of measures he has introduced to try to encourage homeownership. It is fair to say that any reasonable assessment would conclude that we are definitely making progress and building momentum. We all know much more is needed. One of the schemes introduced recently was the scrapping of development...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this afternoon. Yesterday, the management at Cavan General Hospital issued a statement to local media requesting that non-urgent people would not attend the hospital because of the high volumes they were experiencing. Instead, they asked that patients with non-critical issues to contact their GP or indeed their pharmacy for assistance....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As I said earlier, the development in Roscommon is very positive and it makes perfect sense that a similar protocol be put in place in Monaghan. The injuries unit is thankfully now operating seven days a week, as the Minister of State noted. The staff are very dedicated and caring people and provide an excellent service. From my inquiries, I...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the witnesses and thank them for the work the Garda does on behalf of us all in increasingly difficult circumstances. Our appreciation is heartfelt. I wish to ask a number of questions. The Commissioner mentioned the new operating model. In my neck of the woods of Cavan and Monaghan, there are deep concerns among members of the community and gardaí. Changes have been...