Results 281-300 of 1,276 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Regulation (EU) 2021/2260 of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Construction Industry (5 May 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Construction Instruction Federation has highlighted the considerable impact hyperinflation is having across the building industry. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland has shown that the annual rate of construction inflation was 13.4% during 2021. Increasing materials and energy prices have been the driving forces behind the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Construction Industry (5 May 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I also extend a céad míle fáilte to our visitors. I hope they enjoy their day. I thank the Minister of State very much for the response. He outlined a number of the public projects that are being affected, which include housing projects. We all know that there is a chronic need for housing. As I said earlier, many contractors entered into contracts two to three years ago...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (28 Apr 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for taking time out of his schedule to be here. Recently published reports I have seen indicate we need approximately 50,000 homes to be built every year for the next 30 years. That information was published before we welcomed thousands of Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country to our shores. Trying to find homes for our young people is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (28 Apr 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am hugely disappointed with it. Most of the reference here seems to apply to developers. I am not talking about developers, but about young people who are trying to build a one-off house, many of whom reside in the Minister of State's constituency as well. A pandemic the like of which we have never seen, inflationary issues we have not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Apr 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: Along with colleagues who have paid tribute to a number of former Members of this House who have passed away in recent times, I offer condolences to the families of Michael O'Kennedy and, closer to home for myself, Jimmy Leonard. Jimmy was a Member of this House for a period and a Member of the Lower House for many years. He served the people of Monaghan and the Cavan-Monaghan constituency...

Seanad: Automated Data Exchange for Police Co-operation: Motion (26 Apr 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister is very welcome to the House. She outlined very clearly in her contribution the reasons we should support this proposal. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil grouping, I will certainly do so. Senator Ward mentioned a high-profile case that was in the media recently. If one were looking for an example of a high-profile case where co-operation among police forces throughout the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (7 Apr 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: Before I start, I wish to compliment the Cathaoirleach on his contribution to the joint sitting of the Houses yesterday. I also compliment the others who contributed. It was a moving day and our hearts go out to the poor people of Ukraine. Bualadh bos duit. The serious issue of the continuous underfunding of roads over the past decade has been raised on an almost monthly basis by...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (7 Apr 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response. By all means, I welcome any funding that is provided to a local authority, as it is needed. I have made the case for many counties in rural Ireland, but particularly counties Monaghan and Cavan. In many ways, it is a false economy not to keep roads at a certain standard. If adequate funding is not allocated to local authorities, the road...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (6 Apr 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: Now.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: Yesterday, others and I met a group of farm contractors who arrived in Leinster House to outline in stark detail the serious concerns they have about the future of their businesses. They have a number of issues, one of which the price of fuel. Again, to give a stark example to illustrate the huge increase that has taken place in diesel prices in the past couple of years, back in 2020, a...

Seanad: Impact on Farming Sector Arising from the Situation in Ukraine: Statements (29 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I am sharing time with my colleagues. The Minister is welcome to the House to discuss this very important issue. Several months ago, I highlighted the rising cost of fertiliser. Unfortunately, in the intervening period, not only has the cost of fertiliser rocketed and its availability become such a challenge but energy costs have also soared across the board, so much so that we have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank all the contributors. It has been a very interesting discussion among all the participants. Senator Ruane put her finger on it at the outset when she said everybody seemed to be on the same page with regard to the issues and problems. Everybody is sitting on the bus but we do not have a driver to bring us to the destination we all want to end up in. That is not to take away from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I wish Mr. Graham all the best whenever he moves on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: Ms McCreery mentioned mental health waiting times. From a practical point of view, if someone is looking for help in that regard, what kind of waiting times are we talking about before that individual would be seen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Rehabilitative Opportunities within the Prison System: Discussion (29 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank Ms McCreery. I may come back in on the second round of questions, if that is okay.

Seanad: Proposal for a Council Decision on Hate Speech and Hate Crime: Motion (10 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I propose to share my time with my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin. We will take two and a half minutes each. Cuirim fáilte ar ais go dtí an Teach seo roimh an Aire. We in Fianna Fáil fully support this motion. Along with others, we have consistently called for action to be taken in this area. I compliment my colleague, Senator O'Loughlin, who has been very proactive in this...

Seanad: Proposal for a Council Decision on Hate Speech and Hate Crime: Motion (10 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 March.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill: Discussion (8 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome everybody on the call. The session has been very useful and informative. If you excuse the pun, a punter may be looking at this today with a family member who has a gambling problem and would like to take something from the presentation about there being safeguards in place to identify the problem before it gets out of hand. It may be difficult in one sense. Some may say the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill: Discussion (8 Mar 2022)

Robbie Gallagher: I am heartened by the contributions I am hearing here today. In reality, and it is important we do not lose the context of this, the vast majority of people enjoy a bet once or twice a year, whether it is on the Grand National, the All-Ireland Football Final or whatever the case may be, and they do so safely. What I am trying to get to today, and I am encouraged by what I am hearing, is...