Results 61-80 of 1,255 for speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I note the Cathaoirleach's comments and those of other Members-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: -----who have welcomed the announcement of sports funding this morning.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I will pass on their appreciation to the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, at the earliest opportunity.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank all the Senators that contributed this morning. We kicked off with Senator Fitzpatrick, who extended fantastic news to us on the improvement and recovery of the young girl and the carer that were so viciously attacked a couple of weeks ago in the city. We very much welcome that. Hopefully, as Senator Fitzpatrick outlined, the young girl and the carer in question will be home for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I know the Senator attended the last meeting of justice committee with the Garda Commissioner and contributed to it. Perhaps there might be an opportunity for her to address that particular issue at the meeting tomorrow. Senator Lombard talked about knackeries and the fact that they are closed at the moment, which is a very serious issue for the farming community. There is a dispute...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I so propose.

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I welcome the Minister of State and Councillor Dermot Lacey. I thank the Minister of State for facilitating a meeting at my request on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group and Fine Gael group on issues that arose from a meeting with LAMA a few weeks ago. I was heartened by that meeting because I got the feeling the Minister of State understands what we talked about. He is a former local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (5 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: The Minister of State is very welcome. The issue of the underfunding of local and regional roads has been raised consistently by councillors in Cavan and Monaghan and in many other parts of the country. In County Monaghan we are quite unique in that we do not have any multinationals, but, fortunately, we have many people who have created their own employment through indigenous enterprises...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Network (5 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for his response and I appreciate that he is reading a response he received from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Unfortunately, the content of it does not inspire me or offer me much hope with regard to roads funding. I ask respectfully that the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, bring a message back to him on behalf of the people of Monaghan and Cavan and...

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...