Results 261-280 of 4,377 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Neale Richmond: I rise briefly today to discuss, once again, another European issue. Every time we talk about Europe at the moment, it relates to Brexit, and rightly so. While the negotiations are ongoing and the British prepare to leave the European Union, Europe itself is preparing to change. We need to discuss it in much greater detail and depth and be aware of it because if we start to take our eye...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Departmental Properties (28 Sep 2017)

Neale Richmond: I wish to raise the issue of the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum in Dublin 16. I first raised this issue with the former Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, in the context of a wider debate on mental health and before she moved on from Department of Health. I raise it this morning for a more parochial reason, namely, that there is considerable concern in the local area about the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Departmental Properties (28 Sep 2017)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Minister of State and commend him on his work. I asked two or three specific questions and he provided good answers to them for which I am very grateful. I ask him to pass on my regards to the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who I know is in lovely Stillorgan this morning so he cannot be here. I appreciate the engagement.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: I am deputising on behalf of my colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, our regular spokesman on foreign affairs, who cannot be here since he is representing Ireland at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. I sincerely welcome the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, to the House and thank him for his remarks. As this is the first time I have had the opportunity to engage with him in his new portfolio,...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (11 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: It was a mistake.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Site Acquisitions (12 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: I wish to raise the issue of Stepaside Educate Together secondary school. Stepaside has been in the news quite a lot recently in the context of its Garda station. As a local resident, I can confirm that it is an ever-growing area, with many issues causing concern to the local population, not just the Garda station but also education facilities, community facilities, housing and so forth....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Site Acquisitions (12 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: Extremely positive. I offer my extreme gratitude to the Minister for such an excellent contribution. I am very grateful. I would appreciate it if he could keep me and the school community up to date as soon as it is feasible, from a commercial point of view.

Seanad: Future of Europe: Statements (12 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank her very much for taking this very important debate, which I see as complementary to the ongoing work of the European affairs committee, chaired by Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, of which myself and Senator Leyden are members. I will try my best not to mention the B word and try to avoid saying Brexit too much-----

Seanad: Future of Europe: Statements (12 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: I will try, but I cannot guarantee. We are having this discussion on foot of a decision by the people of the United Kingdom to vote to leave the European Union just over a year ago. Even if the people of the UK had decided to remain, or a referendum was never held, we would have had to have had this discussion because Europe needs reform and change. This has been said by many people many...

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: At the outset, I make the point that I am substituting today for our regular children spokesperson, Senator Catherine Noone, who is detained chairing the very important work of the Oireachtas committee. I am delighted to be able to contribute on this and I would have hoped to have come later in the statements, as I did on the last occasion we were in the other Chamber. I welcome much of the...

Seanad: Child Care: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: Thank you. Six weeks to go - deadly. I declare an interest, not only as an expectant father, but also as someone whose wife works as a Montessori teacher. In any case, the conversation with my friends when out to dinner, or these days more likely sitting in a park, has moved swiftly on from stag dos and attempts to travel the world to Bugaboos, child care provision and the fact Aldi...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): His Excellency, Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to Ireland (18 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: I am delighted to welcome the ambassador, not just as a proud member of the committee but also as the convenor of the French-Irish parliamentary friendship group, something I hope will develop even further in the coming weeks and months. The reason I hope that develops further and I hope we have more of these engagements is that closer Franco-Irish relations are absolutely vital in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): His Excellency, Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador of France to Ireland (18 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: If the ambassador could speak about the tax issue, I would be grateful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: European Transport Sector: Discussion with European Commissioner (19 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: I will be very brief and appreciate the Chairman's indulgence as I am not a member of the committee, but as I am aware that we will probably be called away for a vote in the Seanad shortly, I apologise in advance. I want to make one point that follows on from those raised by Deputies Robert Troy and Imelda Munster about the EU-US open skies agreement. I hope the Commissioner will return...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2017)

Neale Richmond: Today the Taoiseach met Mr. Emmanuel Macron, the French President, for the first time in an official bilateral meeting. It was a wonderful opportunity to establish a very strong Franco-Irish alliance in the post-Brexit era. A number of key issues were discussed. There are a great number of areas where Ireland and France continue to work strongly together, both internationally and also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Key Developments on European Agenda: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Helen McEntee (9 Nov 2017)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Vice Chairman. I apologise for missing the beginning of the Minister of State's opening address as we had a vote in the Seanad that I could not miss. I am sure it was vitally important. There are four areas I wish to discuss, and I will be as brief as possible. I want to get a bit more detail on the issues already raised by the Minister of State. With regard to the future...

Seanad: The Diaspora: Statements (14 Nov 2017)

Neale Richmond: I appreciate the opportunity to speak in this debate. I am speaking on behalf of Fine Gael as its spokesperson on foreign affairs cannot be present. He is leading the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and asked me to convey his apologies. He also gave me a few ideas for my contribution. I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, for the zeal with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement on the Future of Europe (Resumed): Irish Farmers Association (15 Nov 2017)

Neale Richmond: I am delighted to welcome the IFA. It speaks before us regularly and gave a very strong presentation to the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union hearings earlier in the year. Despite my accent there are 63 members of the IFA living in my constituency. While it is not perhaps a big issue for many of my constituents as other people around...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2017)

Neale Richmond: I would like to share in the disappointment of many in the House at the decision by the World Rugby Council not to award Ireland the 2023 rugby world cup. I commend the efforts of the Executive in Northern Ireland, the Irish Government, all political parties and, most importantly, the IRFU, led by Philip Orr and Philip Browne, for their efforts in what was a very worthy endeavour....

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2017)

Neale Richmond: What would the Senator know? That is a ridiculous comment. Retract that.