Results 1-20 of 9,710 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2016)

Gerry Horkan: As this is my first time to speak in the Seanad I take this opportunity to congratulate the Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach on their appointments. I also congratulate Senators Buttimer and Ardagh on their appointments as group leaders. As stated by Senator Higgins, today is Bloomsday. It is also the first anniversary of the tragic accident that occurred in Berkeley last year. As a...

Seanad: Mental Health: Statements (22 Jun 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I congratulate the Minister of State on her appointment and I wish her the best in her important role. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I would like to outline our message on mental health. Mental health issues continue silently to inflict immense damage on our country. The undercurrent of depression, anxiety and addiction is a profoundly ingrained problem for society, and no...

Seanad: Waste Management: Motion (22 Jun 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him well in the new Ministry of housing, planning and local government. It was Deputy Calleary of Fianna Fáil who raised this matter on Leaders' Questions last Thursday. I commend the Minister on his swift action in addressing it.

Seanad: Waste Management: Motion (22 Jun 2016)

Gerry Horkan: The Minister met the industry for negotiations and we now have this resolution. I come from a local authority background, having been a councillor from October 2003 until my recent election to the Seanad. Some other colleagues from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Senators Boyhan and Richmond, are also in the Chamber. That council introduced pay by weight in 2005. Prior to then, one paid...

Seanad: Waste Management: Motion (22 Jun 2016)

Gerry Horkan: It worked in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and I am sure that it can work elsewhere.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I second Senator Mark Daly's amendment to the Order of Business, and I would like to move a further amendment, namely, that No. 18 be taken before No. 1. No. 18 is the National Anthem (Protection of Copyright and Related Rights) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016, which I understand was discussed previously by a former Seanad but was not passed at that time. I hope my amendment will be formally...

Seanad: National Anthem Protection of Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016: First Stage (12 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to restore the national anthem copyright protection to the National Anthem of the State and for that purpose to amend the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 and to provide for related matters.

Seanad: National Anthem Protection of Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016: First Stage (12 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: Next Thursday.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I welcome the Minister and wish him the best in what is his third Department in a short period. I congratulate him on being appointed to Cabinet again. I recognise the role of social welfare transfers in alleviating poverty and I welcome the small increases announced in last year's budget, including the €3 increase in the pension, the €5 increase in child benefit, the...

Seanad: Public Procurement: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for his contribution. I also congratulate him on his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for financial services and e-government. I have no doubt that he will be an excellent Minister of State in that remit. Ireland's public procurement market, which is worth an estimated €8.5 billion per annum, represents...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I will add to what other speakers said about the boundaries review. I live in the constituency of Dublin Rathdown, as do a number of other Senators, including Senators O'Donnell, Craughwell and Richmond. Dublin Rathdown experienced the single largest butchering of any constituency the last time around in that it went from being a five-seater to a three-seater. No other constituency lost...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2016: Statements (Resumed) (14 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister. As one of the longest-serving and most senior Cabinet Ministers, it is great to see him here in Seanad to address us. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the summer economic statement. Since its publication, the Brexit referendum has occurred, generating serious volatility in the markets. The Irish economy now faces a multitude of threats that demands strong...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: Much of what I wish to say has been said by other Members, so I will not repeat the valid and useful points made. However, there are a number of matters that I hope to highlight to the Minister. I support the motion and I thank Senator Butler for tabling it. He articulated his point very well. In fact, all Members, although they had slightly nuanced positions, are sympathetic to the idea...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: -----and the employee pays 4%. A self-employed person earning X amount pays 4% and an employee earning X amount pays 4%. That is what happens to the pay cheque of the employee versus the earnings of the self-employed person. The difference is that the employee paying class A at 4% gets all types of benefits, and rightly so, but the self-employed person does not get any of those benefits....

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Gerry Horkan: She might give one minute to Senator Conway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Election of Vice Chairman (7 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: On the day that is in it and as the topic being discussed in the Lower House is relevant to many of the committee members here, it is understandable that we might leave it until more members are present.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Minister of State (7 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister of State. The working group is set up and doing what it does. It is made up of officials in various Departments, including those dealing with tourism, justice, jobs, finance, the Central Bank and claims. We are kind of in the loop but out of the loop in that they are all doing their stuff at meetings and between meetings. We kind of get involved somewhere along the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (8 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: I am conscious that we are under time pressure. Must we conclude this session by 1 p.m.?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (8 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: Many issues have been addressed and I would like to discuss a number of them. Every one present is in agreement that there is a problem that needs to be tackled by the joint committee, the insurance industry, the working group and the Minister. After six days of deliberations, we will all know what are the problems. While many of them have been evident for some time, no one has tackled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Rising Cost of Motor Insurance: Discussion (8 Sep 2016)

Gerry Horkan: These companies become more vulnerable because the new entrant, which may have a similar cost base and overheads, is trying to win some of their business. If Ryanair went bust, Aer Lingus would not be expected to pay the cost and vice versa.