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Results 61-80 of 159 for speaker:Billy Lawless

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (31 May 2018)

Billy Lawless: I thank the Minister for being here. We had the Irish element of World Vision in last week and they spoke in particular about South Sudan, another major area of catastrophe. Approximately 2 million people have been displaced internally and 2 million people have also fled to Uganda. These people feel it is the forgotten war and the displacement of people is on a massive scale. Where do we...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2018)

Billy Lawless: Yesterday, many Senators spoke about the outcome of Friday's referendum and about those within this House who helped to achieve it. I was struck by the words of my Independent colleague, Senator Boyhan, as he recognised the process itself and how fundamental the vote is to every citizen of the Republic. Once again, just like in the same-sex marriage referendum, "home to vote" was the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: World Vision Ireland: Discussion (24 May 2018)

Billy Lawless: I thank the witnesses for being here. I am always grateful for the Irish organisations and the example they set worldwide. There is no doubt that Ireland is one of the leaders in providing aid. I welcome that in this instance we are aiding people in these countries to become self-sufficient, which I believe is the right route to go. I am very involved in immigrant rights. Irish people...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 May 2018)

Billy Lawless: This is my first opportunity to address the House since the very disappointing decision by Apple to scrap its plans for a data centre in Athenry in Galway. I can tell Senators that, even from my brief discussions with the business community in the US, this has generated a real negative feel factor about the investment environment in Ireland. I am deeply concerned that, having invested so...

Seanad: Forestry Sector: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Billy Lawless: The Minister of State is very welcome. It is an issue very close to my heart. I was very involved in forestry in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Coming from a dairying background, which I did in the 1960s and 1970s, I know forestry is an extension of farming. At that stage, massive incentives were given by the Irish Government in conjunction with the European Union to incentivise people...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Diaspora Issues (29 Mar 2018)

Billy Lawless: I thank the Minister of State for attending to discuss this important topic. In February last, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade published a report by Indecon Economic Consultants on addressing challenges faced by returning emigrants. I am pleased the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora is committed to implementing the report in full. This independent research...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Diaspora Issues (29 Mar 2018)

Billy Lawless: I thank the Minister of State. As an educationalist herself, she understands the implications of this situation. The number of people involved is small, so we should be able to handle them. In many instances, a lot of the parents who emigrated through intra-company transfers and so on are high achievers with kids who are also high achievers and who would qualify for scholarships in the US,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Diaspora Issues (29 Mar 2018)

Billy Lawless: I thank the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Overseas Development Aid: Teagasc (14 Feb 2018)

Billy Lawless: I come from an agricultural background. I am interested to hear about the diversity about which Professor Boyle spoke, especially in relation to the potato, given the experience here during the Famine. Most conflicts throughout the world today cause displacement and hunger among refugees and global change. The delegates have given excellent answers. I congratulate all of them for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Billy Lawless: I would like to offer my sympathy to a fellow Chicagoan, the great actor John Mahoney, who has passed away. He played the character of Martin Crane in "Frasier". I knew him pretty well. He was a great lover of Ireland and performed many times in the Galway arts festival over the years. I wish to extend my sympathies to his family. In 2014 he said the two places he loved most in the world...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (6 Feb 2018)

Billy Lawless: I thank the Minister of State for coming to speak to us in the Chamber today. I commend him for his commitment to addressing the issues faced by Ireland's diaspora. As we near St. Patrick's Day, with many members of Cabinet and the Minister of State travelling to the United States, I ask the Minister of State that as well as promoting inward investment to the State, he ensures that whether...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Billy Lawless: I welcome the Taoiseach on his first visit to the Seanad. It will be of little surprise to him that the central issue I would like to see advanced during the lifetime of this Seanad - apart from the undocumented and emigrant rights - is voting rights for the presidential election.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Billy Lawless: I am delighted that a change in Taoiseach has not resulted in a change to a commitment to hold a referendum to allow Irish citizens abroad a vote in the presidential elections. While I recognise that there is a more pressing referendum on the horizon, I am concerned that a vacuum has been created between the Government's stated intent to hold a referendum on 19 June and the great deal of...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Billy Lawless: I have great faith that the citizens living in this State want to extend the franchise to their children, cousins and friends living abroad and give them a meaningful role, as well as delivering a clear mandate to our next President, or at the very least the one after that, that he or she represents all Irish citizens at home and abroad. I also acknowledge however, that there are those who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Brexit Issues: British Irish Chamber of Commerce (1 Feb 2018)

Billy Lawless: Most of my questions have been asked already. I thank Mr. O'Neill for his comprehensive report. One thing that struck me was the remark about 200,000 jobs arising from English companies here and, vice versa, from the Irish in England. That has to be critical to all those companies. What are those companies doing about it? What exactly do we know about what has been agreed on the Border?...

Seanad: Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture: Statements (24 Jan 2018)

Billy Lawless: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Madigan on her first visit to the Seanad. As a Galway native, I am extremely proud that Galway city and county, in consideration with other great cities like Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny, was awarded the city of culture for 2020. Galway has shown through the annual international arts festival and by twice hosting the Volvo Ocean Race that it has not...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Billy Lawless: I want to raise a most important issue that falls under the brief of the Minister for Justice and Equality. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will sit again on the very important case of NVH v.the Minister for Justice and Equality.This decision, as I highlighted in this Chamber on 4 October this year, included judgment of profound significance and compassion. It was delivered by Mr. Justice Donal...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Billy Lawless: I am aware that this issue was debated before the Dáil following a strong recommendation from the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality's Report on Immigration, Asylum and the Refugee Crisis. This is an issue close to my heart, having worked for over 15 years with the undocumented Irish in the United States. I ask for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come into the House to...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Billy Lawless: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach as I will be leaving for the United States in the morning, and I will take this opportunity to wish a very happy Christmas to the Leader, the Cathaoirleach, my fellow Seanadóirí-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2017)

Billy Lawless: I thank Senator Norris. I especially wish the staff of this House a happy Christmas and thank them very much.

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