Results 1-20 of 965 for speaker:John McGahon

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

John McGahon: This has been a really good debate so far. Professor FitzGerald touched on my view around this, which is that if a referendum was held it is somewhat likely to be passed in the North but could get defeated here based on the cost. I say that as someone who comes from the Border region in Dundalk. I say that as someone who would vote for a united Ireland regardless of the cost. That is my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

John McGahon: I absolutely agree that the gap has to narrowed and that this must come from Northern Ireland. I do not mean to be disrespectful but I just do not see how that gap is going to be narrowed when Northern Ireland has only had a government up and running and functioning for some of the past few years. How are these radical changes in Northern Ireland to be made? These changes would be...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Sports Funding (1 May 2024)

John McGahon: I thank the Cathaoirleach for accepting this Commencement matter and the Minister of State for coming to discuss this important issue. I will provide some context as to why I am raising this matter. I have met Katie Byrne from Dundalk, who has been working for the Irish Wheelchair Association since the age of 18. At the age of 18, she took an interest in wheelchair basketball and providing...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Sports Funding (1 May 2024)

John McGahon: I thank the Minister of State. Individual clubs do not apply for sports capital funding any more. That was changed. The national organisations now apply for funding, which they then put out to the clubs. I noticed something in the Minister of State's reply that I would really like to comment on because it is a good thing. I refer to the dormant accounts funding. That is a really good...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2024)

John McGahon: I raise the proposed changes to the parental leave age limit in the Civil Service. This has come to me from a former colleague in Louth County Council, Maria Doyle. Her words are much better than mine. It is somewhat complex and I want to put this on the record because I do not think the memo and the proposed changes are particularly fair. Prior to the attached memo, parental leave was...

Seanad: Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Instruction to Committee (17 Apr 2024)

John McGahon: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, in relation to the Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023, it be an instruction to the Committee of the whole Seanad, to which the Bill may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, that it has the power to make amendments to the Bill which are not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill, for the purposes of: (i) transferring the...

Seanad: Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (17 Apr 2024)

John McGahon: Now.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

John McGahon: One very significant goal of this Government relates to the concept of apprenticeships. Work on this was started by the Taoiseach, our former Minister for higher education. We have done really well in that sector. We have more than 65 new apprenticeships today that we did not have four years ago and more people are taking up apprenticeships today than were doing so four years ago. We are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

John McGahon: Everyone in the House will be aware of how important the scheme to essentially pay for development levies through a waiver, introduced by the Government last April, was in boosting supply and construction, and in making sure there was no prohibitive cost for people trying to build their first home. I am talking predominantly about people in rural one-off housing, but the scheme is for anyone...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

John McGahon: That is an extremely positive message and I appreciate that the Minister of State has taken it to the House today. It is clear that the Minister is strongly considering extending the waiver. He is reviewing the waiver and has noticed and acknowledged that it has worked really well, reduced costs for people and means that people have decided not to sit on planning permissions for a year or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: I thank the Chair. I will focus on a couple of projects that are local to the Chair, Deputy O'Dowd, and me by giving my own thoughts and asking for the witnesses' opinions on them. I will start with the Enterprise train service. The Cathaoirleach will be aware of this himself, coming from Drogheda as he does. First, I am aware of it because I am a regular train user myself. I use it to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: When Ms Deane mentions that bigger scale and the shared island fund, how does her unit make a differentiation between projects? I ask because on looking at that project, I would say it is going to have to be continually scaled up over the next couple of years. For example, if there are eight services today and another seven are added, technically we are doubling it. But compare that to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: Would the Chair like to come in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: To follow up on that, the Chair is quite right. It is the congestion and it is the priority that is being put over commuters coming from Balbriggan into Dublin that is causing huge problems for people from the part of the world the Chair represents. I will make one further point that again highlights why the shared island fund is so important. I note that €1.5 million is going...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (6 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: I-----

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (6 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: I think-----

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (6 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: In my four years in this House, and I stand to be corrected, I do not think I have ever interrupted anybody while they were giving a speech. Whether I agree or disagree with others, they have a right to be heard. If I can continue my comments for the next few minutes without interruption, I would greatly appreciate it. Comments were made about Australia, however, and they were reiterated...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: Before I discuss an issue, with the permission of the Leas-Chathaoirleach I would like to propose an amendment to the Order of Business today. I propose that No. 14 be taken before No. 1. Yesterday, I met Mandy Kelly in my home town of Dundalk. I am conscious that I must make sure I temper my remarks with due process. I preface my remarks my noting I am keenly aware that this is a very...

Seanad: Improved Rail Passenger Rights with Compensation for Delays and Cancellations Bill 2024: First Stage (5 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to require the National Transport Authority (NTA) to produce a report, to be delivered to the Minister of the Government with responsibility for a Department of State covering rail transport on the way in which the State may improve and strengthen rail passenger rights above and beyond the minimum requirements set down in EU...

Seanad: Improved Rail Passenger Rights with Compensation for Delays and Cancellations Bill 2024: First Stage (5 Mar 2024)

John McGahon: Next Tuesday.