Results 1-20 of 965 for speaker:John McGahon

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I wish to raise the issue of the M1 corridor, which links Ireland's two largest cities of Dublin and Belfast and at the very heart of which lie two of Ireland's largest towns, Dundalk and Drogheda - Dundalk, naturally enough, being the bigger one, despite what the CSO says. The M1 corridor was launched in Castlebellingham, County Louth, last year and is the brainchild of Dundalk accountant...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I wish to raise the issue of coach tourism. The Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland, CTTC, is the largest representative body for private coach operators, which are involved in everything from tourism to transporting children to school in rural Ireland. The chairperson of the CTTC, John Halpenny, comes from my neck of the woods in Dundalk, County Louth. He is involved in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I raise the issue of taxsaver tickets for public transport. Every single day, thousands of people from Dundalk and Drogheda in County Louth travel down the M1 on Matthews Coaches and Bus Éireann services, or take the train to Connolly Station or Pearse Station. They use taxsaver tickets to lessen the financial burden of commuting. They do this by getting tax relief on the ticket. An...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (16 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I welcome to the House and congratulate the Minister of State on his recent appointment in what will be a very challenging but no doubt rewarding position as we face into economic uncertainty on the horizon. I also wish to congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his recent appointment as I did not get the opportunity to do so last week. He follows in the...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I welcome the Minister and congratulate him on his new role. As my party spokesperson on climate, communications, energy and natural resources, I am looking forward to working with him in the next couple of years. Indeed, I was talking to a former colleague of the Minister's in Dundalk a couple of hours ago, Mark Dearey, who is a former Member of this House. I worked very closely with him...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: No, it is all right. I will be like Cicero. I will be brief, as the Cathaoirleach has said.The point of this climate action fund and reducing the NORA levy is to create far more projects that are sustainable, such as the seven already outlined. People from communities would be able to come to the Government or the Department and say they have an idea and run with it. It is such a...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: Next Thursday-----

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: Now.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: Was that my first mistake in the House?

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: Do not mention mistakes.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: Now.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: At 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 23 July next in Leinster House.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: Last week, I attended a meeting with my former colleague on Louth County Council, Councillor Colm Markey, about the closure of Scallywags crèche in Togher, County Louth. I will give a brief outline of the background. The Togher community project group has operated a community employment scheme and continues to run a community crèche in a rural part of County Louth. They took over...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I raise the issue of the Kings River in Callan, County Kilkenny. I spoke last night to my colleague and friend, Councillor Joe Lyons, a representative in that area. The community in Callan is at a loss about what to do about the levels of silt that have built up between the two bridges in the town. It has reached a point where the riverbed has reached the same height as the riverbank....

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I am sorry.

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I am sharing time with Senators Kyne and Joe O'Reilly. We are each taking two minutes. On school planning, I would be grateful if the Minister could check with the Department's forward planning unit to see if the Blackrock and Haggardstown area outside the town of Dundalk is outside their radar for new school development. Louth county councillors are going through the whole process of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: We had a very detailed debate yesterday about tourism but it would be good to split that debate into various sections. When we come back in the autumn, it would be a good idea to have a debate about greenways. I refer particularly to the strategic implementation of greenways. Given that so much funding will come into them in the next couple of years, thanks to the programme for Government,...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

John McGahon: I raised a couple of points on this matter when the Minister came before the House a couple of weeks ago. I want to keep my points brief as I have only about five and a half minutes. The first point I wish to raise concerns the help to buy scheme. I can talk about this because it affects my generation. I am 29 years of age. I cannot speak for Senator Gavan, but so many of my friends and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2020)

John McGahon: Five days ago, the 59th anniversary of the Battle of Jadotville occurred. This topic has been raised consistently by Senator Craughwell whom I saw earlier in the Chamber, our former colleague, Gabrielle McFadden and at the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council by Councillor Jim Finucane. On 13 September 1961, A Company of the 35th Infantry Battalion found themselves under attack from the...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (18 Sep 2020)

John McGahon: I am pleased to follow the Leader of the House, Senator Doherty, and second the nomination of my friend and colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach. My family's connection with Senator O'Reilly goes back to many years before I was even born. It started in 1980 when my dad first started to go out with my mam. They used to meet in a pub called Beagans in...