Results 1-20 of 586 for and speaker:John McGahon

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2024)

John McGahon: The Order of Business is No. 1, Private Members' business, Protection of Private Residencies (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021 - Order for Committee Stage and Committee Stage, to be taken at 11.45 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2024)

John McGahon: I join with the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming Mabyn and Pat all the way from the great state of Louisiana. They are both very welcome as guests of our Leas-Chathaoirleach, who is extremely well-known, not just on Capitol Hill but right across the United States of America. That is indicated by their presence here. We really appreciate that. Senator Ardagh raised the matter of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

John McGahon: The witnesses have effectively taken apart the presentation of two weeks ago from Professor John FitzGerald with their six points, and that is what is good about these debates, where people appear before the committee and present one view, and a week or two later, someone else comes in and is able, quite systematically, to put an alternative view, based on facts, so I appreciate that....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

John McGahon: ...were talking two weeks ago about, for example, the concept of a solidarity tax that would be paid on top of income tax for a certain number of years. In his view, what would be a modest increase in taxation and how long would it be for?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

John McGahon: This issue was discussed two weeks ago and is in line with Senator Black's point of view. Two weeks ago, we dealt with one report, which was quite substantial in what the authors were saying, whereas now we are dealing with a report that is much more moderate in its outlook. It is incumbent on either the Government or whoever else to come to somewhere in the middle and take some points from...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 May 2024)

John McGahon: A couple of weeks ago, I met with Retailers Against Smuggling, a group that will have met many in this House already, to discuss some of the issues around illegal cigarette smuggling and retailers. When I say "retailers", I am talking about shop owners. Shop owners are really losing out. One of the reasons for that is the fact that Revenue has only three scanners around all our ports in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2024)

John McGahon: It is great to have the parents from CBS Dundalk here. I really appreciate that they get to come here and see our national Parliament. I congratulate everyone involved with the Louth football team. What an incredible performance that was at the weekend. To come within the four points of arguably the greatest football team known was something to be really proud of for all those...

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

John McGahon: ...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 personal position. Where I come from one would think that because of its proximity to Northern Ireland people would be quite in favour of it but I could...

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: ...accounts funding. That is a really good chunk of money that is used in a variety of Departments. Dormant accounts are a good source of income. Perhaps the Government could take a look at that and decide to allocate a little more towards a sport that really promotes inclusion, like wheelchair basketball, over the next three to four years. The reason I tabled this matter was to show that...

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

John McGahon: ...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 available unpaid for up to 26...

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

John McGahon: ...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 on the right trajectory with it.There is, however, one particular profession where there is no...

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: 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: 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...