Results 1-20 of 310 for at speaker:John McGahon

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: 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: ...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 available unpaid...

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: ...the scheme is for anyone who is trying to build, whether it is apartment complexes or buildings in our rural communities. In County Louth, for example, the development levy cost is €11,600. That is a highly prohibitive cost to put on people at the same time as we see rising costs for building supplies, for example. This scheme has worked very well. We have seen a huge increase...

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...

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

John McGahon: ...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 in the Dáil. I will read into the record what I saw a few weeks ago when I glanced at some...

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: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Feb 2024)

John McGahon: It is great to have the Minister of State in the House. One of his first appearances here as a Minister of State was for a Commencement debate on work permits and their importance that I requested this time last year. I want to touch on this in this debate. We should make no mistake about the fact that we have a rip-roaring and very successful economy, particularly by European standards....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Cancer Services (22 Feb 2024)

John McGahon: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad for this debate. I want to provide some context in anticipation of his response, which I have not seen yet, but I want to lay the groundwork for it. The reason this issue was brought up in the Oireachtas and on "Liveline" over the past two days was the result of a letter that I received from Alison McCabe from Breastcare By Alison. She...

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

John McGahon: My apologies for being late. I thank the Leader for allowing me in. There was a wonderful announcement during the week relating to the shared island scheme, which is going to look at hourly travel between Belfast and Dublin. I believe that to be the economic engine of the island. There is an issue, however, which I have raised a couple of times. I received text messages yesterday morning...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Feb 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 Chair, coming from Drogheda as he does, will be aware of this himself. I will make two points. First, I am aware of it because I am a regular train user...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Feb 2024)

John McGahon: I too would like to raise the issue of mastectomies, which was raised in the Dáil by Deputy Colm Burke and in this House yesterday. I am bringing this to the attention of the House because of Alison McCabe from Dundalk in County Louth. Alison runs Breastcare by Alison and it is her job to fit people for bras following mastectomies. Until today, various parts of this country had...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Motion (21 Feb 2024)

John McGahon: The Minister of State will be contribute at the end. Senator Black is sharing time with Senator Higgins. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (15 Feb 2024)

John McGahon: I thank the Chair and the Minister for coming before the committee today. I appreciate how busy his schedule is and that he is taking time for the climate action committee. I have three basic questions and the Minister can touch on each one. On the national development plan and the projects that are being supported through the NDP, how will the Minister ensure that sustainability will be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2024)

John McGahon: Today, I want to ask for a debate with the Minister for Education with regard to solar energy, in particular for schools. That is being rolled out through a really good programme that the Government has initiated, which is the solar programme for schools. It is really exciting. The first trial started in November. It is opened up to 11 counties. That is going to benefit 1,600 schools....