Results 1-20 of 230 for long speaker:Eugene Murphy

Seanad: Loneliness: Motion (1 May 2024)

Eugene Murphy: ...many years a lot of us might not have appreciated that many mothers after the birth of a baby can go through a very upsetting and depressing time. I do not believe that was fully understood for a long time. Thankfully, that is now understood. Our postmen and postwomen do an incredible job as was mentioned by Senator Hoey and Senator Black. They go way beyond the call of duty,...

Committee on Public Petitions: Campaign for a Walking and Cycling Greenway on the Closed Railway from Sligo to Athenry: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Apr 2024)

Eugene Murphy: I join others in saying it is time that the report was published. We are sort of in a vacuum. We do not know what is supposed to be coming. Given that we do not have that report, how long does Mr. Kenny think, realistically, it would take to redevelop that line to the point of it being open for rail business, if we were to get a positive in the report now?

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 Mar 2024)

Eugene Murphy: ...the situation in regard to penalty points. We would all agree that since its introduction in 2002, the penalty points system has proven its value as a deterrent to bad driver behaviour. It does not seem that long ago since it was introduced. However, the system clearly needs enhancing in the current circumstances in which road deaths have been rising at such a serious rate. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Eugene Murphy: I will be brief because I know people have been around for quite a long time and most of the questions I want to put have probably already been asked. I know Mr. Feeney and Mr. McNamara well. I hope his sheep are going well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Eugene Murphy: I also know Mr. Carr and Mr. Farrell and I know some of the rest of them less well. I might not go as far as Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, but I have said publicly for a long time that there is a lot of beating farmers with the stick over environmental issues. My late father used to talk about the original rural environment protection scheme, REPS. Approximately 98% of farmers took part in that....

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

Eugene Murphy: ...left, I ask that the Minister with responsibility, Deputy Ryan, come to the House to talk about retrofitting of houses and changes that perhaps need to be made to the scheme. It is taking too long. Some people do not need the retrofitting. I often wish we went back to the simpler ways of getting doors and windows, draughts put out and insulation put in to attics and walls, particularly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Eugene Murphy: ...said for when we had a very straightforward way of putting in doors, windows and insulation. It may have been mentioned by Deputy Ó Cuív that there are lots of small family builders who are no longer involved in house building and who are more than willing to take up this work. They have been experts at doing it for years. We are missing a huge opportunity by not going back...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Eugene Murphy: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I have been asked to confirm this but, as far as I am aware, as regards the towns of Elphin and Strokestown - the latter is along the N5 while Elphin is just off it but the new road means it will now be quite close to the N5 - there will be active money for footpaths and cycle lanes. That has been confirmed in the new proposal. As regards that road, the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2024)

Eugene Murphy: ...forestry business here. Many regulated pests and diseases found elsewhere throughout the world in forestry areas are not present in Ireland. We have had a very strict plant health regime for a long time and that is a very favourable way to be. Ireland's protected zone status includes six bark beetle species. They can do awful damage to wood, so this is a very important and welcome step...

Committee on Public Petitions: Campaign for a Walking and Cycling Greenway on the Closed Railway from Sligo to Athenry: Discussion (25 Jan 2024)

Eugene Murphy: ..., then get on with it, and at the same time put in a parallel greenway, [it is a] a perfectly safe and feasible option." I agree with this by the way. Then he stated that: "If the railway is going on the permanent long finger ... and will not happen for ten or 20 years, at best, [then] let us have a greenway now until such a time as the railway is possible..." That is totally in order....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (24 Jan 2024)

Eugene Murphy: ...í got the help he needs, his parents think he would change.Not only Daithí but all children in his situation deserve that chance. His parents feel let down and that he should be getting this help. It is a long time since last June. I am asking the Minister of State to look at this case to see whether the vacant position can be filled. The person who previously had that role...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2023)

Eugene Murphy: I will not detain the House for long. I fully support the Government on this but we probably should have another look at the Labour Party amendment. There has been a complete sea change with regard to the families of politicians in urban and rural areas. When family members hear on television or radio that TDs and senators cannot get in or out of Leinster House because of a protest, they...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (7 Dec 2023)

Eugene Murphy: ...in an electoral division. At the last election, my own area of north Roscommon was in a constituency with Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal. It would take you a fair while to get from one end to the other in a gluaisteán and longer on a bicycle but I can tell you one thing, it would not be an easy tour. With all respect to my colleagues there, the former Minister of State, Deputy...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2023)

Eugene Murphy: I will continue for a moment on the rail issue because I want to go back to the issue of the Sligo to Dublin route, particularly the Sligo to Connolly Station route, though I know it goes from Longford to Pearse Station as well. We still have a situation where you cannot get a cup of coffee or tea on that line. It is very disappointing that, months after it was reintroduced in other parts...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2023)

Eugene Murphy: ...Carrigy. I join the Senator in paying tribute to Louis Belton, a man with whom I was very friendly. We did not agree on politics but we had many good meetings and greetings. When I would slag Longford, he would always remind me that I was born in that town. He was never long in telling me that. He was a dapper dresser, as people around here would knew, and always to be seen dressed to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2023)

Eugene Murphy: ...the announcement from yesterday of the opening of the 2024 scheme of investment for the horticulture industry. It was announced by our own Minister of State, Senator Hackett. I have been a long advocate, as I know Senator Boyhan has, for the horticultural sector and its importance. We all acknowledge and realise that the sector has been falling behind colossally in some situations....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Concerns for Sourcing Winter Animal Feed in Shannon Callows Area: Discussion (8 Nov 2023)

Eugene Murphy: ...not cut it. From my perspective, one of the first things I did when I was elected in 2016 was to get our party to try to do something about the management of the River Shannon. This has dragged on way too long. We all know that. Action needs to be taken in terms of who controls the River Shannon and how it is run. We cannot have this situation, and people have heard this over and...

Seanad: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Second Stage (26 Oct 2023)

Eugene Murphy: .... I am sure there will be other points of view and other amendments that we need to deal with, but it is a very good move and would be welcomed by most people. Sometimes people might ask why it takes so long, but when we consider the level of engagement required with other Departments and the Attorney General, sometimes there is a lot of ground that needs to be covered which even we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of the Social Welfare (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (27 Sep 2023)

Eugene Murphy: ...contention. I hope Mr. Duggan can take on board what the Chair said. If Mr. Duggan already covered this, I may have missed it. When people defer their pension and continue to work on, for how long can they defer the pension? The only other thing I have to say is that I very much welcome the attention to carers. As the Chairman knows and as I know, people might have only put in five,...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: RTÉ (Resumed) (13 Sep 2023)

Eugene Murphy: ...and outrageous. I know it is 21 years later but it seems that things have not improved very much. We can assign a lot of blame to the people before the committee today but things have been going wrong at RTÉ for a long time. We are now at a critical juncture. I come from a broadcasting background. I spent many years broadcasting, producing and presenting for local audio. I...