Results 1-20 of 173 for long speaker:Robbie Gallagher

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Industry (16 Apr 2024)

Robbie Gallagher: ...going on to experience severe mental health problems. All farmers face increasing challenges, with falling incomes in some instances, higher costs, increased regulation and red tape, isolation and long working hours. However, it is clear the consistent rainfall we are currently experiencing affects no one more than it does the farming community. It is at such times we must support them...

Seanad: Community Safety and Investment: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2024)

Robbie Gallagher: ...that had it not been for Covid and the fact that the training college in Templemore was shut down, we would have an additional 1,000 members on the force. Such a number would be considerable and would go a long way towards alleviating some of the stresses and the pinch point to which I refer. Unfortunately, when numbers are tight, things like community policing can be cut. I do not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (7 Feb 2024)

Robbie Gallagher: ...Monaghan. As the Minister of State knows, parents are at their wits' end. They are exhausted and at the end of their tethers looking after and caring for their loved ones, which they will do as long they are fit to do it. The lack of availability of respite services is hurting those people. The lack of services in County Monaghan has existed for many years, long before the Minister of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (7 Feb 2024)

Robbie Gallagher: I thank the Minister of State for her positive response. Respite has been a problem for many a long year and long before she came into office over three years ago. Again, I thank her for taking on board the issue that particularly arises in County Monaghan and, indeed, to a lesser extent in County Cavan. She has delivered the positive news that €15 million is ring-fenced. The...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...no doubt we will see in the future. When these appointments arise, we have to make sure the net result is that we get the best people for the jobs. If that means looking elsewhere, that is fine but we should think long and hard before we leave our own shores, so to speak. As I said, people of the highest ability in the ranks of An Garda Síochána have served this nation well...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: To follow on from the Minister's comments, it is important that those thinking of applying today be given a timeframe for the process and steps along the way. This would be beneficial. I realise the Minister is trying to do work in this area. Where a person is working or trying to plan a future job, it is important to have clarity so that if he or she begins the process of becoming a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...clarity on where the funding is going. I know the increase is being blamed on inflation at the moment, which is fair enough, and the increase in charges for maintenance and so on. I think a debate along those lines would be useful. Senator Cummins also mentioned the knackery dispute and called for resolution to it. He welcomed the announcement this morning from the Minister for sport...

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ..., who were receptive to the call from all political voices on the need to move the issue of councillors' terms and conditions forward. I thank both gentlemen because we were banging on that door for a long time without getting any response so I am glad we see some movement on it. The old phrase "a lot done, more to do" springs to mind, because we have more to do on councillors' terms and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...numbers are alarming. Only 240 have attested this year while 500 will have gone out the exit door by the end of the year. What are the projections for 2024? On the policing model, it is a long way from Blackrock in County Louth to Blacklion in County Cavan. It is a vast area and there are grave concerns about that. I hope the criteria of the review that resulted in a change of heart...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (24 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...mentioned there have been fewer than 5,000 applicants for the current recruitment campaign. Four or five years ago, I understand that figure might have been 25,000. There has clearly been a problem here for a long time. Someone is asleep at the wheel if that situation has been allowed to develop. We are using the word "crisis" a lot this afternoon. Ms Cunningham mentioned a number...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (4 Oct 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...in my contribution, and as the Minister of State has accepted, flooding can be very traumatic for all involved. Unfortunately, the flooding problem in Donaghmoyne village has gone on for a long number of years. The local authority is investigating the pipe infrastructure in the general area but local engineers say that funding will be required to do a more substantial job in order to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (5 Jul 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...health services, the Department of Health is working in conjunction with the HSE to provide new models of healthcare that will allow people to stay healthy in their own homes and communities for as long as they possibly can, which is vital. It is about providing the right care in the right place at the right time. Primary care is an essential element of our healthcare system for the...

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...'s nightmare will finally come to an end and they have the opportunity to lay the remains of young Columba with those of his parents. It was his mother's dying wish that the family would strive as long as they were alive to ensure the remains are found. Please God, that will be the outcome. We hope the current search will be successful and the McVeigh family will have their wish. As...

Seanad: Disregard of Certain Criminal Records of Gay Men: Motion (17 May 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...to the guests we have in the Chamber this afternoon for this very important discussion. Fianna Fáil fully supports this motion. I welcome this very important discussion. I am very proud that my party has a long and proud history of campaigning for LGBTQI+ rights, from the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1993 by the then Minister for Justice, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, to,...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...judges and improving the service, but indeed how often the sittings take place and where those sittings take place. They are all very important issues. Some would ask why we have been waiting for so long for someone to tackle it. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State is taking this on board and that he is very much hands on in relation to it. Another interesting issue, which...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Apr 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: .... I will do my best to arrange for the Minister to attend for a debate. It is important that people have access to their personal details whenever they want them. Where legislation was passed so long ago, questions need to be asked about what the problem is. Perhaps a debate with the Minister might sort out the issue. Senator Carrigy discussed autism awareness. I commend the Senator...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Waiting Lists (30 Mar 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...problem of accessing public eye care in Ireland but we have a potential solution. I look forward to the ministerial response in due course. Unfortunately, many adults and children must wait too long to receive public eye care in this country. Figures for 2022, compiled by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, show that over 33,000 people were on an outpatient eye care waiting list, with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Services (23 Mar 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...operation and maintenance. Unfortunately, however, all over the country, residents in many housing estates are finding the process of their estates being taken in charge by the local authority as very long and frustrating. Many of the residents are being told that the process is being held up by Irish Water. They are being told this by their local authority. Money has been spent in...

Seanad: Location of Victims' Remains: Motion (22 Mar 2023)

Robbie Gallagher: ...for the families concerned. Then when that violent death results in a family not having somewhere to pray and speak to their loved ones, that is an entirely different situation. This evening, along with a number of my colleagues, I had the pleasure of listening to the families who are here behind me. We meet many delegations, as does the Minister of State, as part of our everyday role...