Results 1-20 of 1,492 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:John Lahart

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

John Lahart: I share and note the Taoiseach's concern articulated earlier in the week about protests outside the homes of politicians. The Taoiseach would have had no notice from me of the issue I wish to raise so I will happily to wait for a detailed written answer. What is the legal position about the wearing of masks and balaclavas at protests? Is there a legal position on it? Is it legal? How...

Acknowledgement and Apology to the Families and to the Victims of the Stardust Tragedy: Statements (23 Apr 2024)

John Lahart: My role in this matter was quite small, but I would like to illustrate how hard the families worked on this. I was appointed Dublin spokesperson for my party in 2016. As a Dublin spokesperson, along with colleagues who preceded me in that role, it fell to me to meet the families, which I did on a number of occasions along with my party leader, who was leader of the Opposition at the time. ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

John Lahart: I know the topic of post offices is close to the Tánaiste's heart. Closures of post offices tend to be associated with rural towns and villages but two offices have closed in my constituency of Dublin South-West in the past two years, one in Templeogue village and the other, very recently, in Rathfarnham village. In fairness, these closures were not the fault of An Post. In...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (14 Feb 2024)

John Lahart: Like the last speaker, I am a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and it is one of the most worthwhile and valuable things I have undertaken in my time in the Dáil. Like previous speakers, I want to generously congratulate Michelle O'Neill on her appointment and election as First Minister and Emma Little-Pengelly, as her deputy First Minister. It is almost an...

Road Traffic Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

John Lahart: I thank the Minister of State for his presence and for this Bill. I am old enough to remember that it was the late Séamus Brennan as Minister for Transport who introduced penalty points. He just got tired of people pussyfooting around the issue and putting obstacles in the way of bringing in something pragmatic. He went for it and introduced it. It had a dramatic impact on driver...

Road Traffic Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

John Lahart: Okay. As it is not in the briefing note I got, the Minister of State might come back to that in his answer. As a constituency TD, most of the complaints and requests I get for traffic-calming measures are for within residential estates, which means it is the residents in those estates who are speeding. It seems to be impossible for the Garda. I have never seen gardaí police speeding...

Road Traffic Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

John Lahart: So we are not talking about the speed limits in Dublin being reduced to 30 km/h universally. The Minister of State might elaborate on what he has in mind there. The drugs measures, drink driving and penalty points have been mentioned. I did not mention them but I support them and there is no point in repeating them. The public wants more police in cars with cameras on secondary and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (8 Feb 2024)

John Lahart: I thank the Chair for the additional latitude, which I appreciate. Some of the items the Minister of State has brought to us are really good news. The first is that Transport Infrastructure Ireland is considering a Luas fleet renewal. It is not overdue, but it is welcome, as is the fact that it is looking at increasing the number of trams assigned to the Luas red line. I would encourage...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (8 Feb 2024)

John Lahart: I thank the Minister of State for being present to take this matter. As he knows, Citywest, which is in my constituency, was meant to be a planned and phased, mixed and relatively modest residential development area. In fact, an area plan was advised for it just over ten years ago. The decision by the previous government to introduce strategic housing development areas, which essentially...

Tribunal of Inquiry into certain matters relating to the Complaints Processes in the Defence Forces: Motion (24 Jan 2024)

John Lahart: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute to the debate. One of the comments Deputy Smith made reminded me of what I was going to say about how separate and apart the Defence Forces historically were as an institution. That was facilitated and seen as necessary. One of the positive outworkings of this process is that is now seen as being archaic. The Defence...

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

John Lahart: Despite significant international pressure for a ceasefire, Israel continues to conduct intensive military operations in the Gaza Strip. The death toll, as we know, is in excess of 25,000 people, approximately, including many children and their mothers. While the sympathy of the international community sided universally with Israel following the horrendous events in October, Israel's...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)

John Lahart: The Ceann Comhairle will be very glad to hear that I kayaked the Dodder in my younger days. Innovation, research and design are subjects I know are close to the Tánaiste's heart and are also at the heart of our health system. New drugs represent not just hope for patients but the pinnacle of research and intellectual endeavour, not least here in Ireland. The Tánaiste is aware...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (12 Dec 2023)

John Lahart: 6. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55089/23]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (12 Dec 2023)

John Lahart: 13. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55383/23]

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Dec 2023)

John Lahart: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and welcome Minister Noonan to the House to listen to our contributions. When my parents moved to a parish called Ballyroan in Rathfarnham, it was the last development before the Dublin Mountains. Tallaght was a village. When we were on a journey down the country, we gave the famous children's catchcry, "Are we there yet?", when we got to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (28 Nov 2023)

John Lahart: It is close to midnight, and I very much appreciate the Minister of State coming to the House to take this question of behalf of the Government. As the Minister of State will probably be aware from his own constituency, continuous changes as part of the BusConnects project and changes in bus schedules continue to be rolled out by the NTA. Some of them have rolled out in my constituency. I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (28 Nov 2023)

John Lahart: I thank the Minister of State. I would be very grateful if he could go back to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to tell him this. I say this particularly in the light of one of the points the Minister of State made regarding what the Government has been doing with fares to encourage people to abandon their cars and use public transport. I refer particularly to young people. One of the comments...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

John Lahart: A waste of time.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

John Lahart: In his capacity as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue visited the Glenasmole Valley in my constituency last year to highlight quite rightly the threat that out-of-control dogs can pose to livestock. While both of us recognise that the vast majority of dog owners in this country are very responsible and while welcoming the measures announced by the Minister...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Active Travel (18 Oct 2023)

John Lahart: I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. Stakeholder buy-in is critical. Who are these stakeholders? Obviously, these include the local people who live in the area and use the roads. I refer in particular to parents, who are under pressure in the mornings. One of the things that happened was that school drop-off points were eliminated. Those school drop-off points that...