Results 1-20 of 605 for speaker:John Whelan

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (20 Jan 2016)

John Whelan: I am pleased this morning that it is the Minister State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is in the House to take this matter, because I have found in the past that not only is she aware of what is going on but she has a great knowledge of and insight into the actual situation. Equally important, I have found her to be a listening Minister of State who persists and perseveres, sometimes against...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service Provision (20 Jan 2016)

John Whelan: I accept the Minister of State's assertion that there must be reforms and that, with radical improvements through the use of new technology and flexibilities, we must have a modern ambulance service that can be dispatched. I also second her sentiments regarding the professionalism, commitment and hard and vital work of ambulance crews. However, I have first-hand knowledge of the crews in...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (20 Jan 2016)

John Whelan: I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Simon Harris, is in the House today to discuss this important issue. Flooding may have abated for the moment but it certainly has not gone away and it will be back. A hard rain has fallen and it will keep coming back until we deal with it with some purpose, some vision and serious sustainable and long-term strategies. Present company excluded, I am...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (20 Jan 2016)

John Whelan: What is the sense in that? I propose that Bord na Móna take the water from the Shannon and flood the cut-away midlands bogs as wetlands, as habitats and as reserves, as a safety valve for flooding when it occurs. Can the Minister address the issue of Garryhinch reservoir, which we have pursued here for the past number of years? Garryhinch reservoir is a feasible and live proposal. It...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Second Stage (20 Jan 2016)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister to the House. With all due respect to her, however, I do not welcome the Bill and it does not enjoy my support. Indeed, it will not enjoy my support and I am minded to vote against it. I do not lay the charge at the door of the Minister but I call on her to ensure she does not leave this as her legacy. She should not allow this to be the last legislation she puts on...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)

John Whelan: The nation holds its breath and people in Portlaoise, in particular, are holding theirs. I commend colleagues who have approached this issue in a non-partisan, apolitical way because it is not only about pollution but also about public health. Our time in this Seanad is running out and it is time for action because the time for reports is over. We need answers to establish why the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jan 2016)

John Whelan: I am not in a position to second it.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Apiculture Industry (17 Nov 2015)

John Whelan: I join the Chair in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. The issue I am raising today poses some problems and challenges and offers some great opportunities. I refer to the concerns, ideas and interests of this country's 3,000 beekeepers, who are represented by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations. They are particularly concerned for the prospects of the native Irish...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Apiculture Industry (17 Nov 2015)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive answer, which touched on many of the points I raised. I ask that the Department engage with its Northern Ireland counterpart on this matter because an all-island approach would offer solutions and opportunities. The sting in the tail, to use a pun, is that Ireland should not need to import honey. We have an opportunity to develop a...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2015)

John Whelan: Is that Social Democrats policy? That is news.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Meals Programme (13 Oct 2015)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister of State for breaking his busy schedule on budget day and coming into the House to take this matter. There will be lots of headlines today and many different issues will attract the attention of the media, but one scheme that will not is the school meals programme. It is an undervalued and unsung success story in our social protection and education systems. I commend...

Seanad: Broadcasting and Media in Ireland: Statements (7 Oct 2015)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is a timely debate and it is important that we are having it in a public space in order that we can tease out these issues. I would like to broaden the discussion. It is listed on the schedule as broadcasting, communications and media. When we talk about this issue we tend to boil it down to a discussion about RTE and the television licence fee...

Seanad: State Claims Agency: Motion (7 Oct 2015)

John Whelan: I move:That Seanad Éireann: - commends the Government for the comprehensive and successful process of political reform upon which it is engaged; - calls on the Government to consider engaging in further reform, in particular to consider a review of the role of the State Claims Agency; - calls further on the Government to consider undertaking such a review, with a view to bringing to...

Seanad: State Claims Agency: Motion (7 Oct 2015)

John Whelan: Those deep pockets are not to be used to frustrate fair play, common sense and natural justice when a wrong has been done, perhaps by mistake, misadventure or some mishap. This is not a question of apportioning blame. It is a question of seeking to change a culture and system which has at its heart a default opening position where the State will go to war against its citizens, very often to...

Seanad: State Claims Agency: Motion (7 Oct 2015)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan. If I thought the House would get as constructive, comprehensive and positive a reply to all motions then I would put one down every day. I thank colleagues on all sides of the House for their contributions and input. It was important to air this subject. We had no prior knowledge of the work going on behind the scenes in the two lead...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (15 Jul 2015)

John Whelan: I am pleased that my matter has been accepted and I am grateful to the Minister of State for attending to answer it. I am here to make an appeal on behalf of natural environment organisations that they would finally receive their fair share of lottery funding for the fantastic work they do the length and breadth of the country on a variety of community, conservation, habitat protection and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Lottery Funding Disbursement (15 Jul 2015)

John Whelan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I accept that the Government provides valuable support to many community projects in this category and this sector by means of a range of other funding tranches managed by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. I suppose there would have been very little point in the addition by the Government of "natural...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Jun 2015)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister to the House as we put the final piece of the jigsaw in place to finally give Ireland its own postcode system. We are not reinventing the wheel but this system is not before its time. We are the only country in the OECD without our own postcode system. Given that we pride ourselves on being a progressive, thriving and smart economy, I cannot believe it has taken so...

Seanad: Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2015: Second Stage (24 Jun 2015)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I commend him on bringing forward the legislation. It seems to me that in some quarters one is damned if one does and one is damned if one does not. The legislation is in the House but not before its time and there is a deadline on it. It is important that it is passed in the interest of public safety, the people who work in the industry...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Accident and Emergency Services Provision (9 Jun 2015)

John Whelan: I welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar. I am pleased and relieved to see him here in person. The midlands, including all of County Laois, are in turmoil owing to the speculation, scaremongering, doubt and confusion surrounding the future status of the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise and, in particular, its accident and emergency department.I do not have to spell...