Results 101-120 of 182 for going forward speaker:Thomas Pringle

Trade and Foreign Direct Investment: Motion [Private Members] (20 Jun 2017)

Thomas Pringle: ...for three years. Irreparable damage could be done, therefore, during that period, even if we stood up for ourselves. The Seanad voted against the provisional ratification and, therefore, the Government should be aware of the views of parliamentarians in this regard. Free trade agreements such as these do nothing for the benefit of ordinary citizens and workers in the countries in...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Thomas Pringle: .... It is a progressive step to enable the ESB to provide fibre on its networks and in respect of broadband, it probably is one of the most progressive steps that could have been taken by a Government to ensure this would happen. As Members are aware, the ESB is a company that already has a relationship with every household and business in the country. Consequently, it is a perfect fit...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 May 2022)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak in this important debate. The legacy proposals put forward by the British Government in Westminster last week were a shocking attempt to cover up the wrongdoings carried out by the British state in the North and can only be described as an insult to the people of Northern Ireland. It is clear the proposals put forward on the...

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Thomas Pringle: ...saw the Committee and Remaining Stages of the Bill in the Seanad before it came to us. I would like to acknowledge the work of some Senators, particularly those in the Civic Engagement Group, who put forward detailed and proportionate amendments. I agree it is unacceptable to create provisions for rolling three-month renewals of the legislation. There are growing concerns about the...

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Thomas Pringle: ...for increased financial aid and that facilitating access to financial resources under AMIF is badly needed. However, I am also aware that accelerated border procedures, when implemented, often go hand in hand with reduced fundamental rights, standards and safeguards. The fund will provide €500,000, which is not a huge amount and perhaps we will lose a lot more by adopting the...

Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

Thomas Pringle: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on the Misuse of Drugs (Cannabis Regulation) Bill 2022. I thank Deputy Gino Kenny and People Before Profit for bringing forward this legislation. I fully support this Bill, which will decriminalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use. Treating the possession of small amounts of cannabis as an offence is nonsensical and...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Thomas Pringle: ...services for victims; and ensuring consistency in service delivery. It is extremely important that victims feel supported and protected. This is key if we expect victims to take that first step in coming forward. When victims come forward to disclose a sexual assault, they are frequently met with more questions than support. This has to change. One of the biggest issues is that the...

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak on this motion. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing it forward. I have spoken on the issue of housing more times than I can count. I will, however, continue to raise my concerns and those of my constituents for as long as this Government continues to sit on its hands. Not only are the housing targets of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, shockingly...

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2022)

Thomas Pringle: This is a very big piece of legislation and there is an awful lot of detail in it. I agree with what has been said by, I think, every Member so far, that this is too rushed. That is what the Government uses December and July for. They seem to be the only months it can do legislation in. It rushes it through here so there is no discussion and debate on it. That is obviously what the...

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Statements (21 Jan 2016)

Thomas Pringle: ...Under the other free trade agreements, corporations that take states to court under the ISDS system win 60% of cases. There has been a reaction to the public outcry about ISDS. Included in the TTIP negotiations is an equally insidious system of regulatory co-operation between the sides, which will enable decisions to be made without public oversight or engagement. Businesses will be...

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Thomas Pringle: ...produce materials in accessible format? We hear about civic engagement and involving citizens in our democracies, yet reports are produced in a way that prevents people from understanding what is going on. If these reports were written in plain English and plain languages, it would make a lot of sense. Our legislative and policy processes can exclude people and make it seem that local,...

Special Educational Needs School Places: Motion [Private Members] (14 Jun 2022)

Thomas Pringle: ...school place for September 2022. Shockingly, 241 respondents do not expect to receive an offer of an appropriate school place at all before September, meaning that many children will have no school to go to next year. Imagine how that would feel, to a student and to a parent, for a young person to miss out on all that school has to offer, not only as regards education, but also as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disabilities Assessments (1 Jun 2021)

Thomas Pringle: ...conditions, for example, being wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs, or being wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg. The conditions go on like that and it shows us how archaic the system is at this stage, that these are the criteria which are still used regarding qualification. I am led to believe the HSE is considering the...

Acquisition of Development Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Jun 2021)

Thomas Pringle: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in this debate. I want to support this important Bill. There is no doubt it is needed and that the ongoing speculation and profiteering on land values is disgusting and should be addressed. The political system has always made it so and that is why this Bill should be supported in order to try to curtail the political system making speculation...

Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (25 Oct 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I am supposed to be sharing time with some other Deputies. If they arrive, they arrive. If they do not, I will keep going. There is plenty of information here to keep me going for another while. I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for the opportunity to speak today. I thank my colleague Deputy Connolly for bringing forward this motion. It is a very detailed, well-written and...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2011)

Thomas Pringle: ...in the Bill and totally opposed to it. In April of this year, the Technical Group tabled a Private Members' motion calling for a referendum on the EU-IMF bailout deal, which was rejected by the Government. At that time, in responding to the motion, the Taoiseach said in the Chamber that the people had had a referendum and that they had voted unanimously in favour of the formation of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Thomas Pringle: ...listened to the IFA representatives saying this for the past couple of years. They are fighting a rear-guard action on behalf of their members. They would be far better to embrace the decisions and go forward positively. That is my personal opinion. It is unbelievable. The IFA representatives have endorsed the Teagasc figures. That is interesting because it is the first time I have...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (25 Feb 2014)

Thomas Pringle: I thank Deputy Healy for putting forward this motion and I congratulate the members of the Technical Group who have joined together to present this motion to the House. It calls on the Government to maintain the post office network and sets out viable steps, with clear timeframes, for how this can be achieved. The motion is backed by the Irish Postmasters' Union. It is the responsibility of...

National Ambulance Service: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2023)

Thomas Pringle: I am happy to support this motion and I commend Sinn Féin on bringing it forward. Like every other part of our health services now, the ambulance service is in crisis. I wonder at this stage if it is deliberate on the part of the Government. Is it preparation for privatisation that we are seeing in such inaction across the board? It is rule 101 in the privatisation book that one...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (5 Feb 2014)

Thomas Pringle: ...to make it easier for companies to enter the examinership process and enable a third party to formulate ways of restructuring the business and protecting jobs. That is a tenet of the Bill and the Government should consider it on the basis that it is trying to protect jobs and keeping as many companies as possible operating in the State. It is only through companies continuing to operate,...