Results 61-80 of 730 for speaker:Mark Wall

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

Mark Wall: I welcome our guests. Mr. Mullins started off by talking about 550,000 households in energy poverty. The figure our guests gave is that 75,000 now have EnergyCloud to help them with that. How long would it take to reach in the region of 550,000, particularly in light of the organisation's current outlays, the constraints in relation to personnel, etc.? If it is 75,000 since 2021, how...

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague, Senator Moynihan, but I put on record again my own call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which is badly needed and urgent. Senator Currie spoke of helplessness and that is reflected by so many people I meet day-in and day-out in Kildare. It is reflected by the figures cited this evening...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House.

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (14 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. I thank Senator Martin for drafting this Bill down and asking me to cosign it. Unfortunately, technology, I believe, got in the way of that happening. However, I am happy to speak in support of the Bill. That this is the second time Senator Martin has brought a Bill of this nature before the House. Obviously, and as other Members have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome our guests today. I wish to raise an old chestnut. Representatives of the SEAI were before us last week and I raised the issue of housing grants. I acknowledge that the Department of housing is not before us today but I seek a comment on this from the Department of the environment. The issue raised with me most commonly is that of grants for windows and doors. I asked the SEAI...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I thank the Chair. I will leave it at that for today.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House today to have what is an important conversation for a growing number of people in south Kildare on the issue of special school places. I sought this Commencement matter this morning because it was announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, in early December that four new special schools will be established this coming September and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that reply. The most important thing we can take from it is that we will have a special school in south Kildare in September. That is the message that needs to go out to the many families who ring me and all public representatives in south Kildare because, as I said in my introduction, when you hear the stories you realise the stress on families....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I want to raise two issues today. The first is about school places. I know there is a meeting tonight regarding the lack of school places in Properous in mid-Kildare. This is an ongoing issue that I have raised. I ask that a debate be organised with the Minister for Education. The specific issue I want to raise on school places today relates to Scoil Mhuire in Ballymore Eustace, in my...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister.We welcome the Bill and its attempts to reform the social welfare system with regard to maintenance. We are told the Bill is designed to give legislative effect to two changes in the previously mentioned social welfare system so that child welfare maintenance payments may no longer be assessed as means and the discontinuation of the liable relative provisions. As other...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: Absolutely.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I wish to be associated with the welcome to our distinguished visitors. Given the good news the Minister has brought forward in respect of those in full-time education up to the age of 18, I will again raise the issue of foster carers. I know the Minister announced in the budget an additional payment of €75 for foster carers, €25 of which came into place from 1 January. Given...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Housing Schemes (1 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, to the House for what is a very important Commencement matter. This is the third time since I was elected to this House that I have raised this matter. We discussed this on the last day the Minister of State was here and he has heard of similar experiences in his own offices. Not a day goes by but I deal with an application for, or a...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Housing Schemes (1 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister of State for the reply but, unfortunately, it is a bit of déjà vubecause the last time we spoke, this report was with Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for discussion on changes to be brought forward. At the same time, as the Minister of State said, people are not being allowed to live independently in their homes,...

Seanad: Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad: Waste Management (1 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the House.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I rise today and also wish everyone a happy St. Brigid's Day. We have had a number of events in County Kildare already to celebrate Brigid 1500. We had a brilliant night in the library in Athy two nights ago at the We Shall Overcome event. Last night, we had a great light show similar to what I am sure happened in County Louth last night. It was terrific to be there to witness Brigid in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome to the Visitors Gallery the young Travellers from all over Ireland with the youth service group Involve. I hope they enjoy their day with us here in Leinster House. They are guests of Senator Flynn.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Mark Wall: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Mark Wall: Is that agreed? Agreed.