Results 1-20 of 45 for going forward speaker:Catherine Ardagh

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Budget 2024, Official Development Assistance, COP28 and Ongoing Humanitarian Situations: Dóchas (21 Nov 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: ...current part of the conflict. The humanitarian loss and disaster on the ground is horrendous. We wake up every day and check our phones to see if there has been any sort of ceasefire and if it is going to stop. We really hope we will see some movement. We listen to stories of people coming back, who have been held captive by Hamas or Palestinians, who have crossed the border and how...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: As chair of the Oireachtas cross-party group on cancer, it was great to learn at the weekend that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, will finally legislate to allow women undergoing cancer treatment during their maternity leave to defer that leave until their treatment ends. I do not need to explain to anyone in this House how important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Implementation of the Recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (26 Sep 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: .... I commend them on all the efforts of Óglaigh na hÉireann in the context of the crackdown on drug smuggling into the country. As other members said, a lot of important, dangerous work is going on and I thank the Chief of Staff and the members of the Defence Forces for that. It plays a vital role in the fight against gangland crime in Ireland. Recruitment is probably the...

Seanad: Care Payments: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: ...a great job, which I love, but it is tiring. I am here to represent those who do not have the privilege that I have. This affects women. If I am called now, if my son needs me, I may have to go. This is not because my husband will not, but because I feel like I have to do that. It is my job to go. The calls outlined by Family Carers Ireland are so sensible and they are not huge...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Apr 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: ...families. It is also a huge burden for the child who is completely discombobulated because his or her normal routine is not in place. We might need to look again at the July provision programme going forward. We cannot continue to have this massive gap in the education of children who have severe additional needs for eight weeks every year. The whole system of summer holidays is...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Apr 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: It has been really worthwhile coming in today. It is great that the Minister has been able to give us an important update in regard to the AHR Bill and the work that has been going on in the background, including the criteria and the roll-out of the fertility hubs. I commend the Minister on all the work he has done in women's health and the facts speak for themselves in regard to spending....

Seanad: Remuneration Information and Pay Transparency Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Feb 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: ...an add-on to that legislation. It is envisaged it will improve the gender pay gap and any gaps in respect of pay for minorities and people who identify as LGBTI. I became interested in bringing forward this Bill when I was returned to the Seanad in 2020. At that time, pay transparency laws were being introduced in Canada, which was one of the first North American countries to do so. I...

Seanad: Remuneration Information and Pay Transparency Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2023)

Catherine Ardagh: ...seeing a move towards this type of legislation. Obviously, I hope the Minister will take on board many of the parts of our Bill when he is implementing the EU directive because a lot of work has gone into it and many very experienced draftspersons have helped us with this. I want to raise one bugbear of mine, which was also raised by Senator Sherlock in regard to redress. People can go...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Catherine Ardagh: ...It is his family's day. I congratulate him, Conchobar, his wider family and all his friends and colleagues. I was very fortunate to have worked very closely with him in the last Seanad. We had good times together. On my very first day he, having been around for some time before, was able to show me the ropes. He acted as a mentor to me, for which I thank him. He is definitely still...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Oct 2022)

Catherine Ardagh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chuig an Teach inniu. I am delighted to speak on the school transport scheme today. For so many families, not just those in this particular calendar year but going forward into the future, this will be transformative in how they carry on their days, especially working families and parents. Having a free school transport scheme will be transformational....

Seanad: Poverty and Social Exclusion: Motion (19 Oct 2022)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Civil Engagement Group for bringing forward this motion. One of the main reasons so many of us in this House got into politics was to tackle and challenge intergenerational poverty. It is one of the reasons I got into politics. I come from a privileged background. Growing up and helping my dad, I was able to see the difference between what my friends and I had and what other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (12 Jul 2022)

Catherine Ardagh: ...State is low on time. I thank her for coming and thank her for her commitment to disabilities. She has moved to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I look forward to seeing huge gains while she works with her new line Minister. It is a really exciting time and we are putting our trust in her to deliver services and therapies for our children. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jun 2022)

Catherine Ardagh: ...Mr. Muldoon’s job to make sure the children in Ireland are treated fairly. The report, published yesterday, is probably one we all know and have heard stories about. It is now formally on the Government’s record that children with additional needs are being failed by the Department of Education. The Minister of State in that Department, Deputy Madigan, and the Minister,...

Seanad: Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (20 Jan 2022)

Catherine Ardagh: I commend the Labour Party on bringing forth this legislation and I commend the Government for taking it in Government time. As pointed out by Senator Sherlock, Ireland is one of a few countries that does not publicly fund IVF, which affects one in six couples. This legislation in regard to leave in the workplace is a really important step to ensure that the stigma associated with fertility...

Seanad: Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People: Statements (9 Nov 2021)

Catherine Ardagh: ...was put into education funding in budget 2022 with additional special education assistants and teachers. Obviously there are a lot more obstacles for pupils and teachers when it comes to deciding who goes into these special classes and gets special needs assistance, so there has to be a framework. I do not think these services should be part of the Department of Health but done in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence (7 Sep 2021)

Catherine Ardagh: ...commend the Chair and the members of the committee. We know that, today, there is a lot more information in the public domain on this matter than there was the last time we met, so I think we are going through a very valid exercise in regard to this questioning and this type of interrogation today. I have a few questions and comments. I find it quite dochreidte - I use the Irish word...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2021)

Catherine Ardagh: ...impact of Covid will set cancer care services back ten years. I am asking the Minister and the Leader to ensure this does not happen. We cannot afford for cancer services to be held back or to go back in time by ten years. Very disappointingly, BreastCheck found that screenings fell by more than two thirds in 2020. That represents 600 cancers it has failed to diagnose. Breast cancer...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Catherine Ardagh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach. I also thank Senator Craughwell for bringing these amendments forward. On the face of it, it seems to be manifestly unfair that those who pay PRSI contributions have no benefits stemming from it. In the past number of years where we have had a particular influence in this House the public have become aware of the fact that one needs one's...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Catherine Ardagh: ...being repealed so that the commission on can consider matters relating to the State pension age unconstrained by any prospective changes scheduled in legislation. Regulations are also being brought forward so that 65 year olds who are required to or choose to retire early can achieve an early retirement allowance or pension at the same rate as jobseeker's benefit without a requirement to...