Results 1-20 of 77 for going forward speaker:Thomas Gould

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...this came up at the justice committee, there was never a reference to charities or sporting organisations. I asked the Minister of State a question earlier regarding the amendments he is bringing forward in the Seanad. For all the groups I mentioned that were getting €20,000, €30,000 or 40,000, will that amendment cover all of them with regard to advertising so that they...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (1 May 2024)

Thomas Gould: First, I welcome the Minister of State's decision to bring forward amendments in the Seanad. This is a very important Bill. The reason it did not get the scrutiny it needed in the justice committee is that no one thought charities or sporting organisations would be covered. People view gambling as online gambling, betting shops and in-person gambling. They do not look at the GAA, sporting...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (24 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...the Minister of State up wrong and maybe he will clarify. The Minister of State said the information on what levies or charges would be faced by licensees should not be public knowledge. I would like to bring forward an amendment on this, but from my point of view the products that are most addictive should have a higher levy. This type of model is used in New Zealand. I will speak on...

Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (10 Apr 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...constituency of Cork North-Central, we have seen an infrastructural deficit brought on by decades of underinvestment and neglect by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. This has left my constituents with heavy good vehicles, trucks and cars driving through because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised a north ring road for Cork and, after they destroyed the country in the financial crash, it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Active Travel (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...? I have spoken directly with the NTA where I have raised this issue repeatedly. I have also raised it with Cork City Council, and I understand it is the council’s job to bring these projects forward, but the people I represent do not see any fairness and do not believe they are being treated as equals. On John F. Connolly Road and Kilmore Road in Churchfield and Knocknaheeny,...

General Practice and Local Health Services: Motion (20 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: I commend my party colleague, Deputy Cullinane, on bringing forward this motion. Unlike this Government, he has his finger on the pulse. If the Minister of State were to ask him about out-of-hours services in Cork city, he could tell him they are not functioning as they should. The Minister for Health told me on 29 February that he was not aware of any reduction of out-of-hours GP services...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (20 Feb 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...the Travelling community, yet local development plans had no allocation for the next five years for the amount of additional Traveller-specific accommodation that would be delivered. Five years ago, a lot of work went into developing recommendations for Traveller-specific accommodation. They need to be in this Bill. This planning Bill might not be touched again. When people look back...

Reform of the Television Licence Fee Model: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2024)

Thomas Gould: ...concern that approximately 13,000 people were summoned before the courts last year for not purchasing a television licence, while no one has been held to account for the incredible waste of public money at RTÉ; and mandates the Government to: — scrap the unfair television licence fee with immediate effect; — invest Exchequer funding in a platform-neutral Media Fund...

Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2023)

Thomas Gould: This is a very important Bill to speak on. We are five years on from repeal, which was a step forward for women’s healthcare and those seeking a termination of pregnancy. Unfortunately, we must avoid the situation we see in America where those seeking healthcare are subject to intimidation, lies and harassment. The people of this State recognise that abortion is a healthcare issue....

Nursing Home Care: Motion [Private Members] (27 Jun 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...daily routines and made friends and where they have their favourite table and chair to sit down and to chat at. That is the lived reality. I ask the Minister to cast his mind back three years ago, when the HSE tried to close Mount Carmel nursing home in Cork. We led a campaign then, and I remember talking to the people affected when the HSE tried to close the home. They were terrified....

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Jun 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...all proud of them, and this is my only opportunity to let Denise, the girls and everyone know, that we stand behind them and wish them the best of luck. Unlike the Irish women's soccer team, this Government has let the country down. The Government has not moved in the 264 days since the windfall tax was sanctioned by the EU last October. During those 264 days when energy bills kept...

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Jun 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...coupled with educational supports in schools. We need to ensure that every child has at least one trusted adult, whether at home or in school, to whom they can speak to on this. The legislation is a step forward. It needs to be part of a suite of measures to protect children. If we can get young people into their mid-20s, it will give them an opportunity to get on with their lives. I...

Home Ownership: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2023)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Social Democrats and Deputy O'Callaghan for bringing forward the motion. Will the Government ever take ownership, and put its hands up and admit that it is wrong? We all make mistakes. It takes a bigger person to say that they have made a mistake and their housing policy is wrong, and that we should get together, take on the Opposition's constructive support and ideas and work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Thomas Gould: I have just one question on a comment made earlier. Mr. Jones spoke about the over-zoning of land and that we have too much over zoned land. Cork City Council has recently brought forward its new city development plan. The Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, suggested that the council had over-zoned the land and it had to go back and take some sites out. Then there were sites that were...

Support for Household Energy Bills: Motion [Private Members] (3 May 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...not match up. Ireland's low-income earners earn far less than their European counterparts. One in five Irish homes are now behind in paying their gas bills. These people are terrified. They are going into debt with bills stacking up on them and they need help. They need a small bit of support and that is what we are asking for now. We are asking for the Government to go back and say,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...Minister know the damage that is done by the presence of boarded-up houses? It results in gangs, antisocial behaviour and dumping. It has a negative effect on a community to see houses left to go to rack and ruin. On the other side, people who are looking for houses are looking at these properties. I am putting forward a solution here that I put to the Minister's Department last week....

Vacant Homes Tax: Motion [Private Members] (19 Apr 2023)

Thomas Gould: I commend the Social Democrats, and especially Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. Deputy Gannon was just talking about solutions and this is a straightforward solution. The Government recognises a vacant property tax is a tool that can be used to get properties back in circulation. The big difference is the Government has gone for a 0.3% tax, whereas the motion before us calls for 10%. That is not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (18 Apr 2023)

Thomas Gould: ...in the 14 years I have been a councillor and a Deputy, Cork City Council has carried out no preventative maintenance. The number one issue is, it said, that it had no funding stream from central Government. While what Ms Timmons says, therefore, might sound very credible; on the ground that is not what is happening. From what I can see, and from speaking to other local authorities that...

Protection of Cash as Legal Tender: Motion [Private Members] (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Rural Independent Group. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the motion it has brought forward. Most days here, we discuss real and profound issues such as the crisis in housing, the cost-of-living crisis and the crisis in health but, to many people, this motion is just as important because many vulnerable people have no other option but to make transactions and pay...