Results 1-20 of 71 for going forward speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2024)

Garret Ahearn: Tipperary County Council has put forward two important projects for the town of Clonmel. It is awaiting a response and a decision by two Departments. The library in Clonmel has made an application for library capital funding through the Department of Rural and Community Development. This is a really ambitious project to redevelop the main library in Mick Delahunty Square, Clonmel. It is a...

Seanad: EU Talent Pool: Motion (5 Mar 2024)

Garret Ahearn: ...topic. Even though this matter needs to be dealt with by tomorrow, it is important that we have a debate on it. From the Fine Gael perspective, we support what the Minister of State is bringing forward today. It makes perfect sense. Rather than all countries within the European Union individually having a plan together about how to manage a shortage in the workforce which is happening...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Feb 2024)

Garret Ahearn: ...most important thing, and to have that along with this announcement today from the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, means the Carrick-on-Suir has a bright future going forward because of the decisions that have been made by the Government over the past 12 months.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Personal Public Service Numbers (31 May 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ...for a work permit and then for a visa and waiting a long time for a PPS number. I welcome the fact the Minister of State and the Department are looking to streamline the work permits and visas going forward. The work done already in speeding up the issuing of work permits has been really impressive. To align that with the visa application is important.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (16 May 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I have lost count of how many times I have raised this subject in this House, at home and in local media. It relates to Clonmel Garda station. I look forward to the Minister's response. We are finally at a point where we have a solution and this project can progress. I have raised it so often because of the number of delays to the Garda station project and, most important, to support the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (10 May 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ...in terms of the employment and unemployment figures. The figure was almost 2.6 million in 2011. As I said when the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, was before the committee a number of weeks ago, I remember during the election in 2011 - Senator Lombard will also remember this - canvassing for the Minister, Deputy Coveney in Cork. Then, we were talking about creating 100,000 jobs over...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (20 Apr 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ..., will understand that from local perspective it is incredibly frustrating when projects are being delayed and when we as public representatives cannot get the answers on when the projects will move forward. I welcome that there will be a bit of movement in quarter 2 of 2023. I ask that there be as much communication as possible with councillors, particularly as this matter relates to...

Seanad: Sheep Sector: Statements (19 Apr 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister to the Seanad. Like others, I called for this a few weeks ago. I thank the Minister for coming to the House. In this House, as many Senators know, we call for many Ministers to come in but they do not or we cannot find them, or Ministers of State come in from other departments. In fairness to the Minster, he always comes in any time we ask and he takes this...

Seanad: Civil Liability (Schools) Bill 2023: Second Stage (19 Apr 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ...this important debate. I am covering for Senator Dolan, who could not be here today, but I acknowledge her support for what this Bill is trying to do. I thank the Senators for putting this Bill forward, including Senator Mullen, and for outlining quite well what this entails. An awful lot of it is common sense. In schools in recent years there has been so much pressure on staff and on...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ...further. The Minister has done a lot in expanding schemes in other areas and this is one that needs to be prioritised. We are in a situation now in which large numbers of working parents are going into debt to send their children to school. A survey last year showed it costs approximately €1,500 to get a secondary student ready for the start of the school year. That is just for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (9 Mar 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ...from which water comes right down into the town. The quality of the water is second to none. It is top class. I know the measure to be brought in is temporary, but the challenge we face going forward is that the plant which will replace Poulavanogue for a short period, in Monroe, has very poor-quality water. That is fine if one is a domestic user. One can put in filters and improve...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (9 Mar 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ...for a period. Monroe was established in the 1990s as a temporary measure and now it looks like it will exist for another ten years. The quality of water that comes from Monroe, which is going to service the town of Clonmel, and the businesses in particular, is not up to scratch. Businesses will be caught with an expense through no fault of their own because the quality of water is not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2023)

Garret Ahearn: ...like my own, Tipperary. Their request is that there should be financial incentives for farmers and landowners to keep hedges as opposed to cutting them. I would appreciate it if Members could go out to meet them and, if the Minister has time available, he should meet them. It is a genuine cause. They are here from 12 noon until 1 p.m. and they will be presenting a letter to the...

Seanad: UL Hospitals Group: Motion (1 Feb 2023)

Garret Ahearn: I thank my colleagues, Senators Maria Byrne and Conway, for bringing forward this motion. As the Minister knows, this matter is the biggest issue in the region of counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary. It has been the biggest issue for the last couple of months. I listened to what was said by Senator Boyhan. He was very critical of previous Governments so he must have forgotten that he...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2022)

Garret Ahearn: ...to her. He is from a similar constituency to Tipperary and will understand the importance of small rural schools and the role they play not only in the village but for families across the county. Golden National School is one of those small schools in rural Ireland. Slightly fewer than 100 children attend it. It is a four-teacher school and the principal is Mr. James McCarthy who was a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Issues Facing Small Businesses: Discussion (16 Nov 2022)

Garret Ahearn: ...to pass on his apologies to the witnesses. In his contribution, Mr. Jennings spoke about how bills have gone from €6,500 to €22,000. Obviously, as part of that a scheme has been brought forward which will provide qualifying businesses with up to 40% of the increase in electricity or gas bills. That will bring that €22,000 down to around €15,500, which is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Issues Facing Small Businesses: Discussion (16 Nov 2022)

Garret Ahearn: ...of how planners got it all wrong. Everything was moved outside the town and now the town centre is in real trouble. We are trying our best to get money to revitalise it and get businesses up and going again. It is a beautiful town centre but the businesses cannot compete with free parking outside and challenges like that. In fairness to businesses, the majority of them are really good...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2022)

Garret Ahearn: There were an awful lot of good announcements in the tax measures brought forward in the budget a number of months ago, including the €500 tax relief credit that renters can apply for this year, next year and so on. The first time they apply for it, they can get two tranches, which will equate to €1,000 in credit. The good thing about that is that if someone is renting a house...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (26 Oct 2022)

Garret Ahearn: To pick up on that point, it is infuriating given there are obvious, simple solutions that do not seem to be listened to when we put them forward. This was well intended, but a lot of the problems we are talking about have been caused by us, the Government, and that is just a fact. Everyone who has been in that situation and who has been left without a seat on the bus is well aware that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Safety (4 Oct 2022)

Garret Ahearn: ...role and position. I thank him for taking this Commencement matter. I acknowledge the good work he and his Department did last week in regard to the budget and supporting business over what is going to be an uncertain time during the winter months. I had a meeting a number of weeks ago with Mr. Patrick Fox from the Bromine Science and Environmental Forum, BSEF, on fire regulations. The...