Results 1-20 of 10,962 for speaker:Anne Rabbitte

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I raise the issue of Portiuncula hospital and the moving of high-risk pregnancy and antenatal care from Portiuncula to University Hospital Galway or to the Midlands hospital in Portlaoise. While I understand that we must put the care and protection of the mum and the baby and the risk elimination front and centre at all times, it is important that I also raise that we were in this situation...

Seanad: Transport Policy: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: The Minister is very welcome to the House. If he delivers the track to Sligo, I would like him to be the one who puts the shovel in the ground for the ring road in Galway.

Seanad: Transport Policy: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: That would be the one piece that I would really like to see happen. There is no doubt that we are completely congested at this stage. I will share the following little anecdote with the Minister. I love it when Ministers come to Galway We have to go into the university hospital to meet them and then they ask me for the quickest way to get out to another part of the city. There is...

Seanad: Pregnancy Loss (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: Before I call the Minister, I welcome guests of Senator Fiona O'Loughlin in the Gallery. They are a group of ladies from Kildare who are celebrating International Women's Day. You are all very welcome here today. Women are the main topic of what we are discussing.

Seanad: Pregnancy Loss (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Minister. I call the proposer, Senator Nicole Ryan.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Acting Chair.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I do not mind at all. I thank the Minister. He is very welcome to the House this afternoon. I also welcome his opening comments. I thank John O'Meara for the tremendous effort he made and the diligence he showed at a time of great loss to him and his children. He found the composure to address the loss and he had the state of mind to recognise how more people could benefit and what the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I move that the House suspends for ten minutes.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Post Office Network: Statements (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank the Minister of State for attending and the Cathaoirleach for facilitating this debate. It is appreciated that we are having this conversation. I am glad to be joined this evening in the Public Gallery by my postmistress from Portumna, Sinead Salmon, and my former postmaster in Mountbellew, Peter Kitt. Listening to all the valuable contributions, and having a financial head myself,...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I thank everyone for being here this morning. I will focus on some different areas. Ms Murphy referred to school meals and the expansion of the programme in this regard and its value. Is there need for a review of school meals and the DEIS model?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: There definitely needs to be a review in respect of the nutritional value of the food on offer. The Department of Health should be part of that; it should not just be the Department of Education. My next point relates to the community and voluntary sector. I know a bit about this in the context of health and social care. My question relates to the sustainability of the sector. Some...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I ask because I am thinking about pay parity and about section 39, 56 and 10 organisations being able to access funding. We saw how not all of them could access the Covid payment. That is the aspect of reform I am asking about. How are the organisations represented here able to assist with the reform and transition such that they will be able to access the funding?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: Ms Murphy addressed the issue of loneliness,which is one of the biggest issues in both urban and rural areas right across the country. Later, there will be statements in the Seanad on post offices, the valuable work they do and why they need to be supported. Have the witnesses looked at the Scottish model or at the research on the role of the postman, the delivery of post and the knock on...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I will not be finished in a minute but I will do my best. Those in ALONE are meeting people on a day-to-day basis. The questions on the impact of poverty on people's day-to-day lives as well as the cost of energy have been answered. I am specifically interested in situations where somebody loses their partner and has to run the house on the one pension. He or she does not get the extra in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I welcome the Minister and the Minister of State before the committee. I acknowledge the work they are doing in both of their respective areas. The Department recently published a league table on social housing by each local authority. It shows the significant ones that have delivered and performed and those that are underperforming. There is nothing like a league table when you are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: I hope the Minister will keep publishing those league tables. If nothing else, they are a support to the local Oireachtas members and councillors to keep the issue front and centre every month at their meetings. I understand that the powers and remit of the Land Development Agency are to be extended following a recent decision by the Government. Can the Minister give us details of what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Priorities of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (8 Jul 2025)

Anne Rabbitte: All right. I still have enough time. The Minister just answered the question from Deputy Stanley about the removal of the four-stage process but also about having the standard of four different designs. This is to assist with getting through the planning process. It is also to assist the local authorities in ensuring there is a standard when builders are going in for tendering processes...