Results 1-20 of 107 for speaker:Sarah O'Reilly

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: On 30 June, the Irish Independent published the result of its investigation into the regulation of how sick certs are issued. There are serious limitations to telemedicine and areas where it can be exploited. The newspaper revealed that in some cases sick certs were issued without having any phone or video consultation with the patient. It has correctly been described as a bit of a wild...

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister. Reading through the proposed motions, the first thing that struck me was that we could have been doing this all along ourselves and, indeed, we have been doing it to an extent. Ireland should not have opted into the EU migration pact when we have the full capability to govern and legislate on migration ourselves. Now, we find ourselves in the scenario where we will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I wish to express my deep concern over the European Union's attempts to enforce hate speech legislation on Ireland, legislation that would undermine our national sovereignty, erode free expression and impose a one-size-fits-all model out of step with our Constitution. Before the general election, the Government suddenly recognised its lack of popularity among the general public and removed...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I welcome Deputy Dooley’s new Ministry and wish him the best of luck in his work. There is much to be done. The marine sector in this country has faced unbelievable challenges in recent years. Many of these hardships have been the direct result of Government policy and legislation and the implementation and interpretation of those policies and that legislation. Ongoing...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The penalty points. We are an outlier in Europe.

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I support the Bill and the amendment. I commend Senator Ryan on her powerful testimony. The report from Women's Aid makes for difficult reading. More women contacted the organisation last year than ever before. I have been reading the details of the report and they are shocking. I agree with this amendment in that if children are present that factor should be considered when the sentence...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister very much for attending today. I read his statement, and I would like to give the Minister a little bit of feedback on some of the schemes, although I know he has not asked for it. The rural regeneration development fund, RRDF, is an excellent scheme and excellent work is going on throughout the country. The level and quality of the projects that are going on are very...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I am hoping that scheme can be rolled out. May I ask one more question?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: No.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I want something noted about the community centre investment fund, which is really good. It sounds like the Minister is getting really good value for money with the figures he mentioned. Was it €33 million?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: That is really good and important for local communities but I would note there was a project in my community that got €6 million. That is a lot of taxpayer money in an area that has two community hubs. To put it in context, in that municipal district there is €3.5 million provided for local regional roads while one community centre gets €6.2 million. I do not...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: As am I. Will it be continued?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: That is an excellent scheme.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: My last question is for the Minister of State and concerns the Charities Regulator. I am aware of an organisation looking for charity status which has been in the process for seven years. Has the regulator a full complement of staff? Is there a backlog in processing applications?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Does it have its full complement of staff?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Sarah Montgomery. I cannot imagine the hurt and grief they are experiencing. To think of a young pregnant mother being killed in her own home is deeply upsetting. According to Women’s Aid, more than one in three women have experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse, or all of these, from an intimate partner. Domestic, sexual...

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Review of Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: It is great to see all the witnesses here today. Like Deputy Whitmore, I am new to this and I had to do a good bit of research. I read all the witnesses' documentation and submissions yesterday. There are a few very clear themes coming through. There seems to be a deeply held belief that the oversight and regulation is not proportional. The Seafood Ireland Alliance in its submission...

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Review of Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: In his opening statement, Mr. Lynch said, "Ireland has chosen to put in place legislation that goes far beyond what is in other member states". I want clarity on that because there is a bit of confusion. Is it the legislation or is it the way it is being interpreted? Is it both? I do not understand. If we are the only country in Europe that has penalty points, has that been legislated for?

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Review of Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Would Mr. Byrne have any proposed amendments?

Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Review of Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006: Discussion (1 Jul 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I am going to give an example. In the case of, say, a 7g area where somebody might fish for monkfish, would Mr. Byrne generally accept that it is impossible to fish in that area without catching other fish, such as black sole? What can be done? What would Mr. Byrne propose to stop fishermen getting into hassle for catching something? It is never not going to happen.