Results 3,201-3,220 of 4,933 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Acting Chairman and the Minister of State for being here again. I am very disappointed the senior Minister, Deputy Harris, is not here today. In the long term, we may have to look at particular Commencement matters where we should have the senior Minister present. Perhaps this is something that the Minister of State might bring back to the Minister, Deputy Harris, because I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: My dealings on this matter over the last three years have been with the Minister, Deputy Harris, so I had requested that he come to the House to respond to this Commencement matter. He is well aware of the €62,000 because I have met him on a regular basis at meetings, where I told him about it. While the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is always kind and courteous I am...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Services for People with Disabilities (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I raise the issue of the system that is broken. Lalini Veerassamy, chief of mission of the International Organisation for Migration in Ireland, said direct provision is not bad but she believes standards can be improved. Direct provision is what we have but it is not good enough. It is not right at all. It might be good enough as a first port but it cannot be a forever home. To read...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I was at another meeting so I wanted to highlight this now on the Order of Business. I will be two seconds. We attend a lot of meetings. We are not giving enough support and we need to ensure there is a new community and new part of life. I wish to raise something I read last week as I think it is important. A man named Denis Kelleher, who I am sure some Members will have heard of, died....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is right, he did too, but the Leas-Chathaoirleach did not even address this in the House. I have a lot more to say.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I just thought it was a lovely story.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They are forgotten.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Eligibility (26 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English. I have raised on many occasions the serious issue of the local authority threshold being too low to allow people to access the housing list. Carlow has one of the lowest thresholds in Ireland. Over 1,000 people are on the housing waiting list in the county. They have met the criteria, including the €27,500 threshold to be eligible to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Eligibility (26 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am disappointed that this review has not been completed. We are eight years on and we are in a housing crisis. Will the review be complete by the end of the year? It is crucial that we have it as soon as possible. We must not go in to 2020 with the review unfinished. I will persist in raising this issue and asking questions in the House. On the appeal mechanism, someone who has been...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Today, massive machinery travelled through the capital's streets. Tractors were driven by farmers who have been badly let down. We must stop waiting for mass protests like this to change things. We must do the right thing. Our ancestors made this country the great place it is today through farming. Agriculture made us and we must never forget that. Small farmers across the country are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Leader for that.

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (20 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also want to welcome the Kiely family here today and all of Rory's colleagues. It is a great honour today for the Kiely family. I did not know Rory personally but my late father, who was a councillor and Tipperary man, would have known him very well. Tipperary and Limerick were always quite close when it came to elections. I know that my father was a big supporter of Rory's. I heard...

Seanad: Transport and Sport: Statements (20 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I congratulate and applaud all those involved in our sporting achievements this year and in recent years. There are many areas across the globe where we punch above our weight and sport is certainly one of them, from hockey and rowing to horse racing, boxing, rugby, golf and soccer. There are incredibly talented people in Ireland, and each and every one of them should be admired....

Seanad: Transport and Sport: Statements (20 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will have to get the Minister again.

Seanad: Illegal Drugs: Motion (13 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I second the motion. Across this country, lives are being devastated by drug use, drug addiction, drug dealing and drug-related deaths. This Government has not invested the correct amount of funding to fight the war on drugs and the result has been a staggering rise in the consumption of drugs, addiction, social breakdown, drug-related deaths and tragedies. The situation is so bad that we...

Seanad: Illegal Drugs: Motion (13 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation Expert Review: Discussion. (13 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Many of my questions have been answered but my main concern is funding for Traveller accommodation that is not being used by local authorities. The witnesses have covered that. In my area the figure is 44% but in other local authority areas, it is 20%, 19% and 12%. We need to find a balance. Local authorities play a major role in this area. I work with many members of the Traveller...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: Town Centre Living Initiative: Discussion (13 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome this. I welcome Mary Mulholland. I am from Carlow, and Carlow and Kilkenny work together. The scheme needs to be promoted more. I was going to ask how the six towns were picked and that has already been answered. Was a specific allocation made to each of the six towns picked? Is there special funding for them and if so how much? There was considerable discussion of vacant...