Results 3,361-3,380 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Last year, the World Health Organization, WHO, designated the compulsive playing of video games as a new mental health condition. We are not talking openly about this issue. Parents are worried and feel helpless when they see the damage being done and they do not understand or know the dangers because we are not having the conversation. Some parents will be frightened. This condition will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Senator did the same last week on the housing Bill. There was nobody here. There was nobody from Fine Gael here for the housing Bill, which is the biggest Bill ever.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is true. That is what happened last week.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I could have many an argument-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Leader did not mention the mental health committee meeting. That was the issue I raised.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Can the Leader give me a time for when this will happen? It has been eight months now. Can he give us an update on when it is expected?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I appreciate the Minister coming to the Upper House to discuss this matter with me. A new national childcare scheme will be rolled out from this October which will replace previous childcare support programmes. The aim of this, as I understand it, is that parents of children aged from two to 15 years attending any Tusla-registered childcare service will be entitled to some level of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am disappointed with the answer because years ago when all these groups were set up, the after-school services were always in what would have been called disadvantaged areas but now these parents are going to lose out. They will not be able to afford to send their children to after-school services. We are talking about the most vulnerable in our society. I beg the Minister to re-examine...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I appreciate that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Friday, 21 June is the national family carers' day in Ireland and Shine a Light will mark the occasion. I encourage all Senators to support it. I have consistently raised the importance of carers in our society and I am increasingly frustrated with the time it takes to process carer's allowance applications. At my regular clinics I hear of backlogs of between six and eight months and that...

Seanad: Fire Safety in Apartment Dwellings: Statements (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I do not have to tell everyone there is a crisis in housing as not only do we see the homeless figures climbing but we have mistakes for which we are now paying. Too many apartment blocks were built to poor standards. We have a tortured history in how we built accommodation. To be fair, it seems to me that the co-living scheme, which is being touted as the solution to all our problems, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Many of my concerns have been answered. I think I am more confused now. The Minister has responded to questions about enforcement, timescales and resources by saying he will come back to us. When he said he will start an awareness campaign, he said he thinks Dublin City Council will be the lead base in that regard. I appreciate that short-term lettings are more common in Dublin and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: No, I have been listening. Who is going to enforce this? Is there an issue with regard to the timescale? A question was asked about awareness and the Minister responded to that. I am not being unfair. I think this is welcome. As a member of the housing committee, I have expressed concern to the Minister about many matters. I know this issue is particularly relevant in our cities. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I would have concerns. I am still not happy with some of the answers. There are still issues that need to be sorted out. The most significant issue, and the Minister knows it, is the fact that everything boils down to money and resources. It does not matter which regulation the Minister introduces or which local authority someone works for, if there is no money and enforcement, it does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Will the Minister come back to us in the next few weeks with all the different things?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am just saying there is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: If the Minister comes back to us with timescales on enforcement, what will happen with planning-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know the Minister did but I am not happy with them.