Results 641-660 of 1,888 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Finance): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I will share time.

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Finance): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Three minutes each.

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Finance): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is welcome. I was trying to get excited about coming to the House this afternoon but there was nothing exciting in the budget. It fell short in many areas this year. The expenditure reported for 2024 is €96.6 billion. In 2024, the Government will gift €6 billion of taxpayers' money to the NGO sector in order that activists can use it to ask the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I am calling for a debate with the Minister for Transport on an issue about which I have been in touch with him over the past few months. That is the extension of the cycle to work scheme to those with disabilities that affect their movement. Obviously, the scheme does not discriminate explicitly against such people, but rather it is a sin of omission. I was contacted over the summer by...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I am calling for a debate to be scheduled on the setting of minimum standards for the Government's response to problems and situations regarding the care of people in this country. Last week we heard that when it comes to providing accommodation for migrants and refugees, villages of tents are all we have at the moment. The attitude is one of saying "That is just how it is". That is just...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Trafficking (3 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is very welcome. I want to ask about the current state of play regarding the fight against human trafficking here in Ireland. There are many issues dealt with in these Houses and in Government Buildings which are pressing, obvious and apparent and which demand attention be given to them, as well as that attention being seen to be given to them. There are other issues...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Trafficking (3 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. It was reported in the UK press last year that migrants across the UK are being preyed upon by immigration advisers and solicitors who are taking advantage of the lack of protections for advice seekers. These rogue practitioners are charging extortionate fees for free application forms and are putting in spurious applications and appeals that have no chance of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I would like to raise the issue of child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, which Senator Joe O'Reilly brought up last week. The Inspector of Mental Health Services has said that she cannot currently provide an assurance to all parents in Ireland that their children can have access to a safe, effective and evidence-based mental health service. I agree with this assessment. Young...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the Taoiseach to the Chamber. One of the most powerful speeches I heard this morning was by Senator Ruane. I had tears rolling down my cheeks because I know first-hand about the children who suffer from poverty and I have dealt with them for the past 12 to 13 years of my life. How we treat the children of this nation is really important to me. How we are treating the refugees...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Like Senator Gavan, I am asking for the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, to come to the House to discuss what is needed in the lifetime of this Government to address the housing crisis. When the Government came into power, it was known that approximately 47,000 houses had to be built every year for the next five years just to catch up with the housing deficit numbers at August 2020....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I too want to be associated with the sympathies for our friend and colleague, Councillor Damien O'Reilly. I would have known Damien from his time in Ógra Fhianna Fáil. He was part of the Mary Wallace team back in the day and he would have canvassed for me long ago, when I ran for the national executive of Fianna Fáil in 2007 and 2010 at the Ard Fheis. I would have known him...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Sharon Keogan: In my speech I wish to draw attention to the possible data protection issues that may arise because of this legislation. While technology brings new opportunities to deal with the crisis of law and order nationwide, it is important that we do so while respecting civil liberties and the right to privacy of citizens. Following much public consultation and increased criminal activity, I was...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and Cathaoirleach for running this House so smoothly over the last six months. I thank Martin Groves and Bridget Doody in the Seanad Office, and the Library and Research Service and the Bills Office for helping me out this year with the Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill. Although the Government might want to see me go away with that Bill, I will probably try to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Yesterday saw the publication of the Government's quarter 2 Housing for All progress report for 2023. All those with ears to the ground will know it is not exactly a roaring success story. In the report, we conspicuously received no update on the figures with regard to completed new-build social housing or those detailing new-build affordable housing along with absolutely no mention of the...

Seanad: Situation in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory: Statements (12 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Well done.

Seanad: Situation in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory: Statements (12 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Israel enforces a system of oppression and domination against the Palestinian people wherever it has control over their rights. This includes Palestinians living in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories as well as displaced refugees in other countries. Massive seizures of Palestinian land and property, unlawful killings, forcible transfers, drastic movement restrictions and the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Two weeks ago, this Government introduced its Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 to the Dáil. When Senator Gavan brought forward his Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021 two years ago, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, outlined some of the legal concerns of which his Department advised him in relation to the legislation....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: In both cases, the person holding the sign is obviously seeking to influence people either to not have an abortion or to not eat meat.We do not want to make the same mistake as was made with the hate speech Bill, so we could do with the Minister coming in to the House to discuss this issue.

Seanad: Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (11 Jul 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Shameful.