Results 1,001-1,009 of 1,009 for speaker:Mark Wall

Seanad: Withdrawal Agreement Between the United Kingdom and the European Union: Motion (23 Sep 2020)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I also thank the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, which has given us an update on and very informative assistance with this motion. I thank the Fianna Fáil Senators for proposing the motion. We in the Labour Party will support it at what is a very difficult time, but we feel we need to address a number of other important points,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I support Senator Ó Donnghaile's amendment. He is right in what he says about Cahersiveen. He mentioned my colleague, Senator Hoey, who has raised this very important issue. We will back his call for an amendment. The issue I wish to raise is that of medical cards, particularly the renewal of same. I ask the Deputy Leader to invite the Minister for Health to the House in order that...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (29 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I join others in welcoming the Minister to the House. I wish her well in her new role and look forward to working with her. Notwithstanding the changes that the Minister announced in her U-turn today, the Bill leaves us with more questions than answers. I hope that she will be in a position to reply to them, which I am sure other Senators will also have. It would seem that, with no public...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I join my fellow Members in welcoming the Minister to this House. I wish her very well in her new post. There is no doubt that this is a challenging time for tourism in Ireland and for those employed in the industry. As the recently appointed Labour Party spokesperson on tourism, I look forward to working constructively with the Minister on solutions to the current problems and to develop...

Seanad: Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I wish my two colleagues on the opposite side of the House well on reopening. I also take the opportunity to wish all of our SMEs well on their reopening and to welcome the Minister of State to the House once again. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I am sure we all recognise the importance of providing finance as quickly as possible to all businesses that have been...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I raise the immediate problem of public transport in our rural towns, an important matter about which I am sure other Members have also been contacted. An article in The Irish Times on Wednesday stated that 64% of licensed coach and bus services throughout the country are now not operational. We also heard this week that, thankfully, 250,000 people have returned to work since the March...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment and look forward to working with him over the coming period. The importance of local businesses to our local economies and community life cannot be underestimated. These same SMEs, we are told, employ 58% of the total workforce. Many of these are long-standing family-run businesses and play a vital part in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I add my voice to those voices calling for the extension of maternity leave for women. If this pandemic has taught us anything it is the importance of family life. The call is loud and clear in terms of the extension of maternity leave by 12 weeks. The Minister must take that on board as quickly as possible. I also wish to be associated with my three colleagues who raised the poor...

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Mark Wall: I wish the Cathaoirleach well and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to say a few words in my maiden speech in the Seanad. It is a great honour for me to stand in front of Members today, to look around the room and to recognise so many famous faces that I have looked up to in recent years. The Cathaoirleach mentioned the great role that family plays in political life and I...