Results 1,341-1,360 of 1,888 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Seanad: Support to Ukraine: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Fine Gael Senators for moving this motion. It gives us a valuable opportunity to recognise and applaud the work being done and to identify where more work needs to be done and where the gaps in our system lie. The sheer volume of aid raised through donations of money and supplies and the time and effort spent volunteering to help refugees, along with the hospitality and...

Seanad: Support to Ukraine: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: One night.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I may be one of the dissenting voices on the expulsion of the Russian diplomats yesterday. It was the wrong movement from our Government because keeping the door open with Russia is important. Does the Minister of State expect to see any retaliation from the Russians on that? I see the Minister of State wished Turkey well in the peace talks. The Minister of State is a leader in Ireland,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Prices (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I thank him for coming in to answer this matter. I raise this matter because it has been brought to my attention by an Independent county councillor in Cork, Mr. Declan Hurley. Much attention has been paid in recent weeks to the rising cost of living in Ireland. We are not unique in that respect in the western hemisphere. From cuts in excise...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Prices (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate his reply but it is not enough, judging by the way things are going with inflation at the moment. While I know the green agenda means getting rid of coal eventually, the price of a bag of coal has gone up by 50% since last September and it will go up again in May with the increase in the carbon tax. The price of 1,000 l of oil is almost...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I commend each person in Ireland who is helping those fleeing the war in Ukraine. We will never know the true extent of the efforts of volunteers around the country but they are at work everywhere and I thank all of them. We are sorely aware, however, that injustice and suffering continue the world over. In Afghanistan last week, the Taliban reneged on a promise to allow girls to attend...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The issues of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, free from Government suppression, are timeless pillars of a free and functioning society. Yet, this is timely. As our media flirts once again with restrictions, the debate about proportionality of the extreme and unprecedented measures taken to combat Covid-19 must remain free and open. I ask the Acting Leader if we can count on him...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome H.E. Ms Gerasko and Mrs. Shaloput. I have been watching Ms Gerasko over recent weeks, and the strength she has shown to Ukrainian people in Ireland has been amazing. I thank her for that. I apologise for having missed some of the contributions earlier. There was a call earlier in the meeting for medicines, which seem to be one of the most significant resources Ukraine needs....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: That is unforgivable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: There were stumbling blocks, unresolved issues in respect of the Department of Justice, or was it the Department of Social Protection? The ambassador said there were unresolved issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The ambassadors, Mr. Zurabashvili and Mrs. Miculet, are both very welcome today. Many of the questions have already been asked. I will not, therefore, go over some of the stuff that has already been dealt with. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Moldovan people with regard to the Ukrainian crisis. They have shown incredible generosity; 90% of those displaced are living in the homes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: There are 30,000; I know many of them. I can tell everyone they are extremely warm and welcoming people. They have set up great lives in Ireland and contribute to our communities. They will be a great asset to our country when they come here. I thank Ms Miculet for that. I would like to know what exactly the EU is doing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the ambassadors and thank them for their opening statements and for answering all the questions put to them. People in Poland are hosting people in their houses. Poland has no refugee camps, which is absolutely incredible. The Polish people should very proud of their government and all the volunteers on the ground doing this great work. How is the transfer of people from...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I, too, want to talk about the energy crisis. The vote by the Cabinet to reduce the excise duty on petrol and diesel was the correct response to a wild and unsustainable fluctuation of price in a commodity which experiences elastic demand. The idea behind the excise cut is, of course, that the reduction is passed onto the consumer and helps tackle the cost of living, with the implications...

Seanad: Proposal for a Council Decision on Hate Speech and Hate Crime: Motion (10 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the Minister. Everybody opposes hate crime and hate speech. The problem is that everyone thinks they know what hate speech is, such as a gang of football hooligans hurling racist abuse at individuals on a street or a boy or girl who is made to feel small and unwelcome because of his or her appearance. The thing about hate speech legislation is that it governs much more than these...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank my colleagues, the Members of this House and the international community, including the ambassadors representing Turkey, Korea, Cyprus, Singapore, the Vatican City, the Philippines, Jamaica, Colombia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Iceland, Portugal, Georgia, Norway, Indonesia, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Australia, Estonia, Latvia, Israel, Greece, Lesotho,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I want to start by wishing women everywhere well on International Women’s Day, which, oddly, we will be making statements on tomorrow in this House. It is a great shame that our slot was put back until tomorrow. I wonder if we can we have a debate in the House on public liability insurance for businesses and community groups? The cost of insurance has been inflating for years and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Properties (3 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank him for coming here to discuss this important matter for the residents of the Stamullen and Gormanston areas. The Defence Forces currently own land of 261 acres in the Gormanston area, upon which Gormanston Camp is based. The camp and the disused aerodrome occupy a certain portion of this land and much of the remaining land is leased for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Properties (3 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: There are 261 acres.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces Properties (3 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. I am disappointed by the answer, though. The State has 261 acres and only 50 acres are being used for military training currently, so losing 5 to 6 acres would not make any difference to it, but it would make a major difference to the community. The Franciscans sold their site for the development of a new school. This means that the soccer club has to get...