Results 1,561-1,580 of 1,854 for speaker:Micheál Carrigy

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Online Disinformation and Media Literacy: Ms Frances Haugen (23 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: Based on what Ms Haugen said about 13 and 14 year olds becoming addicted, should we set a limit of 15 years old as a minimum age for being on a social media platform and put the responsibility on those companies to make sure that they enforce that?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Online Disinformation and Media Literacy: Ms Frances Haugen (23 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank Ms Haugen.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (16 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: Today, I will speak again about the Phoenix Centre, which is located in what was the old Mount Carmel Hospital on the grounds of St. Joseph's Care Centre in Longford. The building was built in 1844. The rest of the buildings on the original site were demolished in the 1960s and a new purpose-built building, which is today called St. Joseph's Care Centre, was built. The building is being...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (16 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: To be honest, this does not clarify the matter raised. It does not answer the question I asked. While I welcome the investment of €100 million for initiatives and I welcome the fact that there is significant funding into the CHO area, CHO 8 actually covers six counties - Longford, Westmeath, Laois, Offaly, Louth and Meath. The reality is that we are providing the previously listed...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I 100% support the comments of Senator Seery Kearney in support of our Leader, my party colleague, Senator Doherty's comments on "Morning Ireland" earlier. They were well said. I also wish to speak to the issue of third-level education. I would like a debate with the Minister, Deputy Harris, to discuss the future. There are many plans and there are many changes to come in respect of...

Seanad: Report of Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine: Motion (16 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: The Minister of State is very welcome. I concur with the comments of Senator Garvey. We might be a small county in Longford, but we have always been to the fore in a lot of things and I was delighted to hear her mention Mr. John Crossan. On tourism, two weekends ago I spent some time in Center Parcs Longford Forest. It was probably the best weekend break I have ever had and was just 20...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities in Arts and Culture: Discussion (16 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome all our guests. It is incumbent on us as public representatives, in conjunction with the Arts Council, to make art accessible to the entire public and allow those who have a disability to participate in the arts. The comment "nothing about us without us" was made earlier. A friend of mine from Longford whom some of our guests might know, James Cawley, who is a policy officer with...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities in Arts and Culture: Discussion (16 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I am disappointed to hear that there are venues that are not accessible. Perhaps the Arts Council, which funds this, should audit these facilities. Maybe it has done so, but in 2022, there should not be venues that are inaccessible to those with a disability. It is not acceptable.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I wish to raise a couple of issues. Senator Byrne mentioned Tesco, but the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and all involved in the horticultural sector have been looking to engage with Dunnes Stores with regard to prices, especially the price of vegetables. We have seen over the past 24 hours the IFA holding a dispute at two Dunnes Stores centres. I call on Dunnes Stores to engage with the...

Seanad: Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: The Minister is very welcome and I am delighted to get the opportunity to speak to the Bill at a time when people are facing real hardship in their lives with inflation and rising energy costs. These costs have led to many families spending a higher proportion of their income on food and fuel. Electricity prices have increased by 22%, gas prices have increased by 28% and the price of home...

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

Micheál Carrigy: St. Patrick's Day parades will take place throughout the country in 2022. I have spoken to local parade organisers in Longford, including Ms Fiona Fenelon, the president of the local chamber of commerce, with regard to having a quiet street on the parade for those who cannot or have not been able to go to parades in recent years because of the noise, including sirens and music. I refer in...

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

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the package that was announced by the Government to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers to undertaking retrofits that have been reported by homeowners and those in the industry and reflect the step change in pace and scale that will...

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

Micheál Carrigy: I, too, send my sympathies to Senator Buttimer and his family on their recent bereavement. It is apt that today is Safer Internet Day. I express my disappointment, as a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media which carried out pre-legislative scrutiny in this area for the best part of 2021, that this is not on the agenda, as it should be at the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I congratulate the Acting Leader on assuming the role. It is a great honour. A number of Senators mentioned the issue of credit unions and asked that the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, come into the House. We should encompass the post office in that debate as well. It was one of the financial institutions that stayed open fully through Covid and provided vital services to our...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I echo the concerns of Senator Gallagher in respect of the Longford-Roscommon division, which has been expanded into counties Longford, Roscommon and Mayo. The concern we have on the ground relates to the districts where there are 24-hour stations, in both Longford town and Granard, where there is now one superintendent covering both areas. There is a fear that the service in one of those...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and will start by acknowledging the good work he has done, especially in recent weeks, on behalf of this State. He has worked hard on behalf of this State since entering political life, but he has done a huge service to our country recently and it is important to put that on the record. I also acknowledge the work of the staff in the Passport Office in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: It is apt the Acting Leader is in the position she is in today on St. Brigid's Day. I will raise a couple of issues. First is the Covid bonus payment. I was at St. Christopher's Services yesterday week with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and met a number of staff, etc. It is an issue that needs to be looked at. It was welcome for our front-line staff but we have to look at such...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jan 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I wish to raise the issue of the age threshold for parental leave. From September 2020 each parent is entitled to 26 weeks' unpaid parental leave. However, they must take that leave before the child is 12 years of age, or 16 if the child has a disability. I recently wrote to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to ask if his Department would consider increasing the age limit to 14 or 15 years....

Seanad: Broadband Roll-out: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State. It is important to point out that we cannot underestimate the decision that was taken by my party in government, Fine Gael, a number of years ago with regard to broadband. It was a very positive decision against much opposition at the time. It is clear through Covid-19, in particular, that it was the right decision to make. We are all delighted that was...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: RTÉ's Public Service Statement, Irish Language Services and RTÉ Board Appointments Process: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: That is fair enough and I thank Ms Doherty. I have some points on children's television. People were talking about this and it stirred some memories, and I can still remember watching Zig and Zag at lunchtime in the canteen at college. I have three young kids but when they turn on television they do not switch to RTÉ, to be quite honest. During Covid-19, however, there was a project...