Results 1,761-1,780 of 2,189 for speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: The Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2021 was published on 4 May 2021 to provide an opportunity to raise fishery matters and to seek clarification on Rockall, as that will be an issue for fishermen and fisherwomen, who are united on this matter. No prior public consultation took place. There was no pre-legislative scrutiny. No regulatory impact analysis accompanied this Bill. The housing Bill...

Traveller Accommodation: Statements (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: There is somewhere close to 40,000 people in the Traveller community, making it a significant indigenous ethnic group. Since 1996, its population has grown by 185%. The trajectory is upwards, certainly more so than for the general population, although there have been highs and lows in growth. In Limerick, for instance, the Traveller population has increased by 250% over the past 20 years....

Mental Health During and Post Covid-19: Statements (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: In 2006, the HSE published A Vision for Change for immediate implementation. Unfortunately, most of it was never implemented. The more recent Sharing the Vision policy reads very well. The key priorities that emerged were to prioritise mental health in Ireland as a major issue in society, the importance of primary prevention and positive mental health, a requirement to focus on social...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: The first thing the Government did wrong was the felling licences, the second was the carbon tax and the third was voting against the amendment tabled by the Rural Independent Group on the 2040 plan, which would have delayed the process of houses. Now people are panicking and this is putting more pressure on supply and demand. I thank the Tánaiste for his thoughts but I do not want...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: What about the felling licences and roofs of houses?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Carbon tax, inflation, oil products.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Given that more than 50% of the population have received their first vaccine, I would like to think that we are now in a post-pandemic place and looking forward to what lies ahead for us. I have concerns, however, that I will highlight. I am sure the Tánaiste will agree that it is currently very difficult to get staff in construction, haulage, hospitality and in many other industries....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I have listened to the Minister of State for several minutes and all I heard out of his mouth, again and again, were the words “affordable housing”. How will the Government address affordable housing when there has been a 37% increase in the cost of materials coming into this country since 1 January? That increase is due to the 2040 plan brought in by the Government in 2018....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: No.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am a member of the Rural Independent Group.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I will finish with that. Common sense must prevail.

Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (2 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I agree with all the previous speakers. I, too, will not vote with the Government on this grouping of amendments. If the Minister looks up at the convention centre stage, he will see the Irish flag. More than 100 years ago, people in Ireland fought for their freedom. The number of emails, phone calls and letters we have received about this issue is unbelievable. As my colleagues said, if...

National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Statements (2 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: What is the national recovery and resilience plan? The EU has promised a recovery and resilience fund of €750 billion with the aim of helping member states to deal with the costs arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and to boost the European economic recovery. Cash is to be paid in the form of grants. The tick boxes for these funds relate to research and innovation, fair climate and...

Maternity Services: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jun 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I thank Deputy Connolly and her colleagues for tabling the motion. I congratulate the Acting Chairman on the birth of another grandchild, which is fantastic for him and his family. There are 19 maternity hospitals in Ireland, with approximately 150 babies born every day. It is estimated that 25,000 babies were born during Covid, with between ten and 12 born in the maternity hospital in...

Independent Beef Regulator: Motion [Private Members] (26 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I am the son of a farmer. My father was born in 1911 in Banogue, Croom, County Limerick. My mother was born in the 1930s in Cloverfield, Dromkeen. My father's family were Fianna Fáil, my mother's family were Fine Gael and they bred an Independent. We have an independent voice here today. They would be so disappointed in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael because of how much waffle the...

Independent Beef Regulator: Motion [Private Members] (26 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: It is with pride that the Rural Independent Group brings this Private Members' motion forward on behalf of the beef sector. The beef industry supports more than 70,000 beef farmers and 10,000 jobs across processing, distribution and transport. The industry is worth approximately €2.5 billion annually and the vast majority of the income remains in the rural economy. The price of feed...

International Travel and Aviation: Statements (25 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: Why must we wait for the likes of Aer Lingus to close its cabin crew base in Shannon for us to wonder why things like this happen? I told the Government that it would happen but the Government did not listen. Our airports must be attractive for airlines to use as a base for their business. We in Ireland are entering a very competitive landscape and it is too late to act when companies are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I want to correct what was said earlier by stating that Deputy Quinlivan and I are the two representatives from Limerick. I am not in favour a directly elected mayor. I previously served as a county councillor and many of the issues I had at the time related to the fact that powers were being taken away from councillors. The Minister of State indicated that the council will retain its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: I accept the democratic vote of the people of County Limerick, which was 52% to 48% in favour of having a directly elected mayor. My job, as a Deputy representing County Limerick, and that of Deputy Quinlivan is to represent the voters and the democratic vote they have cast and to scrutinise this matter to the best of our abilities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Richard O'Donoghue: During the six years for which I was a member of Limerick City and County Council, I had the pleasure of working with some very good councillors. What let things down was that we lost two young female councillors and one male councillor who found it impossible to continue in their roles, because of the amount of work involved, while trying to support themselves. Some of them had families...