Results 1,821-1,840 of 6,629 for speaker:Seán Kyne

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: Gabhaim buíochas, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I welcome Ms Walsh and Mr. Markey to the Chamber. As someone involved in representational politics as we all are, and as a former Deputy and county councillor, I do not know how anyone copes with the geographical size of our guests’ constituencies and the challenge of such diverse areas and how to represent them; I know that they are doing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Mental Health Services: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: I thank our witnesses for attending and for their work and advocacy on mental health services. If Covid has taught us anything, it has shown us the importance of family, community and interacting with people so it is no surprise that this pandemic and the restrictions it has imposed have caused mental health issues in people. The witnesses would not be unique, and I think they would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Mental Health Services: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: I thank the witnesses for their replies. I know the former Minister of State, Jim Daly, put in place a one-stop-shop, as it were, in terms of accessing of services. There was a myriad of phone numbers that could be used as a first port of call to access mental health services. For example, the Samaritans provide an excellent service in Galway. How important are those services in terms of...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Beart na Breatnaise agus Caighdeáin Teanga: Coimisinéir Teanga na Breataine Bige (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: Gabh mo leithscéal go bhfuil clog an tSeanaid ag bualadh. I welcome Mr. Roberts. I am a former Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with responsibility for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht areas in this country. We are often envious of what we hear about the Welsh language and I welcome this opportunity to say a few words to the commissioner....

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Beart na Breatnaise agus Caighdeáin Teanga: Coimisinéir Teanga na Breataine Bige (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: I know, from watching some historical programmes on the Welsh language, there was hostility in decades past. I will not ask if that has been entirely replaced, because it probably has not, but I am sure it has been much reduced. With the number of speakers in the metropolitan areas such as Cardiff, there would be more visibility, it would be more of a living and spoken language and be...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Beart na Breatnaise agus Caighdeáin Teanga: Coimisinéir Teanga na Breataine Bige (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: Does that carry on throughout the education system? Does it continue in universities or are they more anglicised rather than using spoken Welsh?

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Beart na Breatnaise agus Caighdeáin Teanga: Coimisinéir Teanga na Breataine Bige (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: I thank Mr. Roberts. I have to rush to the Seanad for a quorum on a debate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Seán Kyne: As Members know, Ireland has set a target to achieve 70% energy generation from renewables by 2030.With that in mind, there was some recent news regarding the Macquarie Green Investment Group, GIG, having acquired Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta, the developer of a project off the west coast, namely, a proposal for a 400 MW offshore wind farm capable of generating enough energy to power the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: On behalf of Fine Gael, I thank the Cathaoirleach. I also thank Mr. Martin Groves, Ms Bridget Doody, Mr. Eden McLaughlin and the rest of the team in the Seanad Office for their diligent work over recent months in what has been a particularly difficult session, which has involved us alternating between Leinster House and the convention centre. I am referring to all the back-and-forth and...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. It was acknowledged during the financial crisis that the broadening of the tax base was important. At the time, it was one of the recommendations of the International Money Fund, IMF. The household charge and the LPT brought in a system of guaranteed income from households across the country. There were anomalies that became evident as time...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: Now.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister of State. I congratulate her on her role, her advocacy for this Bill and getting it to this Stage. It is certainly going to be part of her legacy. I acknowledge, as others have, the work of her predecessor, Mr. Jim Daly, with whom I had much contact in my previous role as Government Chief Whip regarding the progression of this legislation as a priority. As with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: I will raise the issue of the south Kerry greenway, which I am sure is an issue close to the Cathaoirleach's heart. The reason I raise it is to welcome yesterday's High Court decision decreeing that the planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála to Kerry County Council is valid and upholding the council's decision. It is important because this was viewed as a test case for...

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister of State. The EWSS and its predecessor have been hugely important as the link between employer and employee. It was one of the core supports introduced by the previous Government and continued since then. It is a key component of the Government's Covid response for business. The priority has been maintaining jobs and businesses once the pandemic ends. We all accept...

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: The Senator should speak to the section.

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: Fine Gael is fully supportive of section 6. We initiated reduced VAT rate in 2011 in response to the unemployment crisis. We needed to look at sectors that were capable of providing employment and could provide a quick response to a stimulus to direct support. At that time, it was one of the key components of the Action Plan for Jobs introduced by the then Minister, Deputy Bruton. It...

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: The warehousing provisions are very important in giving the breathing space and scope to businesses. It is not a case of companies not paying their tax. The State will not lose out in the long run, it just gives businesses breathing space with tax, VAT and PRSI. Sections 8 to 12, inclusive, are all broadly similar on warehousing. The provision of a zero interest phase is very important,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (12 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to the House to discuss the issues at the emergency department at University Hospital Galway, UHG. The INMO figures for this morning show that there are 24 patients on trolleys in the hospital. This day last week, there were 30 patients on trolleys. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that as I have stated previously even one patient...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (12 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Minister of State for his reply, which is much the same as one he delivered previously. It is depressing to see written down again that the project is in the early stages of design progression, considering we were told the planning application would be lodged before Christmas 2018, then it was to be February 2019, then May 2019 and then 2019. It is now July 2021 and the project...

Seanad: Finance (Covid-19 and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Fleming, to the House to talk about this important Bill. First, we have seen an unprecedented level of support by the State for businesses since March 2020 and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. It has not just been for businesses, of course, but also for employees, for the protection of jobs and for the links between employees and employers....