Results 1-20 of 43 for speaker:Gareth Scahill

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Following on from a Commencement matter my colleague, Senator Boyle, had this morning on school safety measures, I noted the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, said in her response that there are currently no plans to reopen the safe routes to school scheme for new applicants. She also referred to the active travel measures that could be utilised by schools for safety measures. The safe...

Seanad: National Biodiversity Week: Statements (14 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: It is fitting to welcome Councillor Leah Cull to the Chamber this afternoon. She is from the biodiverse-rich area of Arigna in north Roscommon so it is topical she is here. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak during biodiversity week. It is a time to reflect on the beauty, resilience and importance of our natural world and to celebrate the local efforts to make a real...

Seanad: Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I, too, compliment the Senators for tabling this Bill. Having gone through it, I fully support the Bill in principle. I grew up in a time that, when somebody was sick, one brought a bottle of Lucozade to help the person's sugar levels recover and so on. As we evolved and developed, sports drinks came on the scene. They were great, as they contained carbohydrates and electrolytes, aided...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Service (13 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I welcome the Minster of State. I call on the Minister to urgently commission a national review of the fire brigade service areas boundaries to ensure the response times and provision of services align with the most recent census figures and, more importantly, with the real need of our people on the ground. I ask for an independent national review of this as well. This is not just a call...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Service (13 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: To reiterate, the fire service we and all Senators in this House have is a service we are very proud of. That does not mean, however, we should not look for more and better. I can only speak of my own home area, but in rural areas like Castlerea, where residents have limited mobility and live in isolated locations, delayed emergency services can have life-threatening consequences.Based on...

Seanad: Parole (Special Advocates) Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber once again. I compliment Senator Ruane on this legislation. My reading of the legislation is it is intended to improve the fairness of the parole system. While I acknowledge the genuine intent behind it, the right move today is to revisit it in six months when there has been more time to consider it. The current system provides for withholding...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I rise to represent the hospitality sector, specifically in the west of Ireland, members of which approached me recently about the increased cost of business and the reduction in margins. It is lucky that in the past ten days, the weather has brought increased footfall and has had people out using facilities regularly. As we are all aware, however, the climate in Ireland is not predictable....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I acknowledge a man from Ballintober in County Roscommon. I extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. John Bosco Conama, who was elected to the fellowship of Trinity College Dublin last week. John is a professor in the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin. His commitment to deaf equality and advocacy issues, alongside his commitment to academia, lecturing, publishing and research...

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I propose to share my time with Senator Kyne.

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Minister is very welcome. I welcome the motion and the focus it brings to higher education. The area I would like to highlight is the commitment in the programme for Government to investing in and growing our apprenticeships, particularly in construction, retrofitting and healthcare. I mentioned last week the tertiary access route to general nursing, which...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I rise this morning to talk about a good news story this week in Roscommon, which is the launch of a tertiary route to general nursing in Castlerea. The Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board and the Atlantic Technological University, ATU, have launched a new tertiary access route to general nursing. The programme is delivered through the further education and training centre in...

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I welcome the Minister to the House. The Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025 is a timely and necessary step in acknowledging the challenges retail workers face and offering them real enforcement protection. I therefore commend the Senators on bringing forward the Bill. Retail workers are the visible face of commerce in every community, from corner shops to petrol stations, local...

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: It is not that long since you were a Fianna Fáil TD yourself.

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Let us pass this Bill and not use it as an opportunity.

Seanad: Diverting Young People from Criminal Activity: Statements (30 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I thank the Minister of State for coming in today. I will not go over what my colleagues have mentioned but I would like to acknowledge the family resource centres in Roscommon, Foróige, Youth Work Ireland and the 101 youth diversion schemes going on around the country. I ask that we continue to support them and look to expand the range of their offering. Senator Flynn mentioned...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Services (29 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I rise today to seek an update on the provision for funding for the replacement of older water infrastructure in rural Ireland. I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber once again. I also acknowledge the Uisce Éireann staff on the ground across the country who are doing an exceptional job in often difficult circumstances and with very limited resources. From my experience of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Services (29 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I thank the Minister of State. I will read out a communication I got from a hospitality business in Cloonfad on 18 April, Good Friday. The title of the communication was "Absolutely Fed Up". It said that the business was left with no option but to remain closed that afternoon due to yet another water outage in Cloonfad on one of the busiest weekends of the year, the Easter bank holiday...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I, too, wish to be associated with the remembrance of Pope Francis. I had the pleasure of attending mass in the cathedral in Ballaghaderreen last Saturday delivered by Bishop Kevin Doran and Vicar General Fr. John McManus in recognising and celebrating the Pope’s life. I also wish to be associated with the good wishes towards Martin Groves on his retirement. I take this...

Seanad: Forestry Sector: Statements (29 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I will not go back over a lot of what my colleagues have said. One of the big things I encountered on Roscommon County Council before Storm Éowyn was the guidelines required for clear corridors in forestry for power and telephone masts and the proximity to roads and the enforcement and monitoring of those guidelines. That is one thing I wish to raise with the Minister of State. A...

Seanad: Forestry Sector: Statements (29 Apr 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Keep going.