Results 2,161-2,180 of 32,837 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: I have read the strategy. The Minister is making arrangements to use public land for leverage. The Minister uses lovely words which I call weasel words. I am not sure why the Minister is shaking his head. I wonder sometimes-----

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: I wonder sometimes-----

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: I am absolutely. I am really interested in hearing the truth.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: I am not into spin at all. If the Minister has noticed anything in ten months of my presence in this Chamber, he will know I abhor spin. I am allergic to spin.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: I have no time for it. When we are talking about truth, let us look at the housing problem. I have repeatedly said that in Galway, somewhere between 13,000 and 15,000 people are on a waiting list. As we speak-----

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: 1 o’clock We have housing crisis because excessive Governments, including the Minister's, have had a neoliberal philosophy which determined that the Government could not build houses directly. Year after year, in my experience as a councillor, the Government suspended housing construction programmes. The Minister asked me to be straight. I am being straight. Could the Minister...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: This is the amendment on the Government's strategy to increase rents year-----

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: I sat here yesterday. The fact that the Minister made a mistake - if we take the best interpretation - on an equation is not my problem. The fact that we are here on a Friday debating something that should not be debated in this manner is a problem which the Minister has created.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: The Minister has reduced the housing crisis to an equation. He forgets the meaning of the word "equation". Raising rents equates to homelessness. This is the essential equation we should examine.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: I understand, and I am speaking on the amendment to increase rents by 4% each year. In this context, I must give the background as to how the crisis has emerged. The Ceann Comhairle might have a particular interest. Given that we established a Housing Agency to be expert advisers, to advise, predict and help the Government, we must ask what the agency has been doing since it was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: 73. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to parliamentary question number 125 of 22 November 2016, the progress which has been made in reducing the number of persons in direct provision that give their legal status, should not be in direct provision; the procedures or mechanisms which have been put in place to accurately qualify the number of persons in this position in view...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: 74. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason Ireland has not signed up to European Directive 203/9/EC which would enable those residing in direct provision to access the labour market; the government's position in this regard.; and if she will make a statement on the matter [40608/16]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Naval Vessels (16 Dec 2016)

Catherine Connolly: 244. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the circumstances surrounding the docking of a submarine at Horgan's Quay in Cork at the beginning of November, observed during the first weekend of November 2016; the country of origin; the reason for which it docked; the purpose of its journey; if it was part of a NATO operation; if there were armed guards on board and-or on the quay;...

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I disagree entirely with the Minister that this is premature and the Fianna Fáil speaker who said the Bill was based on ideology. I am not sure if they are in touch with what is happening on the ground. While I have difficulties with some sections of the Bill, I agree with the intention underlying it. The Bill arises because the Government's housing policy, as well as that of the...

Private Members' Business - Anti-Evictions Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jan 2017)

Catherine Connolly: I am delighted to hear it. I will not waste my few minutes but the Minister might clarify it. I am not in the habit of misleading people. One of my faults is that I am too blunt and direct. At the risk of using my time, I repeat that not one social house has been built in Galway since 2009. This year, there is a proposal to go ahead with 14 houses. I checked the news today and the local...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Trials (17 Jan 2017)

Catherine Connolly: 991. To ask the Minister for Health the channels available to raise concerns or make complaints in the area of medical research and the trial use of certain drugs on both human and animal subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41453/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (17 Jan 2017)

Catherine Connolly: 1251. To ask the Minister for Health the current average waiting time in weeks for processing overseas registration applications by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland from the date initial correspondence was received; the measures in place to reduce any delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1430/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Commission (17 Jan 2017)

Catherine Connolly: 1321. To ask the Minister for Health when the decision support service within the Mental Health Commission will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1787/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Commencement of Legislation (17 Jan 2017)

Catherine Connolly: 1322. To ask the Minister for Health when the outstanding substantive sections of Part 8 of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1788/17]

Joint Standing Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands: Gnó an Choiste (17 Jan 2017)

Catherine Connolly: Fáilte romhaibh go léir agus athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh. Go raibh maith agaibh. Tá fhios agam go bhfuil sé deacair teacht inniu, go háirithe ag an am seo, ach ní raibh smacht agam ar an am. Is é an cinneadh a rinne mé ná an dá thoscaireacht, ó Ghaillimh le Gaeilge agus ó Chearta Oideachais, a ligean isteach i dtosach. An...