Results 201-220 of 669 for speaker:Grace O'Sullivan

Seanad: Household Waste Charges: Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister. I will not do what my party leader, Deputy Eamon Ryan, just did in the Dáil Chamber and pull out a bag of plastic to show the Minister the types of plastic we are finding in our environment and which are contributing to waste. To put it in context, the world created and used 480 billion plastic bottles last year. If we think about it, that is a staggering...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I have a few questions. I am sorry I was late. I hope these questions are appropriate. I share the concerns of my colleagues. I, too, would like to know why there has been a delay and what exactly the problem is. In addition, why is the proposed financing of social housing by the credit unions limited to tier 3 approved housing bodies? I had thought it would be prudent to start at tier...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: Mr. Corr provided a chronology of events since 2011. In terms of the timeline, it is a little frustrating that he expects to be able to deliver something by the end of the year. Can he be more specific?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I would also like to see a timeline because we have a crisis here. I too am a member of the credit union and I think that this is a fantastic opportunity for the movement to get involved in an area that would support the community, which is part of the credit union ethos. The Central Bank published a consultation paper on 11 May where it set out potential additional investment classes for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I understand that the demographic using credit unions tends to be an older one. When it comes to timing, I would really like to see this measure proceed as quickly as possible because the signal it sends out to the public is a very positive one. This idea of the credit union offering investment funding to the AHBs would appeal to the younger demographic because these are the very people who...

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Second Stage (11 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: It is great to see the Minister back in the House. I am an absolute lover of all sport and this is a huge economic and social opportunity for the State, but it is also a huge opportunity to engage in role modelling. When our great heroes go out on the pitch - it is always a great time and very emotive - younger children aspire. That is why it is wonderful we have an opportunity to bring an...

Seanad: Report of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Motion (12 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and I wish her well in her new brief. I echo Senator Mac Lochlainn's point regarding the importance of the fisheries sector in terms of Brexit. I commend and applaud Senator Richmond on the excellent job he did as Chairman of the committee. I had the pleasure of substituting for Senator Black at the last meeting and I thought his leadership...

Seanad: Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I apologise that I was late arriving to this meeting. I commend Senator Reilly's Bill. The Green Party very much supports the Bill. I have nothing to add other than full support. As Senator Reilly knows, my own daughter who is 26 is on the autism spectrum. She was born in the Netherlands where we got great support and great services. This Bill is going quite some way in achieving that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I wish to speak on amendment No. 1, which is my amendment. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. When I look at the various pillars of Rebuilding Ireland I believe there is a lot of overlap.The need for local authorities to provide social housing has been discussed. Although the Minister of State has outlined the number of units that have been constructed and the...

Seanad: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State. The Bill is very welcome. It is good to see Ireland engaging in the global challenge of providing the infrastructure for sustainable development and co-operation with a wide range of other countries. It is in line with our policy for international development and our commitments to human rights and climate justice. However, Ireland’s strong...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: On 11 July, one week after a Bill to ban onshore fracking was passed, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment gave consent to Providence Resources to commence drilling for oil in the Porcupine Bank off the coast of Kerry. This is just one of a slew of drilling expeditions recently permitted by the Minister, with the North Celtic Sea basin off the coast of Cork and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I am calling on the Minister to revoke these licences.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I am asking that the Minister come to this House for a debate on revoking the licences and that we follow the lead of France by putting a stop to oil and gas exploration in Irish waters. We need a just transition to a low-carbon economy. We are the laggards of Europe. I want the Minister to come to the House to address this issue.

Seanad: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 1:In page 4, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:“4. (1) The State, when acting as a Member of the Bank shall— (a) work towards the full respect of human rights in accordance with international law in the operation of the Bank and the financing by it of projects, (b) work towards the achievement of the objectives of the UNFCCC and the Paris...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Report: Dr. Mary Murphy and Dr. Rory Hearne, NUI Maynooth (20 Sep 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank Dr. Murphy and Dr. Hearne for their report, Investing in the Right to a Home: Housing, HAPs and Hubs. It is fantastic because it enables debate. It highlights that we continue to be in a serious emergency state with regard to the supply of homes and the social responsibility of the Government. The market forces are not delivering housing with any speed given the crisis we face....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Dublin Regional Homless Executive (20 Sep 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: We are here to discuss the Rebuilding Ireland policy. All we have heard about is rehousing Ireland, not rebuilding. What steps has the Department put in place to work with local authorities to build social and affordable houses?

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: It is a pleasure to be back in the House after a busy and productive recess. I add my voice to those of fellow Senators on the transformation of the Chamber. I say well done to all involved and I thank the National Museum for hosting us. However, I echo another sentiment aired yesterday by Senators Alice-Mary Higgins and McDowell. This day next week will be the fourth anniversary of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: -----there is continued resentment of the Seanad's lack of democratic input. The old Seanad Chamber might be undergoing renewal but there is absolutely no sign of a similar renewal for this institution. Senator McDowell's Seanad reform Bill which I was proud to co-sign would invigorate future Seanaid by giving them the democratic mandate and expertise the institution was always meant to...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (28 Sep 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister. I concur with Senator Devine. Shame on us all to be here in a great homelessness crisis the legacy of which will be with us for years to come. The 2016 census shows that in the lifetime of the previous Fine Gael-led Government homelessness increased by 81%. In September, the total number of homeless people in the country exceeded 8,000 for the first time....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: One of the greatest threats to land supply is the widespread practice of land banking or hoarding. The head of the National Asset Management Agency, Mr. Brendan McDonagh, stated there is enough land available to solve the housing crisis because NAMA has sold land that would support 50,000 houses. Only 3,000 houses or 6% of the potential number have been built. Mr. McDonagh blamed land...