Results 23,021-23,040 of 23,109 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: If there is a village that has no sewerage or wastewater provision, who would put forward a proposal in that regard? Would it be the local authorities? How does Uisce Éireann receive the inquiry? Who then decides if the work should go ahead and who should bear the cost of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: To Mr. Joyce, I pose a question concerning the likes of the situation in Murrisk and Louisburgh. When the extension to Murrisk is done, Louisburgh comes in after that. Is that what is being said? It is in the pipeline now. Is it the Government that funds that, is it the local authority, or how is it funded?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: Is there a timeframe for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I thank Mr. Joyce. Are any grants available for district heating systems? Who evaluates whether a scheme is eligible to be joined up through ESB Networks? Is the heat exported or must there be batteries? How do the district heating systems work? Is ESB Networks in favour of them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: The other part of that issue is domestic wind turbines. There are very few in Ireland. It should be an area of growth, but it does not seem to be. I wonder why no one has taken the bull by the horns and said we have an abundance of wind and we do not have any small domestic wind turbines.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: Is it because there is a grant for solar panels but there does not seem to be any grant for domestic wind turbines? I do not think there is anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: Is it that somebody has to say they will fund it?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I would like to be associated with the words of congratulations to my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, on the great work she has done which has brought happiness to so many people. I call for a debate on the wind industry, particularly small, domestic wind turbines. We have seen huge growth in the area of solar panels for rooftops for houses. We could have small, domestic wind turbines in...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I want to discuss class K also.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: The Senator had submitted an amendment on this.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: While I do not question the ruling made by the Cathaoirleach, I ask him to reflect on the fact that moneys collected under the social welfare legislation are not a charge on the Exchequer. Moneys paid for dental or other treatment that are collected through the social welfare system are not a charge on the Exchequer. I do not think the ruling is proper in that regard. I have to support...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Acting Chairman. I have to agree with Senator Craughwell. I have raised class K on numerous occasions also. It affects every Member of this House and others. After the last election, the majority of people who lost their seats or retired were not even able to collect the jobseeker's benefit after doing so. This is a considerable indictment of the political system. Some of...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I welcome what the Minister has said. An anomaly in the system that I have raised on a number of occasions is where a person who is between jobs is called for jury service. I hope the Minister will be able to address the matter in the Bill. The case I raise involves a girl who was changing jobs and found there was no onus on her previous employer to pay. She did jury duty for a week,...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: How will this work on the ground? I will outline a couple of scenarios. The first relates to people who may wish to retire at the age of 66 and draw a pension and maybe work two or three days a week. Will such people pay PRSI on their earnings afterwards? Is there no PRSI on it? Can they opt to pay PRSI on earnings and then get a higher pension when they stop work completely? On the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I wish to raise an issue with the Minster. It is not entirely in her Department but the job seeker part of it is and is under this schedule. The Minister for public expenditure comes into it as well, but it relates to members of An Garda Síochána who joined the force after 1995. They do not retire on the same pension as gardaí who joined prior to 1995. They can make up the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: Now.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: This is very generous legislation which makes very generous contributions to people. I congratulate the Minister on it and wish her will with it.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: The Comptroller and Auditor General makes observations annually on State bodies for one reason or another. Recently, we saw that he made some observations concerning Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI. The issue in respect of IFI has been raised by several Senators in this House, including by me, Senator Kyne and others, over the last 12 months. When the Comptroller and Auditor General raises...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jan 2024)

Paddy Burke: I am honoured to say a few words today in the absence of our leader, Senator Doherty, who is unavoidably absent as she is in Brussels. I was shocked when I heard that Senator Norris was resigning because since I came into this House many moons ago, he was always here. He was always a friend and somebody that you could get advice from. The Senator was captured completely in the words of the...