Results 221-227 of 227 for speaker:Nessa Cosgrove

Seanad: Cost of Childcare: Motion (21 Oct 2025)

Nessa Cosgrove: I welcome the Sinn Féin motion and I thank the party for bringing it forward. We all know very well the concerns about the cost of childcare and, as a parent of three children, I know they are very real. Childcare is an expensive business, and it should be. After all, we have highly qualified professional staff caring for our children, who are the most precious members of our society....

Seanad: Cost of Childcare: Motion (21 Oct 2025)

Nessa Cosgrove: That is fine.

Seanad: Cost of Childcare: Motion (21 Oct 2025)

Nessa Cosgrove: Low pay is cited by 86% of early years educators as being the main reason for leaving the sector. Experienced early years educators, managers and even providers continue to leave the sector. Many choose to become special needs assistants, where the starting salary is €16.83 per hour - €1.30 above the base rate for an early years educator and €2.68 above the minimum...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Process (22 Oct 2025)

Nessa Cosgrove: I welcome the Minister of State. Many Senators have raised this issue as members of the foreign affairs committee. I ask for a straight answer about the timeline for the occupied territories Bill and the advice of the Attorney General. My Labour Party colleague and my party's spokesperson on foreign affairs, Deputy Duncan Smith, has asked the Tánaiste if we would get an answer in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Process (22 Oct 2025)

Nessa Cosgrove: We do not really have a response yet and do not have a timeline. The danger is that, because of the presidential election and then we are going to be coming up to Christmas, this issue will be kicked down the road again. The Minister of State mentioned the fragile ceasefire. It is very fragile, but surely the ceasefire would be kept in place if Israel knew that there would be some...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Free Travel Scheme) Bill 2025: Second Stage (22 Oct 2025)

Nessa Cosgrove: Many speakers, on both the Opposition and Government sides, have spoken passionately about this Bill. I completely agree with Senator Ruane that there is an opportunity for the Government to step back and take out the amendment. As Senator Nicole Ryan said, the proposal is for only three months of free travel. Senator Ruane noted that when she first read the Bill, she thought it would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Iarnród Éireann (22 Oct 2025)

Nessa Cosgrove: I congratulate Ms Considine on her new job. Her reputation precedes her. She is getting lots of compliments today. I live in Sligo and I have read in detail the all-island strategic rail review. I have raised this at a number of meetings. I am delighted to be part of this committee and have the opportunity to raise it here. It is disappointing that the Claremorris to Collooney section...