Results 2,501-2,520 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: Mr. O'Sullivan is speaking about 2050.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: What Mr. O'Sullivan has seen, and he acknowledged it, is that we are hurtling towards an overheating of the planet. He accepts the science on climate change. He has acknowledged it and he knows it is the case. Why would he not support a Bill to leave fossil fuels in the ground? It is simple. We will not have to rely on other supplies of gas until 2050. We have Corrib and, at the same...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: Nobody is arguing that gas power generation should be cut off tomorrow. We are saying we have to transition from where we are to almost fully using renewables. We have heard many arguments about this today. Mr. O'Sullivan cited the International Energy Agency several times. Two weeks ago, representatives of the IEA informed the committee that we have a 50:50 chance of meeting our Paris...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: The Department is trying to make a case that the Bill denies the country energy security, that it does not contribute to the reduction of emissions and that it does nothing to incentivise renewables. I strongly reject all three grounds. First, there is nothing secure, either energy-wise or any other way, in a planet that will overheat by more than 2°C and will fail to deliver on the...

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2018: Second Stage (11 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I concur with everything that has been said. I will seek to add to it. In a year in which the family is being celebrated by both Pride and the Pope, it is ironic that we are just catching up and putting proper structures on the families of same-sex couples. I know the Minister recognises that there is a problem. I spoke to him a short time ago. He is not accepting our amendment, which we...

Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I move amendment No. 11:In page 15, line 5, to delete "12 months" and substitute "6 months". I know a concession has already been made on Committee Stage, with the period of 18 months changed to 12 months, but we should reduce it further. The argument has been made about "seasonal" work, and the amount of hours worked would not reflect the real type of work available to an employee. To...

Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I indicated earlier.

Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: No.

Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: It is just as well we are getting a holiday soon.

Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I want to back up what Deputy Clare Daly said. There is a contradiction here. Recent statistics show that more than half of part-time workers in employment are living in poverty. Part of the reason for that is low pay but also precarious hours and part-time work itself. Say someone is in a job in Tesco - I know it pretty well because I shop in its Ballyfermot store and we supported the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I wish to raise another serious issue concerning women's health. This week Britain's National Health Service, NHS, put a pause on the issuing of the vaginal mesh. This is a very personal subject for women suffering from urinary incontinence and pelvic organ collapse but it is causing major harm to hundreds of women in this country as it is used on a daily basis. I will quickly quote...

Questions on Promised Legislation (12 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: We are calling on the Government to pause the use of vaginal mesh.

Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I congratulate Deputy Pringle and welcome the Bill very warmly. That is probably a bit of a pun in this context but it is a hugely warmly welcomed Bill. The rationale is to send a clear signal that the phasing out of fossil fuels must be speeded up. Keeping fossil fuels in the ground is absolutely key. At this stage there is hardly anybody, apart from Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, Deputy...

Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (12 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I have a green jersey on.

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Appointments Delays (12 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to present this issue to the House at the eleventh hour. He did so because it is a time sensitive issue. With regard to health advice on cataract care, the HSE's website states:[A] cataract will continue to develop, and the only way to restore vision is by having surgery to remove the cataract. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Appointments Delays (12 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: I will just reiterate that the HSE website states: "Cataract surgery is one of the most common and quickest forms of surgery". It also says that this surgery will help to save sight. The NCBI has said that waiting lists are out of control. That is much more shocking when we consider that 75% of sight loss is avoidable. That organisation has called on the Minister for Health to publish the...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Appointments Delays (12 Jul 2018)

Bríd Smith: It is Patrick Foley. The matter is time sensitive. That is why the Leas-Cheann Comhairle allowed me to bring it forward today. I do not want him to go blind, and he certainly does not want to go blind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Moderation of Violent and Harmful Content on the Facebook Platform: Discussion (1 Aug 2018)

Bríd Smith: I thank the witnesses for their attendance. I had intended asking a series of questions but I was intrigued to hear Ms Cummiskey state that Facebook does not allow hate speech and will not allow people to call for violence against anyone else on its platform. One of the things nobody else mentioned regarding the "Dispatches" programme was the special status given to Mr. Tommy Robinson and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Moderation of Violent and Harmful Content on the Facebook Platform: Discussion (1 Aug 2018)

Bríd Smith: I have one minor question on the training, which I forgot to ask. Will Facebook make the training material available to the committee and the public in order that we can all see how the company does its business, what criteria it uses and how and why these should be applied? It would be very useful for the committee and the public to have access to all the training material.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Moderation of Violent and Harmful Content on the Facebook Platform: Discussion (1 Aug 2018)

Bríd Smith: Is Ms Sweeney saying that Tommy Robinson's page had fewer than five violations of hate advocacy?