Results 261-280 of 1,132 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I move: “That Seanad Éireann: notes: -the significant work done by the Passport Office and Department of Foreign Affairs through its network of Embassies and Consulates, to meet the demand for passports from Irish citizens throughout the world; -the extraordinary demand for passports in recent times and the anticipated increased demand in the coming months; -the complexity...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome to the Minister to the Chamber and thank him for taking the motion. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Brophy and his staff, the staff at the Passport Office, and the Minister's own staff, including Ms Laura McGonigle, who has done incredible work, especially on passports that are difficult cases. As public representatives we all deal with cases that are difficult....

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: We have had a very positive discussion from all sides of the House. It is always a good sign when Senator Gavan is agreeing with the motion and welcoming it. In fairness, he and his colleague Senator Ó Donnghaile brought up some very good points about MLAs and people in Northern Ireland who would like to use the passport service. The Minister perfectly explained in his contribution...

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: If her business card could be sent out with the speech the Minister provided, that would be hugely helpful. On an emerging issue, if the Cathaoirleach would allow it I would like to give a minute of my time to the Minister to respond to the announcement from the Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, Edwin Poots, on checks at Northern Ireland ports....

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I acknowledge the presence of Senator Pauline O'Reilly in the role of Acting Leader. I have two questions, one of which is perfect for her and is right up her street. First, I acknowledge the decision by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, last night and the work between him and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to lift that ban...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I know.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: They are in Clonmel, Cahir and everywhere. This is important. The clubs are ready to go and waiting for an announcement. It is welcome that there will be extra money from this year's pot and that is important because more clubs will be successful. We need decisions to be made on this as quickly as possible so these clubs can get going on developing their area and enhanced sporting...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I can substitute if the Senator wants.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: We have a problem, which will develop even more over the next number weeks, relating to people under the age of 40 who are looking to get recovery certificates after contracting Covid, especially during Christmas. We have a situation at present, through no fault of the people concerned, where those under the age of 40 who have had their first and second vaccines, and were going to get...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and welcome her home, if I can put it that way. I thank her for the very effective and strong work she has been doing in her portfolio for almost two years. I urge her to continue with that work because it is very important. As other speakers have said, everyone accepts that this Bill is necessary and legislates for a commitment made by the...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Over recent weeks people across the country have been shocked and upset by the sad passing of Ashling Murphy and the subsequent alleged assaults against women in Kilkenny and across the country. People have been rightly upset and moved. However, on the alleged assault in Fermoy, there is somewhat of a positive story in that the two young 16-year-old boys intervened. They made a decision...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for the work he has done in his Department over almost the past two years. The Fine Gael Party will not oppose this legislation. I commend Senator Mullen on the work he has done on this Bill. It seems strange that these provisions are not already in place. It seems to make perfect sense that if information is to be given it must...

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I am even more humble than Senator Mullen but, in all seriousness, it would be very hard to disagree with this. If we can come together, we can certainly find a solution.

Seanad: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (9 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I wish to raise an issue that I bring up quite a bit, namely, childcare. I wish to raise it again because almost every week it is getting worse for childcare on three levels. Parents are at their wits' end because they cannot get childcare for their kids. Parents who have been working from home for the past two years but who are now going back into the workplace and need to get childcare...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2021: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (9 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the officials for their contributions. One official spoke about how this can have a real impact on rural regions. I am from an area in south Tipperary where we are an hour from Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Kilkenny. There are thousands of people who travel - or, certainly before Covid, travelled - to work. People are saying that the draft legislation as it is at the moment is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2021: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (9 Feb 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I have two quick questions on that. Mr. Mulligan spoke about remote hubs and the amount of money that is being put into them. Does he think it needs to be ramped up even more? Where I live in Tipperary, we have two excellent remote hub areas. However, the demand is increasing week on week and month on month. To manage that for companies looking to facilitate remote working, whether it is...