Results 281-300 of 669 for speaker:Grace O'Sullivan

Seanad: Special Needs Assistants: Motion (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I am standing to support the Labour motion, and to say that it is very welcome that Labour took the initiative to do this. We talk in Ireland about being an inclusive society. The role of the SNAs is to support inclusion. I have seen it first-hand in schools in Tramore and through the needs of my own children. It is crucial that the SNAs get the security that is required to ensure that...

Seanad: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I concur with most of my colleagues that there really has been a lack of proper debate on the signing up to PESCO. It was almost forced on us last week. Senator McFadden said that we are opposed to peace and Europe in our statements but, in fact, I am for peace and justice, and I am all for Europe. I want to be very clear about this. The Green Party campaigned in favour of the Lisbon...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: Deputy Cassells is very convincing. He made a superb presentation and answered questions. He talked about the commission taking new information in the new Ireland. If this proposal goes ahead, we must take into account that the economy and demographics are changing. Given that there would be more specific demands on them and they would have more executive powers, town councillors would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I have made my own submission to the process but I want to raise a few points. The Minister talked about making the business case for investment. We are talking about societies here, more so than business. I would be nervous if the Minister was only focusing on the business case. I wonder why we are having this discussion without the capital plan on the table beside us. If I am...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I stand today on behalf of the people of Bantry and the south west. They are in distress over the granting this week by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Damien English, of a seaweed licence to BioAtlantis to mechanically harvest 1,860 acres of kelp in Bantry Bay. Will the Leader ask the Minister of State to come to the House to debate...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: This topic is very difficult for many of us to discuss. In spite of how it is so often represented in public debate, it is not an issue of two sides, black or white, but rather a complicated and multifaceted one that involves both personal conviction and ethics as much as facts and details. This is unavoidable when it comes to something as significant and important as abortion. It is now...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Instead of receiving the support and assistance of their State in their time of need, they have faced criminalisation, demonisation and isolation. At the same time we put the eighth amendment into the Constitution we severely controlled access to contraception in Ireland. We are rightly contemptuous of that regime now and one would be hard pressed to find anyone to defend it. Similar...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: We must avoid the divisions and hostilities of that campaign. There is an obligation on all of us to keep the debate respectful, to understand the points of view of those who do not agree with us and to remember that the views of the Irish people are neither set in stone nor as polarised between two mythical poles as might seem from the debate to date. One of my favourite political quotes...

Seanad: Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017: Second Stage (23 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I commend Senator Swanick on bringing this legislation before the House. I have a significant interest in this area having been a lifeguard for five years, employed by Waterford County Council. I am aware of the work done around the country by the voluntary bodies, such as Irish Water Safety, and the first responders and Waterford City River Rescue, among many others. Considerable effort...

Seanad: Agricultural Issues: Statements (24 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I will keep it short. The organic farming scheme has been closed since 2015. As my colleague Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said, we need to create more opportunities for the decreasing number of farmers. We also need more diversity in schemes for farmers if we are to try to encourage them to stay in farming or bring more into the system. The organic farming scheme benefited...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Reports on EU Support for Young Farmers and the Rural Affairs Programme: European Court of Auditors (24 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Senator O'Sullivan indicated. Would she like to hear the other report first, or does she want to ask her question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Reports on EU Support for Young Farmers and the Rural Affairs Programme: European Court of Auditors (24 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Mr. Wojciechowski said there is a lot of bureaucracy. We know from farmers that they feel the burden of bureaucracy when they have to fill out reports. What steps is the Court of Auditors taking to try to minimise that? The witnesses talked about making the processes simpler. However, there is a general concern that the European Commission is overly bureaucratic in many ways. Given that,...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I wish to discuss the situation in our public health service, in particular the case of Mr. Michael Gallagher who recently passed away at University Hospital Waterford, UHW. Mr. Gallagher was admitted to the hospital at the start of December with breathing difficulties and a severely swollen abdomen. He had a history of heart trouble but it became clear that there was something more serious...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Good girl.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I will facilitate Senator Murnane O'Connor by giving her a minute and a half of my time.

Seanad: Emergency Department Waiting Times: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: The Minister swanned in here this morning to share with us something we may not have heard this winter, that is, that the number of patients on trolleys over the winter is down. In the month of December, the number on trolleys was down by 447. The Minister spoke about 170 additional beds being open this winter. He does not mention University Hospital Waterford. He says there will be beds...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I apologise to the Minister of State for not being present for his contribution. I was attending a meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government at which the Fianna Fáil Bill to refurbish vacant housing stock was being considered. It is a really welcome Bill. We are all aware of empty units above retail premises in our towns, cities and villages that could...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: It could be used for accommodation.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Not fast enough.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (31 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: What about the-----