Results 361-380 of 1,608 for speaker:Micheál Carrigy

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Taoiseach. I am here as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Autism. First, I thank the Government for its support in the setting up of the committee and, indeed, for nominating me as Chairman of that committee. Like Deputy Bacik's, it is a time-limited committee limited to nine months. Currently, we are working on the work programme and plan to sit in public session...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I, too, welcome the representatives of St. Sinneach's National School. I welcome the principal, Ms Glynn, sixth class teacher, Ms Lavelle, and all the students to the House. I hope they enjoy their trip to Dublin. I concur with the Cathaoirleach's comments that there is a homework pass for this evening and perhaps for the rest of the week. It is a fantastic school in south Longford....

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: What this Bill and this discussion have done is highlighted the lack of consultants and highlighted the fact that we, as the Government, have made those promises, announced the positions and they have not been put in place. Collectively, the Government has to take responsibility for that and to make sure both that people are recruited to fill those positions and that the numbers are...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: The amendment has a lot of merit. I would not like a complainant to be left waiting indefinitely so a time limit would ensure that a decision is dealt with and the person informed.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Leader. It is a great honour for me coming from Ballinalee in County Longford to welcome the sixth class pupils from my own local national school, Scoil Samhthann, and their teacher, Ms McCormack, and the vice-principal, Mrs. Farrelly. I hope they enjoy their stay. The name "Samhthann" comes from an abbess at a Christian site in our community that...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I want to speak on amendments Nos. 173 and 174. To add in these lines will only strengthen the Bill. They are simple and short measures, but it is important that they would be added. I compliment the Irish Heart Foundation, which many of us met during the pre-legislative scrutiny phase., on the work it has done and for the interest it has taken in this Bill in the interests of children's...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I support the amendment tabled by Senators Cassells and Byrne. Senator Cassells hit the nail on the head. The Bill is about the protection of Irish citizens and, in particular, Irish children. That has to be our number one priority.

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: With regard to section 139D and the issue of age-appropriate online content, the Bill refers to content that is unsuitable for children, either generally or below a particular age, having regard to their capabilities, but it does not actually state an age. What is an appropriate age? There was a recommendation from the Oireachtas joint committee to have a minimum age for social media...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: On amendments Nos. 208 to 210, inclusive, the joint committee noted that no implementation date is set. It is important that we add a date. Whether it is feasible to set a date of 1 January 2023 or 12 months from now, I do not know. The latter might be more feasible because we do not know when the Bill will be enacted. We have a long way to go yet before that happens but we are getting...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Working Conditions and Skills Shortages in Ireland’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Discussion (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: The witnesses are all very welcome. I concur with the best wishes to both Mr. Clancy and Ms Kealy in their roles. I thank their predecessors who represented the organisations over difficult times. During the week, Adrian Cummins made the point in a tweet that 150,000 people on the live register, and we have an industry that is struggling to get people working. We met with the Restaurants...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Working Conditions and Skills Shortages in Ireland’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Discussion (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: There have been various proposals and we have spoken about people coming in from abroad to work in the industry. However, we do not have housing for them, and that will be a problem. Given there are 150,000 on the live register, what proposals, if any, do the witnesses have or what sort of scheme could be put together to incentivise people to come into the industry to work and to come off...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Working Conditions and Skills Shortages in Ireland’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Discussion (25 May 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I have said previously that tourism and hospitality are interlinked and they have to come under the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media. It must be linked in with tourism, with proper representation on the board of Fáilte Ireland.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I wish to raise a couple of issues. The first relates to childcare and is becoming a major issue in the community childcare facilities with which I work in Longford. I am sure the situation is replicated across the country. Some facilities are at a point where they are struggling to get staff in order to provide services and are turning away parents who are looking to get their children...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I wish to raise a couple of issues. The first involves a word of warning to businesses. Chambers of commerce are promoting companies seeking contracts with businesses in respect of health and safety coverage. However, when you read the small print, you see that there is no cooling-off period to allow people to pull out of those contracts. I just offer a word of warning people and advise...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I am sharing time with Senator Burke. I welcome the Tánaiste and I welcome the legislation. I pay tribute to him for driving forward significant changes for workers throughout the country, which is extremely welcome. It is also welcome that there will be a gradual introduction of statutory sick pay over a number of years, building up to an entitlement of ten days. However, I am...

Seanad: Cost of Living: Motion (15 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: The reality is that the Government will never be in a position to compensate people for the cost-of-living increases. In fact, Ireland and the rest of the world are facing a cost-of-living crisis. It is driven by inflation, which is largely caused by factors beyond our control. Sinn Féin is criticising and asking what Fine Gael has done. It is demanding social welfare increases. The...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: I concur with the comments made by Senators Buttimer and Ward in particular regarding the Garda and compliment the organisation. I agree with the comments of Senator Buttimer in respect of gardaí on the streets.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jun 2022)

Micheál Carrigy: This issue is especially significant in my county and county town, where issues have been reported in the media. We need to see gardaí on the streets and additional resources need to be put in place in order that people will feel more secure in our county town. We have a great town, a great county, great people and great businesses, and we are just looking for that little bit of...