Results 3,801-3,820 of 4,178 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, line 31, to delete “3 years” and substitute “2 years”. Unfortunately, I was in Strasbourg when the Second Stage of this Bill was being discussed. However, my colleague, Senator Warfield, did express a degree of frustration that many of us in Limerick feel with regard to the lack of ambition regarding the content of the Bill....

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: Let us work through the timeline as the Minister of State proposes it. As he proposes it, a review will commence three years into the new mayorship. I am going to take a wild guess, but face it, no reviews I am familiar with take less than six months and probably take a year. Under the most optimistic of circumstances, that would leave one year in the lifetime of a Government to implement...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I do not want to prolong this unnecessarily. I accept the Minister of State's point in terms of three years and three months. However, he and I both know that if a report comes back three years and three months into a term, the likelihood of the recommended changes being made into actual legislative changes by the time the five years is up is slim, to say the least. That is my concern....

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: We will agree to disagree.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 5: In page 12, line 33, to delete “3 years” and substitute “2 years”.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I move amendment No. 8: In page 13, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: “(b) Furthermore, the Mayor shall not engage in any other type of paid employment during their term of office.”. I gather that I will need to speak to amendment No. 8, and I think the Acting Chair mentioned that amendment No. 11 is also included, is that right?

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Acting Chair. The Minister of State is welcome back. With regard to amendment No. 8, if we want this position to be a truly transforming one for local democracy, the position of mayor must be the sole focus of anyone elected. To allow for other employment during the term of office would be a definite signal to the electorate that this is not a role that has value. If it is to...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State could save time.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: On a point of order, and I mean this respectfully, the Minister of State is speaking so fast that I cannot understand what he is saying. I know he wants to get the Bill through, but I ask him to speak at a pace that we can understand. I want to listen and respond.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I think we are almost out of time but I will say, and I mean this respectfully, I am so disappointed. The interpretation of the plebiscite the Minister of State has included in this Bill is so conservative. If we were to ask the people of Limerick if they would like their mayor to tackle the issue of waste management, they would tell us that of course they would. The idea that it would...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: Not just yet. What time are we due to conclude the debate?

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: That is good because I have an extra five minutes. I wish to make a point in all seriousness about the inclusion of these amendments. I acknowledge the fact that the Minister of State has answered on the policing issue by saying the community safety partnership has not yet been set up and has expressed the wish that the mayor will be chair. That is now on the record of the House, which I...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I report progress.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I begin by acknowledging that tomorrow is Lithuania's national day. I welcome the presence of the ambassador in the House. I want to raise the issue of the economic and social intervention fund, ESIF, for Limerick. This is a really vital fund that has been providing essential funding to community groups across Limerick city, and to some of the most disadvantaged groups not just in Limerick...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: Well said.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is very welcome. I would like to speak briefly on this amendment. As the Minister of State is aware, I raised this matter last week. In fairness, he acknowledged the fact that while some of the regeneration has been very good, some of it has not been. He also acknowledged that we need to give the opportunity for a directly elected mayor to be able to tackle this. I...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I want to come back in because this is a good amendment. I have to agree entirely with Senator Boyhan that talking about the spirit of the amendment really means nothing at the end of the day unless the amendment is accepted. Talking about the role that the new mayor will have in terms of chairing is all well and good but, as has been pointed out, we are here to discuss the legislation...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Motion (21 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: Well said.

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Motion (21 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: Well said.

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Motion (21 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: It is good to have the Leas-Chathaoirleach in the Chair. It is an issue that has been close to his heart in the past. I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate the Civil Engagement Group for its passion and for this comprehensive motion, which is a roadmap for what can, should and must be done. I commend all speakers so far this evening. It is great we can send a unified message on...