Results 21-40 of 67 for speaker:Maria McCormack

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (29 Apr 2025)

Maria McCormack: I raise serious concerns about the current state of the National Ambulance Service, particularly its impact on rural communities like those in County Laois. Recently, I met local paramedics who were very honest about the chaos they face daily. Let us be clear, a decade ago regional ambulance control worked far better with quicker response times with local knowledge that saved lives....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (29 Apr 2025)

Maria McCormack: Yes, that is fine. I have permission from the family to mention names.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (29 Apr 2025)

Maria McCormack: It was 10.30 p.m. before Lauren's mother was finally admitted to Beaumont Hospital, which was more than eight hours after the first emergency call. Tragically, Lauren's mother passed away shortly afterwards. One year later, the family still awaits a full response to their complaint. It is just not acceptable. We know the National Ambulance Service is in crisis. We are all listening to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Ambulance Service (29 Apr 2025)

Maria McCormack: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I respect he is taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, but Laois and Offaly are not the one county or the one constituency and they are not the one region for the National Ambulance Service. We had regions ten years ago - I think there were 11 regions - and now we have one dispatch centre. Having...

Seanad: Revised National Planning Framework: Motion (29 Apr 2025)

Maria McCormack: Statutory planning frameworks are an important part of the planning system. If we get them right, they provide a clear framework for the social, economic, cultural and environmental development of the State and the entire island. However, if the plan is not right, it will be an impediment to development. While I welcome that we will have a debate and a vote on the revised draft planning...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2025)

Maria McCormack: I want to talk about special education places once again and existing commitments to schools regarding prefabs that have been in place for years and in respect of which there is still no movement. I am going to talk particularly about County Laois. I have mentioned St. Francis School before. It has been waiting on its modular build since 2021. Forty-five children are on a waiting list...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I am wearing a pair of shorts, not as a fashion statement but in solidarity with the camogie players of Ireland who are simply asking for a choice. I acknowledge the Laois camogie players who are in the Chamber. During their match with Kilkenny on Monday, they took a stand by wearing shorts in protest of the outdated skort rule, just like the Dublin and Kilkenny players the day before, who...

Seanad: National Biodiversity Week: Statements (14 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I will share time with Senator Collins, if that is okay.

Seanad: National Biodiversity Week: Statements (14 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: Yes.

Seanad: National Biodiversity Week: Statements (14 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: On behalf of the Sinn Féin group, I extend my condolences to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, on the loss of his sister. I am happy to talk about biodiversity. In Laois, and nationally, we have a real opportunity to tackle biodiversity and the climate crisis in a meaningful way. We must follow on from the work our colleague, Senator Noonan, did when he held the brief. In...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (21 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I am delighted the Minister is back in this House. I am deeply troubled by what I am witnessing in our community in Laois and surrounding counties. I am not alone in this concern. Over the past week, I have received numerous calls from frightened and frustrated residents who feel like prisoners in their own homes, living in fear of reckless behaviour and repeat offending. One constituent...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (21 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I thank the Minister and appreciate that he gives a thorough response every time he is here. I agree that we need to consider diversion and engage better with the youth diversion services but the issue of youth crime reached crisis point in Laois this week when there was no option and people felt that the youths got away free. There was no deterrent, leading to uproar in the community...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I speak today about one of the most shameful ongoing failures of this Government, namely the persistent and unlawful delays in completing assessments of need for children with disabilities. I have just come from outside Leinster House where I talked with the father of Cara Darmody. They are all exhausted. This is a 14-year-old girl who has to sleep outside Leinster House to fight for...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022: Motion (21 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022: Motion (21 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: The ARP scheme is actively distorting the rental sector and creating serious inequalities. Let us call it what it is: the ARP in its current form is deeply unfair. It was introduced in good faith to support people opening their homes to those fleeing war. Let me be clear. We commend every family and individual who did just that but the scheme has spiralled beyond its original purpose. ...

Seanad: Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (21 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I rise with pride to speak in support of the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, introduced by my colleague Chris Andrews. This is important legislation, simple in its construction, yet powerful in its intention. It seeks to do one vital thing, namely, to finally recognise socioeconomic disadvantage as a ground upon which discrimination can occur and outlaw it under equality law....

Seanad: Dereliction and Building Regeneration Bill 2025: Second Stage (28 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I am glad to speak to this Bill today. Having so many vacant or derelict homes rotting away in our towns, cities and villages while families are living out of tiny hotel rooms in homelessness is absolutely shameful. Definitely having boarded up homes at a time like this is like hoarding food in a famine. For far too long the Government has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: It is great to get a grand overview of the issues from our guests. I thank them for coming in. It has been very informative and helpful. My question is about how macro-level data is used. It always just seems to focus on the big cities. It must be used to ensure rural towns and villages are not left behind in the wider plans to address the housing crisis. Laois is one of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: There is a need to note the difference in rural counties. There is an affordability gap. In counties like Laois, the average wage has not kept pace with housing prices. According to the latest CSO report, Laois is the second-poorest county next to Longford regarding disposable income. There is a real imbalance there. Is that taken into account? The national strategy does not seem to fit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (27 May 2025)

Maria McCormack: I am conscious that we are taking a lot of the spillover as a commuter town to Dublin. A balance is needed with regard to house prices. The average three-bed house is €365,000 in County Laois, which is a small rural county. They are not affordable. It is pushing more and more homelessness. Rents are soaring as well. Demand most definitely exceeds supply. Do the Central Bank...