Results 21-37 of 37 for speaker:Aubrey McCarthy

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2025: Motion (27 Mar 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her on her new role. I welcome the opportunity to address the vital matter of the accommodation recognition payment, ARP. This initiative, launched in July 2022, has proven to be a powerful and effective mechanism for providing support to beneficiaries of temporary accommodation, particularly those fleeing the war in Ukraine, under the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Apr 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I, too, wish Jeremy well as he departs. I hope he and George enjoy every success in their new roles. It is good to see the Government preparing for the potential impact of the US Administration's tariffs and trade war. These tariffs could have significant consequences for Ireland's economy, particularly our exports. They will directly affect our food and drink sector and significantly...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I have permission to mention a name, although I will not mention the full name. A good friend of mine is facing his last few months of life. Jason's case highlights a critical gap in Ireland's palliative care system, in particular for non-cancer terminal illnesses. His family are struggling to secure clear, co-ordinated care due to a lack of urgent out-of-hours and crisis response...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (2 Apr 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister for being here. Homelessness is very close to my heart. I have been involved in the homelessness sector since 2006, so I have seen it grow into a humanitarian crisis that demands immediate attention. Many people have quoted the recent figures from the Department of housing that show that more than 15,378 individuals are in emergency accommodation, including 4,653...

Seanad: International Trade and International Relations: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to be here. I congratulate him and the Tánaiste on their new positions. He is stepping into this role at a time of serious economic and geopolitical challenges. The decisions made in the coming months will have a lasting impact on jobs, trade and Ireland's place on the global stage. I know we are facing an issue, the growing trade...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Apr 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I welcome the news today that the national planning framework, NPF, which I spoke about last week, has been approved by Cabinet today. Now we just need to get it approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas without any delay so we can focus on housing and the need for housing, as we have outlined several times. The Chamber also needs to address, on a separate note, the inequalities, which...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Apr 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I renew my call for a debate in this House, as my colleague, Senator Craughwell, has talked about, on the growing impact of the escalating trade tensions that are going to affect the Irish economy. We have seen overnight that more than 60 countries have been impacted by the trade tariffs that have been applied. My colleague mentioned the tariffs of 104% on China. These developments were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: Last weekend while the Seanad was in recess I attended a fantastic conference organised by FIDI in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It was a conference of business leaders from around the world in the moving and transport industry, in which I am involved. A key concern that kept coming up was the disruptive and unpredictable nature of the US tariffs, for which the phrase "the Trumpademic" was coined....

Seanad: Europe Day 2025: Statements (1 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I had agreed to share my time with Senator Clonan, who may join me. He is not here yet.

Seanad: Europe Day 2025: Statements (1 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for being here with us. As my colleague Senator O'Loughlin has said about Europe, we should celebrate all things Europe. That is what Europe Day is about. It offers us an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the EU. I will highlight initiatives that I am familiar with, such as the Erasmus programme. This enables students from all over Europe to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (7 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I rise this afternoon to highlight a critical issue that requires immediate attention, namely, the urgent need for the Government to make a clear and committed statement regarding the funding for An Saol Foundation. I specifically refer to the need for capital funding to advance the Teach An Saol project in Ballymun and to fully implement the 12...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (7 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State. We have done all the heavy lifting. We have been reviewed and have the recommendations from the 2023 report, and we also have the site. That is all done and dusted. I appreciate the Minister of State's response, but we need to move further. I am disappointed we are not at the stage of the funding being in place.If one visits the Teach an Saol project, one...

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I thank the Minister for being here today for our debate on higher education. People often mention Nelson Mandela's comment that education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. Ireland's progress is built on the foundation of education. In debating the tariffs situation recently, the Tánaiste stated that one of the main reasons US companies come to Ireland is our...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I second Senator Keogan's amendment to the Order of Business today regarding the Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025. I also rise to call for an urgent discussion, as my colleagues did earlier, on the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Two nights ago, I was asked to meet the families who have just arrived in Ireland from Gaza. Many of them...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I also extend my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Garda Kevin Flatley, who sadly lost his life on Sunday. His passing marks a heartbreaking milestone because he is the 90th member of An Garda Síochána to lose their life in the line of duty - to make the ultimate sacrifice - since the beginning of the force in 1922. This figure reminds us of the dangers...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I raise the matter of Lyme disease. This month is Lyme disease awareness month. For those who do not know, it is a bacterial infection that can be caused by tick bites. Interestingly, this week there was a protest outside the gates of Leinster House by people who have been affected by Lyme disease. I have had fascinating conversations. It is a disease on which I was not too informed. I...

Seanad: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Statements (15 May 2025)

Aubrey McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on a matter that affects society as a whole and certainly affects the area that I have volunteered and worked in, which is mental health supports in Ireland. A recent study by the European Commission showed that 44% of Irish citizens reported difficulties accessing mental health services. That was the highest rate...