Results 381-400 of 4,178 for speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: Yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (1 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: There is a teenager here.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Redundancy Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne. I have to raise one small issue, which is that the Minister of State was in front of me four weeks ago in regard to Tipperary hostel workers and she promised me sincerely she would get answers for me. I regret to say I have heard nothing back from her since, despite having e-mailed her. It is not about me; it is about those workers in the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Redundancy Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I raise this question because of a series of experiences that have been relayed to me by workers active in the construction sector. These people have been puzzled, to say the least, by two related phenomena in the sector. The first is that a number of employers declare they cannot fund redundancy payments, leaving the workers to pursue their statutory entitlements via the Social Insurance...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Redundancy Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I appreciate that. I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Redundancy Payments (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I also thank her for her response on the Tipperary hostel workers issue. I look forward to receiving the interim report today. The answer the Minister of State has given is comprehensive. It has been said clearly that companies in financial difficulty can continue to tender for public contracts. I have clear examples of companies that state...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I will do my best.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: Fair play. So is the Leader. I begin by wishing my comrades in the North well today. As the only 32-county party in the Chamber, we are very proud of our comrades in the North and we hope we get a good mandate today for our calls for equality, inclusiveness and a real start to a new government in the North. I hope we can take an important step on that road today. As the Leader knows, we...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I accept that, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: There is a rally for the workers on Saturday. I would ask that all public representatives who are concerned for worker's rights to come along to that rally in Westport at 1 p.m. to support these workers and work towards a solution so that they can get back to work. Jobs are precious in the west of Ireland. Real engagement is needed. We have not had that engagement from public...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: We had a strange day in Limerick yesterday when 25 beds in St. John's Hospital were summarily closed owing to budget constraints. This will cause massive concern for patients. St. John's Hospital is a step-down facility for patients from Limerick University Hospital and the bed closures show the chaos in the health system. It was strange that, at the same time, the Minister for Finance...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I apologise.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (7 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: Absolutely. First, the Minister for Finance should not have been there to announce the takeover of a private hospital. It was not appropriate. Second, it was inappropriate to do so two days after the horrific confirmation that the remains of 800 babies had been found in Tuam. Let us be clear: Bon Secours Systems Limited is wholly-owned by the Bon Secours order of nuns. Let us also be...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: Apartheid is recognised by the International Criminal Court as a crime against humanity. It is defined as an "inhuman act committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them". I raise the issue of Israel because this is Israeli Apartheid Week. Events are being held...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: This is International Women's Day. Shame on the Leader.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: I formally second the Sinn Féin amendment to the motion. We have put this amendment forward because in the 300 words of the Fine Gael motion there is no mention of the words "employee" or "worker" yet we know there is a massive issue in this industry. University of Limerick reports on low-hours and zero-hour contracts highlighted the accommodation and hospitality industry....

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: What kind of contracts?

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Paul Gavan: Well said.