Results 541-560 of 1,888 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the ambassadors and thank them for their opening statements and for answering all the questions put to them. People in Poland are hosting people in their houses. Poland has no refugee camps, which is absolutely incredible. The Polish people should very proud of their government and all the volunteers on the ground doing this great work. How is the transfer of people from...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Prices (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I thank him for coming in to answer this matter. I raise this matter because it has been brought to my attention by an Independent county councillor in Cork, Mr. Declan Hurley. Much attention has been paid in recent weeks to the rising cost of living in Ireland. We are not unique in that respect in the western hemisphere. From cuts in excise...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Prices (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate his reply but it is not enough, judging by the way things are going with inflation at the moment. While I know the green agenda means getting rid of coal eventually, the price of a bag of coal has gone up by 50% since last September and it will go up again in May with the increase in the carbon tax. The price of 1,000 l of oil is almost...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I commend each person in Ireland who is helping those fleeing the war in Ukraine. We will never know the true extent of the efforts of volunteers around the country but they are at work everywhere and I thank all of them. We are sorely aware, however, that injustice and suffering continue the world over. In Afghanistan last week, the Taliban reneged on a promise to allow girls to attend...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The issues of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, free from Government suppression, are timeless pillars of a free and functioning society. Yet, this is timely. As our media flirts once again with restrictions, the debate about proportionality of the extreme and unprecedented measures taken to combat Covid-19 must remain free and open. I ask the Acting Leader if we can count on him...

Seanad: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (Number 2) Regulations 2022: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is very welcome. The question regarding these regulations is a simple "Why?". What need is there for the expansion of testing and vaccination centres? Is it primarily for testing or for vaccinations? I find it hard to believe we need to ramp up the vaccination roll-out given we have administered just shy of 11 million vaccine doses - unless we are planning for a...

Seanad: Support to Ukraine: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Fine Gael Senators for moving this motion. It gives us a valuable opportunity to recognise and applaud the work being done and to identify where more work needs to be done and where the gaps in our system lie. The sheer volume of aid raised through donations of money and supplies and the time and effort spent volunteering to help refugees, along with the hospitality and...

Seanad: Support to Ukraine: Motion (30 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: One night.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Our 2022 census is due to take place this Sunday, 3 April. The census is a powerful tool in the making of public policy, giving an in-depth nation-wide snapshot of who is living in Ireland and how they are living. From housing to childcare, taxes to health services, up-to-date and accurate census information clearly displays the state of the nation, informing Government policy and...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (5 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister is most welcome to the Chamber. As we come into the summer months, the high season for tourism, a €9.5 billion industry, it is essential we examine the unique challenges facing the sector and that Government and stakeholders co-operate in addressing them. As we continue to take in refugees who are fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, the need for long-term housing solutions...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle on the presentation we received from President Zelenskyy. We stand with Ukraine. The HSE is once again in the public eye as a result of plans to return greater decision-making abilities to regionally based authorities rather than top-level managers. The plan of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, is to set up six regional health...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. I call Senator Cummins.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: When is it proposed to sit again?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: European Union Response to the War in Ukraine: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I may be one of the dissenting voices on the expulsion of the Russian diplomats yesterday. It was the wrong movement from our Government because keeping the door open with Russia is important. Does the Minister of State expect to see any retaliation from the Russians on that? I see the Minister of State wished Turkey well in the peace talks. The Minister of State is a leader in Ireland,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I too call for a day to be set aside to discuss Ireland’s response to the Ukrainians coming here. The Ministers for education, social protection, health, housing, local government and heritage, children, equality, disability, integration and youth, transport and justice should be required to update us on the measures implemented within their Departments.What safeguards are being put...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(2) The indoor area of a building within the safe access zone, other than a building described in subsection (1)#(a) or (b), is not considered to be part of the safe access zone for the purposes of this Act.”.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: This amendment seeks to avoid a scenario whereby discussing abortions in a coffee shop which happens to be in a safe access zone becomes a criminal act. As it stands, if two people were in a café within 100 m of a service provider and person A said to person B that he or she has been thinking about birth control bills and person B gives him or her any advice on such, either for or...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Hear, hear.