Results 541-560 of 886 for speaker:Mark Wall

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I support Senator Ó Donnghaile's comments about East Belfast GAA. The fact that the Cathaoirleach is taking that on board is most welcome. The first item I wish to raise is one I have raised a number of times in this House, namely, the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017. This morning as I made my way to the House, I listened to my local radio station KFM where a local Independent...

Seanad: Naming of National Children's Hospital for Dr. Kathleen Lynn: Motion (24 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. I welcome to the Visitors Gallery members of the 1916 Relatives Association, who are guests of Senator Fitzpatrick.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Bill 2023: Second Stage (24 May 2023)

Mark Wall: The Labour Party supports this Bill, as we did in the Lower House. The purpose of the Bill is to give legislative effect to the child benefit summer bonus of €100 for each qualifying child. That is very welcome. Many families are struggling. The Minister said that in her speech and she is recognising that by giving those families an additional €100. I wish to ask one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (30 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I thank Ms Campbell and Ms Kinross for joining us today. Everything they have said has been very informative. A couple of my questions have already been asked, but I would like to tease them out a bit more. On the assessment of need, it has been brought to our attention that the assessment of need in other jurisdictions has a legislative base in exactly what it contains. Is it the case in...

Seanad: 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (30 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I too welcome the Tánaiste to the House to discuss this important matter. I also thank the Fianna Fáil Senators, in particular Senators Blaney and McGreehan, for using their Private Members' time to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which the Labour Party supports in full. It is, of course, only right that we mark this important milestone on this island. The...

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State. The Garda Reserve was launched by Senator McDowell, the then Minister, with a view to bolstering policing in the Republic. The intention, we were told at the time, was that unpaid reservists could aid full-time Garda members in carrying out their duties and, in some cases, free them up from the most basic of tasks, thus helping to boost front-line policing....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Homelessness Issues: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I thank the witnesses for attending and, as been said by other committee members, for the work they all do. It is important to many people when we look at the numbers that were announced recently. I have two specific questions. The last time Ms Hayes was before the committee we spoke about people from Dublin moving to my good county in Kildare and there was an issue regarding them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Homelessness Issues: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mark Wall: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Homelessness Issues: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mark Wall: Excellent. That is good news.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Homelessness Issues: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mark Wall: That is the reason I raised it. It is something new that has come to my attention. Identifying the legislation that is governing this is causing me a problem with local authorities. I will contact Threshold. I know local authorities have also been in contact with Threshold but it is just to come back on that. My final question may have been answered. I will put on record, as I did...

Seanad: Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Bill 2022: Report Stage (14 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: Amendments Nos. 3, 8, 9, 10, 28, 29, 40, 47, 54 and 55 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome all our guests. I want to start with the labour challenges that are facing them. Reference was made to this earlier. I want to concentrate on the area of apprentices and apprenticeships, acknowledging the ESB scheme. Maybe I could have a comment from all our guests, even Uisce Éireann, on any challenges for their own areas in respect of apprentices. We are hearing from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: I appreciate that. The second item I wanted to touch on is rural housing. It is something I am involved with in the Kildare area. I want to get our guests' comments on the challenges facing rural one-off or two-off houses, whatever we want to call it. What are the challenges in providing that infrastructure? It is a challenge that I meet every day with constituents who are looking to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: If it is last minute when they start looking at the costs, they can be prohibitive.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: Interesting comment. Thank you, Chair.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: As we speak this morning, retained firefighters from all over the country are making their way to Connolly Station to join us here in about one hour's time. It is the second time in two weeks that I have had to raise the issue of retained firefighters in the Chamber. Last Monday, they were told there would be a very positive statement by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and...

Seanad: Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister. The Labour Party welcomes the opportunity to speak on this very important Bill. It has considerable implications for relations in and along the food chain and among those operating in our agricultural sector. It seeks to transpose the EU directive on unfair trading practices in the agriculture and food supply chain. The directive intends to improve transparency and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Grant Payments (21 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important matter. We are here again to discuss the ongoing issues with housing aid and housing adaptation grants, and the report that is due into the review of same. Not a day goes by that I do not get calls or queries from the good people of Kildare and Laois in respect of these grants. The problems have not...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Grant Payments (21 Jun 2023)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I want to put on record my thanks to the Government for the increase in the grant. The Minister of State indicated that the grants have increased year on year since 2014, which is welcome for all `the people I deal with on a daily basis. However, again today we are not hearing what is happening. I have people who are living in their sitting...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services (4 Jul 2023)

Mark Wall: I, too, welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for joining us. I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter for discussion. Willow Community Counselling Services was founded by Sharon Malloy in 2018. It is managed by a dedicated board of directors. I wish to again put on record that I am one of those directors. I am seeking additional funding because I was told...