Results 41-60 of 85 for speaker:Gareth Scahill

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Following on from a Commencement matter my colleague, Senator Boyle, had this morning on school safety measures, I noted the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, said in her response that there are currently no plans to reopen the safe routes to school scheme for new applicants. She also referred to the active travel measures that could be utilised by schools for safety measures. The safe...

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

Gareth Scahill: It is fitting to welcome Councillor Leah Cull to the Chamber this afternoon. She is from the biodiverse-rich area of Arigna in north Roscommon so it is topical she is here. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak during biodiversity week. It is a time to reflect on the beauty, resilience and importance of our natural world and to celebrate the local efforts to make a real...

Seanad: Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I, too, compliment the Senators for tabling this Bill. Having gone through it, I fully support the Bill in principle. I grew up in a time that, when somebody was sick, one brought a bottle of Lucozade to help the person's sugar levels recover and so on. As we evolved and developed, sports drinks came on the scene. They were great, as they contained carbohydrates and electrolytes, aided...

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

Gareth Scahill: I rise today in response to a UN report yesterday that highlighted the fact that Irish teens are among the least happy in the developed world. Irish teenagers are among the least happy in high-income countries, despite leading the world in academic skills. This report also highlights that Ireland's youth suicide rate was found to be above the international average. Two debates have...

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

Gareth Scahill: I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge that today is “Hello, how are you?” day. Mental health is a very topical issue. I do not have as much time as I would like to discuss it. Last summer, I had the pleasure of meeting the Minister of State in Castlerea, County Roscommon for the launch of the Discovery College at the CAMHS Connect unit in Castlerea, which promotes...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I move that we suspend for the duration of the vote.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: It is fitting the Minister of State is here because her constituency is located between Senator Boyle's and mine, between Donegal and Roscommon, so we know she will not let us down. A couple of weeks ago I tabled a Commencement matter on the number of dentists accepting medical cards and the Minister's response was that we needed to look at having more public dentists on the scheme. When...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: While I welcome the fact there will be 20 additional dentist places available, I do not believe that will meet the demand that I raised a few weeks back. Dental hygienists say that Ireland is experiencing a workforce crisis in dentistry, both in the public and private sectors. Although a call from many dentists has been heard loud and clear in the media, it is not being heard elsewhere....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I raise an issue in Roscommon with regard to the Gortaganny-Caher area, which experienced wild gorse and bog fires over the weekend. There was extensive damage. I compliment the local fire service on its response and the fire services from neighbouring counties, as well as the air support from helicopters providing water, on getting the fire under control after 36 hours. A number of...

Seanad: Driving Test Waiting Times: Statements (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: The Minister of State is welcome. Senator Duffy mentioned the waiting list, which has 83,486 people on it. I will not say anything about the RSA, but its website still refers to an average waiting time of ten to 12 weeks even though we have been experiencing this issue since the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope the solution that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is coming up with includes...

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

Gareth Scahill: I wish to again raise the school transport scheme. I have made a number of representations to Bus Éireann regarding the efficiency of some of the routes. We are getting to that busier time of the year when the demand for it is going to build up. Unfortunately, the responses from Bus Éireann are weak if not delayed indefinitely. They are not receptive enough to the voices of...

Committee on Education and Youth: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Like my colleagues, I congratulate the Chair on his appointment and wish him the best of luck.

Committee on Education and Youth: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I look forward to working with everybody on this committee. We can achieve a lot. I am not going to go over what my colleagues mentioned already, but since I entered the Seanad, I have had the opportunity to visit several secondary schools and some primary schools. Most of them were already on the schools building programme. In the time it took to implement that programme, however, their...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (27 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I wholeheartedly support the extension of the Act. It allows for the responsible consumption of alcohol in designated outdoor seating areas. I welcome that it allows businesses to operate with clarity and certainty. It is pro-business. It is important we protect businesses and give them that clarity. It is also essential that An Garda Síochána has clarity with regard to its...

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: The Minister is welcome to the Chamber for his first visit this term. This is a topic that is central to Ireland's prosperity and future and our nation's competitiveness. When we talk about competitiveness, we are discussing our ability to thrive in a global marketplace, attract investment, foster innovation and create a high quality of life for our citizens. The good news is that Ireland...

Seanad: Insurance Reform: Motion (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I second the motion.

Seanad: Insurance Reform: Motion (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I support what my colleague Linda Nelson Murray has said. I also acknowledge the 16.7% increase in the personal injury claims guidelines is excessive. Today I want to spotlight a particular area, however, where the insurance system currently presents an unforeseen hurdle which directly impacts a vital national priority: encouraging our talented diaspora to return home. Ireland is a...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I thank the Minister for her detailed statement. I welcome Sheila O'Byrne and Catherine Coffey O'Brien to the Chamber today. I thank them for engaging with me beforehand and for their candour as they told their story. I look forward to seeing how we can meet their demands and requirements later on. I rise to express my support for the Supports for the Survivors of Residential...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: As my colleagues have done, I wish the Cathaoirleach the very best of luck. I also welcome our guests from Research Ireland. I am looking forward to working with all committee members on a cross-party basis. We all have a single goal in mind. We all want to see how best Ireland can utilise this technology. We must ensure Ireland does not just keep pace but leads in the global roll-out...