Results 661-680 of 1,079 for speaker:Emer Currie

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2024)

Emer Currie: I welcome the news yesterday about the introduction of tougher sentencing for knife crime. I have raised this issue frequently, both in the Seanad and directly with the Minister for Justice. What is helpful is the differentiation between possession and intent and the added length to sentences relating to the importation and sale of knives. I hope we can continue to build on that because we...

Seanad: School Enrolments: Motion (17 Apr 2024)

Emer Currie: I agree with much of the motion from the Fianna Fáil Senators. It chimes with a lot of the issues I have been raising directly with the Minister in here. I wrote an opinion piece about it in The Irish Times yesterday. It is a huge issue in Dublin West. It is about capacity but also about having a better system for admissions and enrolment. There are parents in Dublin 15 who will...

Seanad: Smartphone and Social Media Use: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister for taking the time today to be with us in the Seanad. I also thank my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, for this excellent motion and her dedication to the protection of children. I will focus on three points. The first is the ubiquity of smartphones. Smartphones have reached into everyone's life, home and pocket. How do we control something as prevalent as...

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (1 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister for bringing forward this legislation. It is a very important day for women and for women's healthcare to know that people who are going through such a traumatic experience and a difficult decision are now free from intimidation to make those decisions for themselves. It is a momentous day. I also thank the Minister's officials and the Houses of the Oireachtas for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members for their contributions. If the Polish ambassador was still here I would congratulate him on his country's constitution day. I, too, want to express my sympathies to the D'Arcy family and the Fine Gael party on the death of Mr. Michael D'Arcy Snr., who made a significant contribution to Irish politics as a Minster, Deputy and Senator. Senator...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: Senator Craughwell expressed concern over the transparency of funding that goes towards overseas aid and development, but he also mentioned NGOs. There is an audit process for any public funds to ensure they are being used correctly. We can, of course, send on the Senator's concern but I also suggest he contact the public accounts committee on this issue. Senator Sherlock made a really...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the witnesses. It is great they are here again. I thank them for their report on the subvention. I have a couple of questions and I hope the witnesses can answer them. Since the last time the witnesses came before the committee what work has been done to come up with this report? Did it purely examine the financials of the subvention in more detail?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: For some people this could make it harder to buy into the concept of a united Ireland because the cost has increased. When the witnesses speak about another 5% of Irish national income to fund a united Ireland, will they give me a comparison? They work in economics and they are used to this. If we are going to sell this to people on this island how would we describe what it looks like?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: It would help. We seem to be continually having a debate on whether planning and preparation has started. This work is part of it. It would be useful to be able to position the cost in a relatable way for people, for example in comparison to the effect that austerity had or the cost-of-living crisis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: That is the impact it could have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: This is why the witnesses have been very clear about having to address productivity which, unfortunately, has decreased over the years. There is a focus on the spectrum of generosity from the UK in the paper but it takes quite a pessimistic view based on the current vista. What type of spectrum could we be looking at where it could improve?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: Let us remember we are framing this discussion in relation to costs and value. Where to from here? Is this it? Is it over to us to do what we want with it? Are there other areas the witnesses think need to be examined from an economic point of view?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (2 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I have another question, and it is a personal question for Mr. Fitzgerald. How did he feel about some of the feedback when this report was launched? What impact did this have on having an open debate? If we are voting for united Ireland we need a majority of people of all perspectives and backgrounds to support it. How did Mr. Fitzgerald feel about some of the reaction to the report?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (9 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for being here. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, has been vocal about the cost of gridlock and the priority that needs to be given to public transport, walking and cycling to help us meet our climate targets. We are investing an eye-watering amount of money - I believe it is €100 billion - in capital transport projects in the coming decades and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Bus Services (9 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for the update. As the Minister of State will be aware from my opening remarks, I am concerned about the drift in timings and delivery. While we can say that part of this, in terms of the overall delivery of BusConnects for Dublin 15, relates to the bus corridors and planning, there are routes that could be prioritised in the meantime. The year 2026 is a...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 May 2024)

Emer Currie: The Minister of State is very welcome. It is a testament to the legislation that so many Senators want to contribute on Second Stage.This is flagship legislation from this Government. We have reached the point where we are getting into the nitty-gritty; we are in the final stretch. It is now about tying it all together. The construct is in place and the support is there. I hope we are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I raise the work of physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical services as opposed to paramedic-led emergency care. A lot of our focus is on having access to air or road ambulances which primarily aim to get patients to hospitals and emergency departments in a timely manner. However, in other countries, they bring the hospital to the scene of the emergency, whether that is at the...

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I invite the Minister, Deputy McGrath, to take the floor.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: Before we move to the Fianna Fáil spokesperson, Senator Ollie Crowe, I welcome our visitors from Archbishop McHale College, Tuam. You are very welcome to the Seanad.

Seanad: Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill 2024: Second Stage (21 May 2024)

Emer Currie: I welcome the Minister to the House today.I am delighted to speak about the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Bill. Despite the attendance here today, this is a really significant moment for us as a country. It shows that we have been able to bring economic stability and are now in a position, because of the national reserve fund and economic prudence, to take...