Results 61-80 of 786 for speaker:Catherine Ardagh

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: If I am not mistaken, we are exactly 40 days from Christmas Day. In recent days Sr. Stan Kennedy has been quoted as saying it breaks her heart that up to 2,500 children may be homeless on Christmas Day. This is a real indication of how bad the homeless crisis is. At a time when they should be happy in their homes and celebrating Christmas, up to 2,500 children will be homeless. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: Today I wish to raise the issue of domestic violence. I welcome Ms Maria McDonald, a founder member of the Victims' Rights Alliance to the Visitors Gallery. I have read disturbing comments made by the Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Dr. Rhona Mahony, about attacks on mums-to-be in their own homes being pretty common. She further stated that these pregnant women are more likely...

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank Senator Nash for bringing this Bill forward to the Seanad today. As outlined by my colleague, Senator Davitt, Fianna Fáil supports this Bill. The banning of zero-hour contracts was contained in our election manifesto and it was also part of Fianna Fail's confidence and supply agreement with the Fine Gael Government. Ultimately Fianna Fáil supports the banning of any...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I wish to raise the issue of climate change. I understand that a fantastic event was held yesterday in Buswell's Hotel to highlight the issue in a novel and practical way. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend due to unforeseen circumstances but I was very impressed by all the feedback I received. Fianna Fáil takes climate change very seriously and we have a strong record of...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I raise the issue of the misuse of prescription medication in Ireland and its detrimental impact on road traffic accidents and lives generally. Of 109 coroners' reports that were examined in 2013, the coroner found that 31% of those who died in car crashes had consumed alcohol while 30% had taken prescription medication, with 12% of the 30% specifically relating to the consumption of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I cautiously welcome the Central Bank's changes to the mortgage lending rules whereby first time buyers will be permitted to take out a mortgage on the basis of having just 10% of the purchase price. This goes some way to addressing the situation where potential first time buyers were paying huge rents but were unable to get a mortgage. I am happy with the changes. Although it will...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Nicola Sturgeon (29 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I had intended to share time with Senator Clifford-Lee, so I will speak for no longer than three minutes. I am very pleased to welcome Ms Sturgeon to the Seanad on behalf of Fianna Fáil. Her election as leader of the Scottish National Party and assuming the office of First Minister in November 2014 marks the first occasion a woman was elected to either of those posts. It was obviously...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I would like to call on the Seanad to schedule a debate on the Government's funding, or lack thereof, of the cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi. It was with deep regret that I learned that the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics said the drug does not represent value for money and should not be funded by the Government at its current cost. Professor Michael Barry of the National Centre for...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Minister for addressing the House and am happy to be able to contribute on the provisions and changes contained in the Social Welfare Bill. This year's budget goes some way towards introducing elements of fairness to the social welfare system that have not been seen in this country after five years of harsh, punitive and regressive budgets under the previous Fine Gael-Labour...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I wish to raise two issues. The first is the fear felt by residents of Inis Mór in County Galway over the loss of a ferry link to the mainland. Island Ferries, which runs the service from the south Connemara town of Rossaveal, has said it will cease sailings until 17 March 2017. The row between Island Ferries and Galway County Council arises from a by-law passed by the council in 2011...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: The public library service makes an enormous contribution nationally. Public libraries have been the focal point for many communities in Ireland for more than 100 years and have been used as a safe haven for schoolgoers, college students, the elderly, the homeless and active retired people. The friendly and professional staff in our libraries have formed part of the social fabric of many...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I commend Senator Higgins on bringing this amendment to the House. I greatly admire her erudite and deep knowledge of this topic. The pension gender equality movement is very lucky to have her as an advocate and I would like to see myself as part of that movement. There needs to be a full review of the contributory pension entitlements for women. There is a real and present inequality....

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I wish to make a brief observation. I agree with my colleague's sentiment that we should be narrowing the criteria for the State to be able to have access to employers' and employees' information, payslips and so forth. What plans would the Department have for such information? We should not go down the slippery slope of using it for the purpose of statistics for means testing child...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I move amendment No. 6:In page 14, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:“26. (1) The Minister shall review the operation of the Homemaker Scheme and the eligibility criteria for the State Contributory Pension and shall bring forward a report to the Joint Committee on Social Protection on same within 3 months of this Act being enacted. (2) The Minister shall review the...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I formally request that the Minister considers bringing both these issues to the joint committee for a serious debate, together with a report by his Department. I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I want to raise the issue of sentencing policy and the increased use of firearms in this city. On Tuesday at 4.30 p.m., in broad daylight, armed raiders entered a McDonalds in Crumlin village and terrorised both staff and customers. This is a quiet residential area where firearms would never be seen. In 2009 minimum mandatory sentences were brought in to deal with firearms and they had a...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I refer to the lack of protection for private defined benefit pension schemes, particularly the Irish News and Media, INM, pension scheme dispute. Last week the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, sought legal advice from the Attorney General in an effort to intervene in the dispute. It was a very admirable move by the Minister who said: "I have asked the Attorney General...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: I want to address the Bill generally and I will be very brief. I thank the Minister for coming to the House to address the House.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Dec 2016)

Catherine Ardagh: With all due respect, other colleagues were allowed an opportunity to talk so-----