Results 61-80 of 1,451 for speaker:Micheál Carrigy

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Carrigy: I wish to discuss the disabled drivers and passengers scheme, which has effectively been put on hold for new applications because primary medical certificates are no longer being issued following a decision of the Supreme Court in July. The scheme is for people who have to get their cars adapted and entitles them to have their vehicle registration tax returned, not to have to pay road tax,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Carrigy: I raise an issue that has been raised by a number of other Senators, namely, the issue of fathers being at natal appointments and the birth of their children. In early December, it was announced that women attending their 20-week scan will now be able to be accompanied by their birth partners within Covid-19 restrictions. That is a good start but more is needed. Birth partners being...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister to the House. I support what Senator Craughwell is proposing but I do not think a debate on the Social Welfare Bill is the right time for his proposal. Everyone said the last day that this was a fantastic Bill for the people, particularly during Covid. The Senator's proposal has sparked a real debate on the pay and conditions of councillors. A large number of us are...

Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht: Challenges facing Public Broadcasting and the broader Media Sector as a result of Covid-19: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Carrigy: I apologise for being late. I was at another committee. I believe the licence fee should go into a central fund, as mentioned by Deputy Cannon, from where it could then be divvied out to all media organisations to ensure they can all survive. I would like to hear the witnesses' views on that. A project to establish a community television service is being funded by my local authority in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Micheál Carrigy: I echo the comments of Senator Ahearn and wish everyone a very healthy and happy Christmas. I thank everyone for their work. Staff from across the House have been good to me and to all elected representatives and I thank them for the courtesy they have shown to us since we were elected. I wish them well and hope they have a happy Christmas. I wish to raise a number of issues this morning,...

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Dec 2020)

Micheál Carrigy: I commend Senators Hoey and Ruane. I listened to the debate today and last night and the way they spoke on the issues makes me honoured to serve with both of the Senators. I just wanted to say well done. My wife, my family and I have also suffered harassment from a person, and we had to go the full way to court on it because of the effect it was having on our young kids and family. I am...

Seanad: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2020)

Micheál Carrigy: Like my colleagues, I too have a query on why the entire section dealing with harassment has been removed from the Bill. The Title of the Bill includes the word "harassment". I speak as one whose family suffered harassment and had to go the Garda. Luckily, the Director of Public Prosecutions took a case and it was successful. The person in question is not harassing my family anymore....

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (26 Jan 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank all healthcare staff for their work on the front line on behalf of all our citizens. These staff work long hours in difficult circumstances and have made huge sacrifices in their private lives to ensure they are in a position to continue to look after those in need. I welcome that by Sunday last, 143,000 people had received the vaccine, all of our...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I congratulate the local gardaí in Longford who recently broke up an illegal gathering held by a national party at a famed War of Independence site. The 100th anniversary of events there actually takes place tomorrow. A full review of the Clár programme by NUI Maynooth was initiated by the Department. It will examine the patterns across the country on the basis of the 2016 census....

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and thank her for her work in the role so far. I know that she is passionate about it and making significant improvements. I have to express my annoyance, which is probably an understatement, at the situation over the last four weeks. Unfortunately, the voice of the unions was louder than the voice of those in our community who are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (15 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Acting Chairperson, Senator Warfield, and congratulate him on taking the Chair. I thank Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for taking on my Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. This matter is about the provision of funding under the rural regeneration and development fund for the Drumlish go green centre application in Longford. First, I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (15 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: The Minister of State is well aware of this issue. As he said, his colleague, Councillor Brady, started work on it a number of years ago. He has been driving a large number of projects in the area. As I said, I am aware that the process of assessing this project is ongoing. I point out, however, that it aligns with national, regional and local policy and fully delivers on the policy...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I want to raise a number of issues. There has been recent notification from AIB and Bank of Ireland that they plan to charge negative interest on client accounts. This is money which people have saved and on which they have already paid tax. This includes client accounts in solicitors' practices. If my solicitor draws down a loan from the bank because I have purchased a property I...

Seanad: Remote Working Strategy: Motion (15 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English. I fully support this motion and thank Senator Currie for the work she has done on this important issue. It is important to acknowledge that the national broadband plan was signed off on by Fine Gael despite opposition from all sides at the time. It is impossible to envisage any vibrant future for Ireland without broadband at its heart. Our...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (19 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: First of all, I commend the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach on the statement he made to the House a number of weeks ago. I commended him on it personally but I want to put it on the record. The Minister is very welcome. The report highlights an abject failure of care by the State. It is important to thank the hundreds of brave women for telling their stories, which are so important to them,...

Seanad: Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I support Senator Hoey's motion to recognise the contribution of student nurses and midwives, who have been at the coalface over the last 12 months. It is important to note it is a key priority of Government to protect and support the continued education of all students, including student nurses and midwives. A key part of that education, in order to meet the standards and requirements of...

Seanad: Ábhair Ghnó an tSeanaid – Matters on the Business of the Seanad (22 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I want to raise several issues. The first concerns the duration of planning permissions. I am looking for an extension to existing planning permissions for the length of time for which the construction industry has been closed. I know a number of one-off sites and developments that are coming close to their existing five-year permission, or ten-year permission where there was an extension....

Seanad: Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the significant funding recently announced for transport and roads projects in County Longford. I also welcome the progress on the N4 project from Mullingar to Rooskey through Longford, which was taken off the capital plan in 2010 after a preferred route had been identified. It is a critical piece of infrastructure for not just Longford and the midlands but the entire north west....

Seanad: Covid-19 (Aviation): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. We have seen the severe impact that Covid has had on our hospitality sector, on which more than 200,000 jobs are dependent. More than 75% of the spend comes from the 11 million tourists who visit our country. I support the comments that we need to introduce antigen testing at our airports to start reopening our tourism sector for the coming...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environment Fund (1 Mar 2021)

Micheál Carrigy: It is important to acknowledge the huge impact the closure of the power stations in Lanesboro and Shannonbridge, and the end of peat production, has had on communities and families which have worked in them for more than 50 years. The jobs at Mountdillon and Lough Ree power plant provided the communities of Keenagh, Killashee, Newtowncashel, Lanesboro and beyond will be difficult to replace....