Results 61-80 of 96 for speaker:Mark Duffy

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (18 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: Before I call the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, I welcome to the Gallery the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy Niall Collins, and his guests, who are from Lough Gur National School, County Limerick. As tradition goes, the pupils will have no homework for the week. I also welcome the guests from Gaelscoil Éadan Doire, who are guests...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (18 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: Before we move on to the next Commencement matter, I welcome the pupils from Kiltale National School, County Meath, who are guests of Deputy Aisling Dempsey. As tradition goes in the Seanad, there will be no homework for the rest of the week. I also welcome to the House Senator Pat Casey's guests: Pat Vance and Barry Ryan. Everyone else in the Gallery is also very welcome to the House today.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: I want to raise an issue with serious health and safety implications for towns and villages throughout Ireland. I will use an example in my home county of Mayo. This week the father of a child with a disability took action himself to repaint a disability bay in Westport which had depleted and faded.During my time as a councillor, we regularly called for councils and local authorities to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: I welcome all the LDA representatives. I commend them on their work thus far on delivering housing. I am from County Mayo and my question is quite specific. Have the representatives any proposals for the development of LDA projects in County Mayo?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: I thank Ms Lawson. Could she clarify the location of the site in Ballina?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Challenges Relating to the Delivery of Housing: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: That is great and promising. The reason I ask the question is that I know the LDA has done a great job in various areas. A nationwide approach is needed to help unlock the solution to the housing crisis. Often with centralised agencies – I understand the thought process – the focus is on cities. Obviously, there are financial impediments that make it more cost effective to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: Before I make my contribution, I acknowledge the James McNeive Foundation, in memory of James McNeive, who tragically died last year. His friends and family will, over the next five days, climb five peaks across Ireland and the UK. They began yesterday in Ben Nevis in Scotland and will complete their efforts and climbs on Saturday on Croagh Patrick in his native County Mayo. He was from...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Mark Duffy: I am a Senator from Mayo. I have been very active in the community of Ballina and the community there has been very active in trying to lead a greener and more sustainable future for our town. We worked with the UCD Centre for Irish Towns and were recognised by the New European Bauhaus awards for efforts regarding disadvantaged neighbourhoods that are sometimes neglected or at least feel...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Service (1 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. This matter is quite a niche one and affects very few individuals in the country who take up and are willing to put themselves forward and put their name on a ballot paper to represent their community, district and county. This matter relates to front-line workers who are full-time firefighters and put themselves in the way of danger at a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Service (1 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Obviously I am disappointed by it and I contest it. The key message in the reply is that section 161 "... allows the Minister to designate such class, description or grade of employments to which this restriction does not apply or to specify conditions under which the restriction does not apply". There is scope for flexibility there. It is a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fire Service (1 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: I so propose.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: I join colleagues in supporting third level students throughout the country who have been shocked over the past few days by the proposals to increase third level fees. I was a students’ union president, as was Senator Harmon. We worked together at the same time in students’ unions. It was a time of deep economic recession and support through SUSI grants and supports through a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: We do not need to make any political thing out of what is a difficult time and a concerning proposal for students and families who are to the pin of their collar in a cost-of-living crisis. The proposal needs to be stopped. We need to find a solution for it. We do not need to play politics on what is a really important issue and we need to deliver for students and third level as we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: I welcome to the distinguished guests in the Visitors Gallery. This morning, I raise an issue that has an effect on community groups across the country, which is the lack of pay parity between Tús and rural social scheme, RSS, workers and their equivalent community employment scheme supervisors.The Tús scheme and the RSS are an incredible lifeline and the lifeblood of rural...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: First, I welcome my friend from Castlebar and colleague in Fine Gael, Councillor Donna Sheridan, who is in the Gallery. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank him for his engagement and work done to date. It is great to see a Ministry for fisheries. As previous speakers have outlined, including an impassioned contribution by Senator Manus Boyle, there is an awful lot that...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: Could we extend the time to discuss the mussel farms and the quotas for hook and line?

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: The mackerel.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Issues Facing the Road Haulage Industry: Irish Road Haulage Association (2 Jul 2025)

Mark Duffy: I welcome Mr. Hyland, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Drennan, Mr. McArdle and Mr. Jackman. I am from County Mayo. I have a few questions. I acknowledge what has been raised regarding the challenges facing the association. I have spoken with hauliers over the past number of days in Mayo, who reflected to me the different challenges they face, which certainly align with what was raised here. Tolls in...