Results 961-980 of 1,132 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

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

Garret Ahearn: Before I ask Senator Stephenson to speak, I welcome pupils from Pobalscoil na Tríonóide. They are welcome to Leinster House. I hope they have an enjoyable day and I wish them well.

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

Garret Ahearn: And they should have no homework as well. Senator Andrews requested that and it has been approved by everyone in the House, I suspect, so they will not have any homework tonight, or if they do not have any anyway, it applies tomorrow night.

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

Garret Ahearn: Before I ask the Minister of State to respond, I welcome St. Canice's Girls National School from Finglas today. You are very welcome to the Chamber. You are here for a timely debate. We are talking about mental health and what we as a Government and Members of the Seanad can do to support mental health. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health will respond to the...

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

Garret Ahearn: I remind the Minister of State we are to conclude now at 1.15 p.m., but if she wants another minute or two to conclude, she may have it.

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

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome guests of Deputy Jennifer Whitmore from St. Kilian's school, Bray. They are very welcome. I hope they enjoy their day here. They have been listening to a debate on mental health and, in particular, mental health of young people. We have been discussing it for the past hour and a half. As is tradition in the House, the teachers are to give the...

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

Garret Ahearn: I actually am. When is it proposed to sit again?

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

Garret Ahearn: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (14 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Chair very much. I have the task of managing two committees at the same time as the committee on foreign affairs is sitting as well. People will experience this over the next few months I am sure. I congratulate the Chair on his position and wish him well in it. This is a very important committee and I am delighted to see a Tipperary man and a good friend will be covering...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (14 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I congratulate the Chair on his position. I wish the clerk well in her role and all staff who will be working on this committee. All committees are important, obviously, but I think the foreign affairs committee and foreign policy in general will be one of the biggest issues over the next four or five years. I think as a committee that we can play a leading role in that. Committees in...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (20 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank everyone for the democratic process, which is very important. As I said last week, I look forward to working with each member in this committee. I think we have a great team of 14 Oireachtas Members who can do an awful lot of work over the next five years. I look forward to working with them all.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I wish to also be associated with the condolences on the very sad passing of the Minister of State's sister. I hope he is well and it is good to see him back. We are all thinking of him. As the Minister of State is aware, a number of years ago there were new security allowances put in place for public representatives. This was in light of the change in society, the change in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (21 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State. He is right that 23 councillors out of 949 applying for the scheme means that there is something wrong with it. This has been recognised by the Department of housing and it has acted quickly. The Minister of State noted that the business case is being considered by the Department of public expenditure. I acknowledge the importance of this. However,...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I have been a Senator since 2020. This, therefore, is my second term. I am also Vice Chair of this committee since last week. I am a member of the Council of Europe, along with Senator Stephenson. I have a keen interest in foreign affairs and foreign policy, particularly with regard to Ukraine. I worked a lot with Ukrainian colleagues regarding displaced children from Ukraine since the...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the committee and congratulate him on his portfolio. It is something he has been interested in since long before he was a Seanad Member and I know he will do very good work. I also acknowledge his staff. As I said in my opening contribution, I had the privilege of working in the Department of Foreign Affairs for a period and I witnessed the dedication and...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: The Minister of State mentioned the EU Presidency in his opening statement, which we will hold at the second half of 2026, and about maternal health being a priority. What other priorities does he think he and the Department should have during those six months? The last question relates to the diaspora abroad. I have had a number cases in recent months of Irish citizens who have been...

Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: For the record, I engaged with the consulate in New York and they were exceptional to deal with.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister. I welcome guests in the Chamber - guests of mine, actually. They are: Aidan Hanrahan, Brian Harrington, Donagh Tarrant and my brother, Liam Ahearn, who is up here this evening. I have told Liam to be on good behaviour today. He is the last one on the right.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: He wins the competition. We were having a discussion about businesses. We have in the Gallery a very good business owner from Cork, Donagh Tarrant, who would have been interested in the contributions.

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: I am sharing time with Senator Kelleher, if that is agreeable. I thank the Tánaiste. He is very welcome to the Chamber and thank him for being here. When we first talk about Palestine, Gaza and the conflict there, it is always important that we put on the record that what happened on 7 October was terrible. There were 1,195 people murdered by Hamas and 251 hostages taken. No one...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Garret Ahearn: At 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 10 June.