Results 1,161-1,180 of 1,384 for speaker:Eileen Flynn

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: Excuse me. I can give the Senator a few examples of State discrimination if she wants. Trespass legislation is one example of State discrimination. I support the Senator’s Bill. I am not saying I do not support it.

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I did not. It is State discrimination. I am not saying that the Senator is racist and I apologise if she is hearing that. However, what I hear from this debate from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is that anyone who wants to own a dog should-----

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: Yes, exactly, but not like a theory test or having a licence to have a dog.

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: All I am saying is that we are missing the point here, and that point is supporting people who want a dog. Again, I support the Senator’s Bill. However, some people do not have the price of dog licences or even know or have the information to get a dog chipped. I am not saying it is just members of the Traveller community; it is members of all communities. I have a family dog at...

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I know Senator, but this is what I am here to do. I am here to make sure there is no discrimination towards members of my community. My brother has dogs. I have one brother who is a drug addict, and I have another brother who has loved dogs his whole life and looked after dogs, and he never tipped off a drug in his life – never. That kept him away from addition. For some people in...

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: Some people do not have €20.

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I do not have any points to make. I have just been listening to the debate. I support the Bill. It is important, but there is something missing, that being, supporting people who have dogs, including people from poor communities. I do not believe in having dangerous dogs or just letting dogs loose. For example, one halting site has had numerous problems with dogs recently. It is the...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Former President Mary Robinson (12 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: It is a pleasure to be here with Mrs. Robinson today. When I was six years old, I met her in Rathmines Women’s Refuge with my mother. To be here and have my picture on the wall next to her and other great women here in the Seanad is an absolute pleasure and privilege. When someone meets a six- or seven-year-old in a refuge or homeless accommodation, they might make an assumption...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I welcome our witnesses, Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh and Ms Rebecca Keatinge. Apologies have been received from Deputy Stanton, who might be a few minutes late. We have received apologies from Senators Joe O'Reilly and O'Hara. I remind members that they must be physically present on the grounds of Leinster House to take part in a meeting of the committee. I will not allow members to take...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: That is absolutely perfect.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: We will open it up to members. That was very interesting, especially around evictions.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I thank Dr. McDonagh.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: The committee is aware that IHREC has taken cases against councils. From listening to other witnesses, we at this committee say that accommodation is a personal choice. As soon as we take that choice away and stop using the term "choice for Travellers", they will be pushed into apartments. I agree with Deputy Ó Cuív. We need to keep saying it is a personal choice for Travellers....

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: There is a lot that the Joint Committee on Disability Matters can do, along with us, when it comes to Travellers with disabilities. We are not just Travellers. We are also women and people. Whatever can be seen in the general population also happens in our community. Raising that issue is very important. Combating racism and discrimination is key. How do we break through, if we ever...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: This makes sense and I ask the members to bear with me. I refer to the local authority TAPs and what Travellers want. What came from the expert group review of 2019 and from this committee as well was a stand-alone agency or authority for Traveller accommodation. I would not be the best at law or whatnot, but the dogs in the street would know that the TAPs are not fit for purpose and the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: That is very important. There have been great people engaging in activism for years. It is not only activism; it is meaningful work with reports.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: One hundred per cent. It is very important. The whole community is tired, looking for hope in that light and saying, "If we only had even the stand-alone accommodation authority for Travellers." A big change needs to happen and it has to be around accommodation. We cannot take our eye of the ball when it comes to Traveller accommodation because it is the wraparound for everything,...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I think Dr. McDonagh is right. Is Deputy Buckley finished?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: Yes. There is a recent example of State racism and discrimination. Again, it is down to a person's choice. Some people may look and say it is racism but some people may look and say it is discrimination. People have differing views and there can be different situations. I agree with Dr. McDonagh that it is not State discrimination. She has opened that up for me. She has made me realise...