Results 1,321-1,340 of 2,412 for speaker:Niall Ó Donnghaile

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (29 Jun 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Not today. As the Cathaoirleach said, many of us have come a long way and we have waited a long few months to get back to the Seanad Chamber and into our roles. As I said to the Cathaoirleach just before the vote, he has big shoes to fill but I know he will do so effectively and very willingly. The Sinn Féin team and I will work with him as collaboratively and as positively as...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus beidh mé chomh gasta agus is féidir liom. Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire as a ceapachán agus a hainmniú mar Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais. I congratulate the Minister on her appointment. Like other colleagues, I followed with great admiration her work in her previous role during a very challenging and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I agree with and echo the words of previous Senators, in particular on today's launch of the Covid-19 tracking app. It will be a vital tool in keeping people safe. One of the glaring issues about the Covid-19 crisis, and preceding crises, has been the merit in the assertion that we work best when we work collaboratively together, and when we take a united and joined-up approach. Given its...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (7 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I move: "That Senator Fintan Warfield be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach." I intend to propose that Senator Fintan Warfield be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach. I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom fáilte mhór mhaith a chur roimh ár gcara, an iar-Sheanadóir Paul Coghlan ón ríocht, atá linn inniu. I always feel much better and more assured in my Seanad place when...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (7 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I thank the Chair for that advice. Certainly, however, what I found most about Senator Buttimer was that as passionate and committed to the role of Leader as he was, that did not always put him against us in Sinn Féin or members of other parties. It sometimes put him up against members of his own party, so he treated us all equally in that role. I know he will bring, hopefully, that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Ba mhaith liom ár gcomhionannas agus ionadaíocht a ardú ar an Ord Gnó inniu. Technically this Chamber is the Seanad but I appreciate and recognise the important symbolic significance of us being here. In particular, I am very conscious of the significance, personally and politically, for myself as a Belfast man and Senator Elisha McCallion as a proud Derry woman to be...

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

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I want to express my solidarity and support, given the very bad news announced this morning in regard to Eason’s in the North. Eason’s is reviewing its stores throughout the Six Counties, where it employs 144 staff members. Within the context of Covid as outlined by Senator Chambers for other sectors, it is a very stark reminder of the real threat posed to our economy by the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I welcome yesterday's announcement by the Taoiseach that the North-South Ministerial Council will meet at the end of this month. That is a positive and necessary step forward, and I wish all concerned well in their work. I also welcome the apology issued this week by the Chief Constable of the PSNI to investigative journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey. Some colleagues might...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Last year over 900,000 passport applications were made to the Irish Passport Office. Over 94,000 of them came from the North and Britain. In one day in 2018 the office received over 10,000 applications. I acknowledge that currently restrictions are being placed on people and we know about the advice regarding international travel, albeit it is confused and calamitous at times. However, as...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I will be sharing time with Senator McCallion. Mar a dúirt mo chomghleacaithe, guím gach rath ar an Aire Stáit ina théarma nua. Sinn Féin will be opposing this legislation, although we do not run contrary to any of the valiant views outlined by speakers thus far. All of what has been articulated up to this point by...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I am not afraid to say mea culpawhen it is required. I was not clear enough in my Second Stage contribution. I probably jumped ahead of myself to this Stage. We oppose the amendments, as I made clear. Our opposition to the legislation is based on those amendments being taken as part of this Bill. Although I posed a series of questions regarding the Department and its functions, I hope...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Aontaím leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Sherlock. I agree with pretty much everything Senator Sherlock said when expressing her concerns about some of the specifics announced, or rather not announced, in the July stimulus package. I am concerned about the way we are doing and are expected to do our business in this House over the next while. While none of us...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus gabhaim buíochas léi as an ráiteas cuimsitheach atá leagtha amach aici dúinn inniu. Tá mé fíordhíograiseach ó thaobh cúrsaí turasóireachta de, go háirithe nuair a chuireann siad lenár bpobal agus lenár n-eacnamaíocht. The...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá mé buíoch go bhfuil deis agam labhairt sa Teach agus an reachtaíocht thábhachtach seo á plé againn. The Minister is very welcome to the Seanad I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important legislation. As others have done, Sinn Féin will support the legislation, although we have an amendment that I will...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, line 2, after “provisions” to insert the following: “and continue in operation until the 9th day of November 2020, unless a resolution approving of its continuation has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas”. I referred to this amendment in my Second Stage contribution. I will begin by saying that the composition of...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: With such an inspiring rallying call, how could I not? I thank Senator Boyhan. I listened to Senator Ward. My experience on justice matters in the Seanad is that they have been conversational. Members have engaged with and listened to one another and spoken out on matters about which we feel strongly. I would probably concede the Senator's point more broadly if the Bill presented to us...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: In many ways we have a consensus here but I reiterate for the record that the amendment will not delay any of those demands. I fully accept that many of the demands are necessary and come from within the sector. It is about freeing up backlogs and helping people who work within our courts system. I have no issue with that and I do not disagree with the Minister in that regard. If the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I also want to raise the dire and serious situation in the Skellig Star direct provision centre. Direct provision is a stain on society. It is a great shame that this system prevails. The Government has made a commitment in its programme for Government to end that system. I fully endorse that. I want to see action on that and we need to see it now, not least for the people who are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: Yesterday I raised the very serious situation in the Skellig Star direct provision centre in Cahersiveen. I asked that the House would hear statements from a Minister on the very stark humanitarian crisis that residents in the centre are facing and an update on the Government's plans to bring the system of direct provision to an end. It was the responsible thing to do to suggest we provide...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jul 2020)

Niall Ó Donnghaile: I listened intently to the Deputy Leader and I do not doubt her efforts. However, given the strong feelings and the consensus in the House and the fact that the Minister will not be available tomorrow given that the North-South Ministerial Council is meeting, it is important that a clear message is sent from this House. I will press the amendment.