Results 121-140 of 1,195 for speaker:Erin McGreehan

Seanad: Search and Rescue System: Motion (28 May 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton, to the House.

Seanad: Search and Rescue System: Motion (28 May 2021)

Erin McGreehan: Thank you Senator. It was quality rather than quantity today.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I echo some of Senator Higgins's sentiments. The weekend events around the country highlighted for me that this issue boils down to how we respect our public places, private property and fellow citizens. We saw disgusting littering, which has been raised. Councillor Dónal Gilroy in Sligo called me this morning at his wit's end about Streedagh Beach in County Sligo. This was...

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth: National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028: Discussion (25 May 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I am in Leinster House. I thank all our witnesses for appearing. Their presentations were interesting and informative. We all recognise childcare has been underfunded, misunderstood and insufficiently respected for far too long. To have this conversation and an action plan is, therefore, very positive. We are looking at the pitfalls. I know childminders and I have needed them. From...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Representatives of the Ballymurphy Families (25 May 2021)

Erin McGreehan: Many of the questions have been covered. I extend a heartfelt welcome to Mr. Teggart, Ms Quinn and Mr. Ó Muirigh and thank them for attending. I do not have any questions. I just wish to acknowledge their loved ones and families. What Ms Quinn said in her last contribution brought me to tears. The dignity, respect and love the witnesses show their loved ones, as well as the loss,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ratification of Optional Protocol: Discussion (27 May 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I welcome witnesses and thank them for their contributions. I have a few questions. On this committee, I feel frustrated that we have a segregation or compartmentalisation of Government functions. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth seems to have to have to pull extra weight. I do not see other Departments rowing in as efficiently and as properly as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessibility in Planning and Delivery of Transport Projects: Discussion (3 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I welcome the witnesses. Many of the questions I had have been answered. As Deputy Cairns said, this is the Committee on Disability Matters. Our job is to oversee the implementation of the UNCRPD. With regard to transport, we have a responsibility for accessible transport, which is to ensure persons with disabilities have access on an equal basis with others and to identify and eliminate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Ireland's Future (1 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I thank the Chair. I hope everyone can hear me. I am in the convention centre. I welcome this debate. Any day that I can have a conversation on working towards one island and a united Ireland is a very welcome one. I congratulate the witnesses on the work they have done. Why does Mr. Murphy consistently fail to recognise the work the Irish Government is doing? Why does he downgrade the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing this matter. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, for taking it on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. My ask today seems very reasonable to me. Those with epilepsy should have an entitlement to the free travel scheme. Up to 40,000 people in Ireland live with epilepsy with approximately 1,200 of them in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I thank the Minister of State. In part, I pre-empted his response. We have an obligation to open up the world for every single citizen. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we have an obligation to reduce and eliminate obstacles and barriers to accessibility. I hope the Minister of State will go back to the Department and say that we must look again at the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Common Agricultural Policy (14 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: As someone who comes from one of those farms, I am very glad to hear that Commencement matter.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I thank the Senator for his thoughtful contribution.

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: The Senator spoke about choice, about people being forced into labour market and that the Bill and the State are disingenuous. We, here in this House, are responsible for creating equality. Sometimes equality is not always provided for by a Bill. This Bill is about creating equity for men and women in terms of payscales. That is so much more than his description of this being the choice...

Seanad: Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: This Bill is very welcome and long overdue. I very much agree with the Minister that this legislation should have been here before now. Fianna Fáil, in opposition, supported this Bill and now we are in government we are delighted to work as part of a fair economy and a fairer society. A key part of that will be continuing to eradicate the gender pay gap, to hold companies accountable...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) (Non-Disclosure Agreements) Bill 2021: Second Stage (14 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I thank the Minister. It is nice to see him again. I congratulate Senator Ruane on her work on the Bill. To my embarrassment, it concerns an issue I was not well briefed on before the debate. I am grateful to her for highlighting this work and advocating for this change to create a safer and more just place for everyone. I very much welcome the debate and the Bill and I am glad to say we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ratification of Optional Protocol: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I thank the witnesses for their time and contributions. It is almost daunting to be the last speaker because many of the questions have already been covered. I am ambitious for this committee and it is great to have a January 2022 deadline. We have all been asking for a timeline. One big issue for me is implementation. It is transformative and is about attitude. It will cross every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ratification of Optional Protocol: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: With regard to what Mr. Harris said about getting the public sector to that 6%, the fact the assistive technology grant is not an individual grant for public sector employees is a huge disadvantage to them. I know so many of our employees in the Civil Service who have to make a business case to get assistive technology and they are often turned down because it is in county councils or a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Support Services (21 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, to the House. In this Commencement matter, I am seeking an extension of the reasonable accommodation fund to the public sector and, in light of our extensive obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, that it be changed to a person-centred fund rather than an employer-centred fund....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Support Services (21 Jun 2021)

Erin McGreehan: I certainly will raise my concerns with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Minister of State's response outlines the valid reasons why his Department looks after the labour force. However, this highlights the lack of acceptance of disability in the workforce. There is unconscious bias and people with disabilities are constantly fighting for access and to be seen as equal...