Results 121-140 of 886 for speaker:Mark Wall

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defibrillators Provision (22 Jun 2021)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister of State for his positive reply. The sum of €650,000 allocated to the OHCA is a positive step forward in this regard. As the Minister of State said, there are a number of initiatives. I referred to one in Enniscorthy in Wexford, what happened in Laois and the initiative by my colleague, Councillor Paul O'Brien, in Wicklow. I ask the Minister of State to take...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Mark Wall: I watched a great camogie match last Sunday, the national league final between Kilkenny and Galway. The hurling was absolutely brilliant to watch. It was also great to see the uachtarán of the Camogie Association, Hilda Breslin, a proud Athy woman, present the cup to the victorious Kilkenny captain, Meighan Farrell. Coupled with the great performance of Leona Maguire on the US LPGA...

Seanad: Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021: Second Stage (5 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I look forward to colleagues sharing all their tickets at face value when Kildare are in the all-Ireland this year, but more of that anon. I too welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Bill is welcomed by the Labour Party, by all sport and music fans and by all those who purchase tickets to attend events in the country. We should take the opportunity to mention the workers in the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I wish to raise two issues with the Deputy Leader of the House. The first is a Defence Forces issue and one that could benefit the terrific Defence Forces families we have in this country. Since the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association medical assistance scheme, PMAS, has been waiting on confirmation that it can continue to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gambling Sector (12 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House on this important matter. I thank him for his work to date. When I spoke at Tiglin, I suggested that nobody can accept that the tokenistic ‘small print’ warnings and invitations to be ‘responsible’ are in any way in proportion to the possible damage being inflicted by the lure of sports gambling ads. There are...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gambling Sector (12 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister of State for his kind comments in regard to Deputy Bacik. The Labour Party is very proud of her. I have no doubt that she will be a loss to the Seanad but a great asset in the Dáil when she takes up her seat. On gambling, I welcome that the Minister of State said the gambling regulator will have a public health remit because it is public health that is most...

Seanad: Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I wish the Minister of State and his future wife, Aideen, the best for Thursday. It is unfortunate that on Sunday the Lilywhites will come between the celebrations but that is the way it has to be. There is no doubt the aims of this Bill can be considered reasonable. The objective is to put in place a small companies administrative rescue process, SCARP, to effectively reduce the number of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: With the withdrawal of Ulster Bank and KBC from the Irish market, and the recent announcements that Bank in Ireland intends to close 103 branches and that Permanent TSB is withdrawing cash services from 44 of its branches, there is no doubt that the banking sector is in a deep state of change. This will leave Irish customers with only three full-service banks to choose from, which will have...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I thank the Cathaoirleach, the ushers, the staff of Leinster House, Mr. Martin Groves and Ms Bridget Doody for all their help. We are still newbies. This is our first year, as Senator Keogan said, after her love poem to Fianna Fáil. It was great for us to have that assistance throughout our first year. When I saw Jadotville listed on the Order of Business I was very happy. Maybe the...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Labour Party will support the Bill. I am sure like many Members, not a week goes by when I do not deal with families and their applications for the nursing home support scheme. These meetings are often difficult as the families have done so much to keep their loved ones at home but, given the medical need of their father, mother, brother or...

Seanad: Report of Independent Review Group Jadotville: Statements (15 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister for Defence to the House. I share the bitter disappointment expressed by colleagues about this report. I will address the language used as I proceed but I think it is important that we all get a chance to read the full 500-odd pages. When I raised this matter on the Order of Business this morning, the Leader stated we would have the report in our inboxes by 12 noon....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Pensions Council and Citizens Information Board: Chairpersons Designate (7 Jul 2021)

Mark Wall: I too want to be associated with everything that was said about Ms Heaney's and Ms Burke's presentations. They were very informative. I have a couple of questions. I was particularly struck by the gender imbalance Ms Burke mentioned in her presentation. The figure she gave was 28% of women versus 55% of men. What can we as a committee do to address that imbalance and indeed what is the...

Seanad: Bullying and Sexual Harassment in Third Level Institutions: Motion (21 Sep 2021)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. Like other Senators, I congratulate Senator Ruane on her considerable work on this very important topic over a period of time and on bringing this motion before the House today. I also want to quote my own party colleague, Senator Hoey, and to tell her that we are all thinking of her and her family at this time. As we all know, Senator Hoey spoke on...

Seanad: EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Motion (21 Sep 2021)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The reason we are here is, unfortunately, another example of the fallout from Brexit - a fallout following more than 40 years of co-operation that has seen our nearest neighbour remove itself from agreements and co-operation that were by all reports and particularly in this case working very well. It is, of course, vital that we acknowledge the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2021)

Mark Wall: I join colleagues in sending condolences to my Labour Party colleague, Senator Annie Hoey, on the passing of her father, Ray. As colleagues said, our thoughts and prayers are with the family on this day. I want to raise two issues. The first is an urgent request for a debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the proposed review of housing aid and housing...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Mark Wall: The Senator has gone soft and he should sit down quick.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister to the House. We are, of course, told that the Bill before us is largely a technical Bill to make amendments to the Defence Act 1954 and address ongoing issues with regard to the Defence Forces. In addition, following amendments on Report Stage in Dáil Éireann, the Bill includes a provision on the role of the Reserve Defence Force including, as has been...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Second Stage (29 Sep 2021)

Mark Wall: I, too, want to welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Labour Party welcomes this Bill. It is described as technical in nature. As was said, it proposes an updating of the criminal justice aspects of the regime in respect of the smuggling of persons. It reflects the provisions of three international instruments against people smuggling. Of course, the need for this legislation...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

Mark Wall: I thank and join with Senator Norris in remembering the late, great Mervyn Taylor. We were all very proud of Mervyn Taylor in the Labour Party and what he did for this country. As Senator Norris has said, it is very important to remember him and his family today. On Senator Mullen’s contribution, today is the last day before we were to have the promised publication of the gambling...