Results 1,681-1,700 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: HSE Capital Plan 2019: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister, who is a neighbour of mine. I am incredibly concerned about where money is being spent in the HSE. We pay for a health service through our taxes, but it seems more and more money is being spent on the national children's hospital without fixing the problem, which is a worry. I read yesterday that there is a €455 million overspend, which the Taoiseach expects...

Seanad: HSE Capital Plan 2019: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is the way one asks. We are neighbours.

Seanad: HSE Capital Plan 2019: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Holy Angels centre has been on the priority list for a new school building for over five years. The HSE was supposed to make land available at Kelvin Grove for a new school. I ask the Minister to check that for me as I would like to know what is happening. It disturbs me that local councillors in Carlow have noted that this promised site, which is supposed to be earmarked for the Holy...

Seanad: HSE Capital Plan 2019: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will hunt the Minister down.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I, too, have concerns about regulations. We can have as many regulations as we want, but they do not work unless they are implemented fully. The biggest issue I see for local authorities is staffing. The timeframe for applying to go on the local authority housing list is so long that I am currently working on a Bill to bring it down to three weeks. I have been informed that the biggest...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have introduced a Bill and I have been told by my local authority, which works very hard, that it does not think the Bill will work because it does not have the staff to get people on the housing list more quickly. I am not blaming the council, but that is unacceptable. I will ask Mr. Lemass to check that for me. Staffing is a huge issue in my local authority in Carlow and I believe it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome that. Many of the AHBs construct beautiful houses and I have worked with people in the constituency in which I live who have done excellent work, but I believe there is a niche here. We need to be considering small two-bedroom bungalows for people with disabilities. That is not happening in that sector. They are not in the bigger and fast builds. That is something the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: However, it is very small given the number of people on the housing list. It is becoming an issue with people living longer. It is an issue I come across daily.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Could Mr. Lemass get me the figures in that regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I would appreciate the breakdown on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Can we examine that and identify whether there is a system where people have given consent? I appreciate that they must give consent. However, even if they have consented, my understanding is that one cannot get that information. While we are dealing with the AHBs, regulations and so forth, perhaps that could be addressed. If people wrote letters and gave their consent, can we deal with that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Discussion (24 Oct 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thought it might be possible to include it.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Support Services Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Good afternoon. This important issue involves several Departments, but it should most be heard by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, which I hope will resolve it using joined-up thinking. In my county of Carlow, a number of services provide day and residential supports for those living with disabilities. Many offer supports to people in local authority or private...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Support Services Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister of State's response. It is so important. We have great service providers in Carlow, but people cannot access them. It is huge. It is a matter for all the different Departments. It is all about everyone working together from the same pot to ensure this happens. I will follow this up with the Minister of State.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Support Services Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: This is a serious issue in Bagenalstown.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Support Services Provision (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also welcome Senator Hackett to the House and wish her well. I congratulate the Irish women's hockey team who will go to Tokyo in 2020. They have done us proud. On a sad note, I express my sympathies to the Byrne family. Gay Byrne was a national treasure and there is no doubt about it. He had a massive impact on all of our lives. I want to raise an issue that came to my attention...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am not.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have spoken to the Minister.

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (5 Nov 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also want to address the Minister today because climate action is needed. It is so important that we talk about change and awareness. I know the Minister spoke about electric cars, which are very important, and upgrading our houses in the report but plastic is a serious issue and it is urgent we work on that because we need some sort of action. What is the Minister's overall plan with...