Results 1,801-1,820 of 1,835 for speaker:Chris Andrews

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Mar 2025)

Chris Andrews: On a point of order, in case there is any suggestion that I am not, I want to clarify that I am very proud of Irish Army personnel. The point I was making is that the vast majority of those fighting on the front line come from working families. I am very proud of the peacekeeping tradition and of Irish Army personnel.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I wish Jeremy and George well. Best wishes in your new role, Jeremy. For George, it is like replacing Alex Ferguson after his time at Manchester United. He has big shoes to fill, as has been said. Best wishes to both of you. My colleague, Senator Ruane, brought up the issue of the peaceful protest yesterday by Mothers Against Genocide and the fact that protestors were removed. It is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I raise the issue of animal welfare, particularly dog welfare. Last week, three dogs were shot and dumped in a bog in Westmeath. This Government's attitude to dog welfare, and animal welfare generally, is lamentable. We see images of horses around the country that are emaciated, have open wounds and are without water. Dogs are in pounds or are being shot and dumped. The Government needs...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (2 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I wish the Minister the very best in his new position. It is important for everybody in the country that he is successful. I wish him the best. When it comes to housing, it is hard to know where to start. The list is extremely long. I will start with the regeneration of flat complexes in the city of Dublin. In my own constituency of Dublin Bay South, Pearse House is a large flat complex...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (2 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: The Minister of State's colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said that every member of Government was horrified by what was happening in Gaza. I hear that, but it is really hard to believe it because the actions suggest that is not the case. The Government's actions suggest that it is actually complicit in the horrors that are happening in the Gaza Strip. This Bill seeks to close one...

Seanad: International Trade and International Relations: Statements (3 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I extend my condolences to Mick O'Dwyer's family on his passing this morning. He was an icon of Irish sport and football. His loss is a huge loss. On the issue of genocide in Gaza, I would like to know why this Government has accepted the normalisation of genocide. Israel continues with a colonial settlement project and there are absolutely no sanctions for it. Those colonial...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gambling Sector (8 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: Prior to the last election, both the Minister of State's party and its coalition partners made firm commitments in their manifestos to increase the betting tax from 2% to 3% and to use this funding for investment in sport. This commitment strangely vanished from the programme for Government with no mention of the betting tax or additional capital investment in sport infrastructure and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gambling Sector (8 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: It seems that the Government has bowed at the altar of the gambling industry, while sport and Irish football have to pick up the tab. I find it hard to take that the discredited and abusive greyhound industry gets €19 million a year, and Irish football and other sports get hardly a fraction of that figure. Governments will talk about sports capital and individual funding projects, as...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: Last week, a young zebra was brought into a bar in County Clare. Colleagues might imagine I am about to tell a joke but this is actually true. Many people thought it was an April Fool's Day joke. Bizarrely, this is not against the law and it highlights the lack of legislation and enforcement relating to animal welfare. My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue recently called for urgent reform of...

Seanad: Disability Services: Statements (8 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her new role. I hope she is successful. It is important for many people that she is. The Minister of State may have heard of Involve Autism, an advocacy group based in Dublin 6. It is very constructive, positive, detailed and solution focused. One of the things it has highlighted is the cost of transporting children with special...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: Yesterday, I put a specific question to the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, as to why Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had proposed in their manifestos a betting tax levy increase of 1%, from 2% to 3%, yet when they got into government, it was abandoned. There is no sign of it in the programme for Government. I got absolutely zero answers as to why it has been abandoned. It is not good...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: Deputy Harris.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I, too, extend my good wishes to Martin Groves on his retirement. He obviously knew something we did not and picked his moment when the weather was good. He has always had a good sense of judgment. Over Easter, news came out that an International Protection Accommodation Services, IPAS, centre was not going ahead. All we hear from the Government is that communities do not have a veto....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: There has been a lot of discussion in the media about Kneecap and what its members said or did not say. It is important to note that they did issue an apology. I find it incredible that the Taoiseach would take time out to criticise Kneecap, yet I have not once heard him criticise Benjamin Netanyahu. Benjamin Netanyahu is overseeing the slaughter and genocide in Gaza - the killing of tens...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: They did apologise for that.

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for introducing the Bill. It is important that retailers and retail staff are protected. The suggestion that it would be extended to hospitality workers should be considered. Having worked in bars and restaurants and having been a retailer myself at one stage, I know quite well the challenges that retailers are facing. I do not think there is anything in this...

Seanad: Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: The Senator cannot pretend it was not Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who oversaw the issues.

Seanad: Diverting Young People from Criminal Activity: Statements (30 Apr 2025)

Chris Andrews: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. As outlined by the previous speakers, this is an important issue. Speaking for my constituency, there is a real demand and need for gardaí right across the inner city because in nearly every aspect it has been neglected for years - the south inner city in particular. The Dublin city task force report did not include the south...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2025)

Chris Andrews: The crisis in dog welfare continues daily and is obviously having an impact on dogs. I know the Minister has been very supportive of dog and animal welfare. This is also having a hugely damaging impact on those working in rescue centres. It is devastating for those who work tirelessly in this area to pick up the tab for Government failure on dog welfare. I highlight the many measures the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2025)

Chris Andrews: I forgot to acknowledge Senator O'Loughlin's fantastic work on Alzheimer's disease and her ongoing advocacy. I should have mentioned that because it is excellent and very important.