Results 1,841-1,860 of 1,888 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: On Ash Wednesday, Catholics throughout the world prepare for Lent, our season of fasting and prayer. Our ashes represent our faith, a time for penance and our mortality. Today I remind the House that Christians are still persecuted and discriminated against throughout the world. On 13 February, 70 Christians were killed in the Congo. Practising our faith is not something we should take...

Seanad: International Women's Day - Women's Health: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister is very welcome. First, I extend my congratulations to all the women who were elected to both the Dáil and the Seanad in the recent election. I look forward to working with them all in the coming session and wish them all the best in their endeavours. In both Houses, we have the highest number of female Members elected in the history of the State. Here in the Seanad,...

Seanad: Care, Supports and Enhanced Provision of Services for Older People: Motion (5 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for coming in here today. Last year in the budget the Government allocated €93 million for the housing adaptation grant for older people and those with disabilities. I welcome that. I also welcome the increase in the grant to €40,000, which means it is a 100% grant for those earning under €37,000. The extra €10,000 was a great...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I raise the issue of the abuse of the lis pendens system in Ireland. The filing of a lis pendens renders the sale of the land over which it is filed virtually impossible as no purchaser would be willing to take the risk of buying a property with litigation pending over it. As the system stands, it is possible for a lay litigant to file a lis pendens with the court for virtually no cost....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: Only a fortnight ago, I spoke about the serious failures of the Children's Rights Alliance to review Tusla's performance and I highlighted concerns that there were serious gaps appearing in the Tusla system, leaving hundreds of children vulnerable. Considering the news released in the past week, it deeply saddens me to say that these fears have been validated. The recent inquiry by Judge...

Seanad: Health (Scoliosis Treatment Services) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. Along with my colleagues, I too am delighted this Bill is progressing through this House. I draw attention to the first section that states this national treatment service is to be established "for the timely and effective inpatient and outpatient treatment of scoliosis" and that it will designate hospitals and other facilities for "the timely...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (20 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for coming in here this morning. I rise to address a matter of significant concern for many of our constituents: current capital acquisition tax thresholds and their potentially discriminatory impact on childless adults and non-nuclear families. The capital acquisition tax, CAT, threshold determines the amount of inheritance or gift that can be received...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (20 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and for repeating everything we know about the CAT concerning households. It is not addressing the discrimination case in respect of childless couples. I am not advocating for anything to be taken away from adults with children but for giving a voice in these Houses for equality for couples and single people without children. Everyone should have...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I wish to speak about the issue of the rising consumption of energy drinks by young people and to speak about solutions. Energy drinks are widely available and aggressively marketed and contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants such as taurine. Research has shown that these drinks can have serious negative impacts on minors, including on their attention span, academic performance...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I also welcome our Cavan guests this afternoon. I would like to address two important issues: immigration and freedom of debate. Last week in this Chamber and in the Dáil, many of our colleagues lined up to denounce Conor McGregor and the speech he gave in the White House concerning our current immigration crisis. While there are criticisms to be made of McGregor, ultimately he was...

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (25 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: Sorry, what is happening here? Is there another speaker?

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (25 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: That is fine. Sorry, I did not hear that.

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (25 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: Sorry, I am next.

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (25 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I welcome the Minister of State. It is great to see him in his new role. I wish him every good wish. As we all know, the critical issue of road safety is of the utmost importance because it affects every citizen. It is essential to acknowledge the progress we have made. Across the European Union, road fatalities have fallen considerably over the past...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Commercial Rates (26 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for taking this question today. I wish to address the significant importance of our local government and the equitable treatment of our elected representatives. Will the Minister of State clarify whether the exemptions from commercial rates which currently benefit TDs, Senators and MPs will be extended to the constituency offices of county councillors? As we...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Commercial Rates (26 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State. This House might look to amending paragraph 19 of Schedule 4 to the Act in this regard. While I have the Minister of State here, he might comment on whether the Department has discussed changes to the vouched system of expenses for county councillors. Currently, councillors receive €4,200 in vouched expenses and €960 in unvouched expenses....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: I wish to speak about recent information I have received on exploitation and the shortcomings of the new surrogacy legislation which was signed into law last year. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, I have made repeated freedom of information requests to the Department of Foreign Affairs. After three years, I have finally learned that, from January 2022 until today, 98 emergency...

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

Sharon Keogan: I give my best wishes to Aisling Hart, who is retiring this week from the Seanad Office. She has been extremely helpful to all Senators over the number of years I have been here, and I wish her well. I want to address one of the most pressing issues in our country, which is housing. More important, I propose a solution. The debate on housing has been highly unproductive. It has...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 4(2)) (Scheme Termination Date) Order 2025: Motion (27 Mar 2025)

Sharon Keogan: Hear, hear.