Results 1-20 of 509 for speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan in 'Dáil debates'

Coronavirus: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: This is my maiden address to the Dáil so I will take the opportunity to thank the people of Cork South-West who have put their faith in me. I assure them that I will repay them for it. It goes without saying that I share the concerns expressed by other Deputies regarding public health. Public health is paramount. The safety of our communities is also paramount. All necessary...

Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (6 May 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: It has been a long road up from west Cork and I know the Ceann Comhairle will offer me a bit of liberty. I am here today, like everybody else, to highlight the hardships that our tourism sector is facing. There is no doubt that the sector will face a massive struggle in post-pandemic Ireland. While other sectors will be impacted, we can all agree that tourism will face the longest road...

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I will be speaking for-----

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I had intended to speak for four minutes with one minute for the reply.

Covid-19 (Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht): Statements (14 May 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I come from the arts capital of the world, which, as all Members know, is west Cork. We have a festival for every form of art that one can think of, including storytelling, poetry, jazz festivals and guitar festivals. You name it, we have it. Our traditions, gigs and festivals are under severe threat. While artists and organisers are showing a bit of...

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (20 May 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I echo Deputy Byrne's comments on children in special classes and ASD units. These children have had to go without speech and occupational therapy, movement breaks and psychological supports since 12 March. I know of a child who gets up every morning, puts on her coat and schoolbag and goes to the front door to wait for a taxi that will never arrive. That is heartbreaking. I cannot even...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 - Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection (Revised Estimate) (28 May 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I will point out a few anomalies. What is needed first and foremost is clarity and certainty going forward. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in her address earlier alluded to the fact the Covid payment and other payment would continue beyond June. That is not enough certainty or clarity for Deputies who are receiving queries on a daily basis from constituents who...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: As tourism and transport are intrinsically linked and are both part of the Minister's portfolio, I will touch on both. The Minister referred to public transport and electric buses in his statement. Improved public transport will obviously lead to reduced emissions but it could also potentially open up the regions to sustainable tourism. Such tourism does not exist at the moment. I will...

Covid-19 (Sport): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Deputy Jim O'Callaghan referred to young people and the impact of the closure of sport on them. I commend young people for their incredible volunteerism during the lockdown. Their sporting organisations throughout Ireland have raised thousands upon thousands of euro for charitable organisations. In west Cork, where I am from, members of sports organisations and clubs have taken part in 5...

Supporting Inclusion and Combating Racism in Ireland: Statements (17 Jun 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: We have all, I hope, been shocked and deeply saddened and angered by the injustices we have seen coming out of the US. It is easy to talk about the evils of racism as being over there, all the way over in America, but here in Ireland we need to search our own hearts. Prejudice is deeply rooted in all of us. It is fed by background, popular culture and, in Ireland, a sometimes clannish...

Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I would not want to have vertigo up here; there is a pretty steep fall. I wish the Minister of State, Deputy English, the best of luck in his new role. I know he relishes a challenge and I sincerely wish him the very best of luck and I look forward to working with him. I had expected the Tánaiste to be here. The first time I met the Tánaiste was in Kinsale prior to the election...

Vote 33 - Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (9 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I will be as brief as possible and try to leave time for the Minister and Minister of State to respond. I wish both of them the best of luck in their new briefs. In regard to the Minister, I am encouraged by her approach and commentary thus far in respect of the arts, culture and tourism, which is now part of her brief. I genuinely wish her the best of luck and I look forward to working...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Page 40 of the programme for Government refers to investment in wastewater treatment. In our towns and villages, in particular, we need that investment now more than ever. I know the Tánaiste is familiar with Kinsale and near Kinsale there is a small village called Belgooly. The residents of that village have to close their windows and doors because of the foul stench coming from a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wildlife Data (22 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: 19. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to provide additional supports in respect of the collection of biodiversity data. [17285/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wildlife Data (22 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: As the Minister knows well , we are in the middle of a biodiversity crisis. Globally, 1 million species are threatened with extinction. This is also an issue at home. It is easy to track the demise of iconic species such as the yellowhammer or curlew, which is at the brink of extinction as a breeding species, but there are big gaps in the data on biodiversity. This is best seen by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wildlife Data (22 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply and I appreciate that he gave an overview of the work of the NPWS. I am glad he referred to the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford. The centre plays a key role in data collection but needs to be financed on a long-term basis and not by means of the ad hoc, year-to-year funding model that obtains at present. It has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Wildlife Data (22 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate his commentary. The NPWS needs to be properly resourced and I would like to see a review of its functions and roles. This needs to happen because it needs to have a bit more clout. An issue about which I have spoken to the Minister, on a personal basis and in the Dáil, is the need for a specific wildlife crime investigation unit as a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Harbours and Piers (23 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister for attending today. I want to speak about an urgent, developing situation at Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall in my constituency. Union Hall is a picturesque, beautiful village between Skibbereen and Clonakilty. Keelbeg Pier is the local pier in Union Hall. It would help if I described the pier because I do not expect that the Minister would have been there before, but...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Harbours and Piers (23 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I am asking the Minister for a bit of compromise and a bit of consultation. I appreciate that it is a Cork County Council pier, but as I stated, it is the Minister's Department's funding. I ask that at the very least the Minister would reach out to the council chief executive or to the western division manager, whoever it may be, to pause the works until consultation happens and we get some...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Harbours and Piers (23 Jul 2020)

Christopher O'Sullivan: While I am on the subject of piers I will take the opportunity to raise the issue of Dinish pier, which is also in my constituency in Castletownbere. The Minister will be very familiar with it given that fishing is in the Minister's remit. A €20 million extension is under way at the Dinish wharf to allow for larger hauls of fish and so on. It will be a significant improvement but...