Results 1-20 of 138 for at speaker:Mark Wall

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: ...very much for coming here this morning. I have a number of questions to address in this committee meeting. I will start off with Ms Byrne and compliment the work of DCA Warriors. It is an organisation I come across very often in my line of work. The advocacy it undertakes and the help it gives to families at very difficult times is very welcome. I put that on the record. I hope she...

Seanad: Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate him on his appointment and look forward to working with him over the coming period. The importance of local businesses to our local economies and community life cannot be underestimated. These same SMEs, we are told, employ 58% of the total workforce. Many of these are long-standing family-run businesses and play a vital part in...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Mark Wall: I acknowledge Senator Martin for bringing this Bill forward. As has been said by my colleague, the excellent briefing we received today was most worthwhile. The speakers were knowledgeable. As always we had the excellent Noeleen Blackwell, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Ms Jane McGowan, barrister-at-law, who outlined in great detail what was involved in this Bill. As a public...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Mark Wall: I wish to come back in on a number of things. Senator Casey has made an important point. Many smaller shops do not know this debate is going on today. In fairness, we have all seen the contact from the larger organised shops but this will affect the smaller ones most, as has been said by every Member in this House today. That is a significant point. As Senator Casey said, I hope they are...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Apr 2024)

Mark Wall: ..., Councillor Lacey, for all he has done for the Labour Party. He was first elected in 1993. Today is not the first time I heard about his passion for local government. He made six points. Senator Boyhan has taken the one point I wanted to put forward, namely, the form and financing of local government. Across all our conversations over that period it has been the one issue that has...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jun 2022)

Mark Wall: I wish to raise once again respect for special needs assistants, SNAs. I had a wonderful trip on Tuesday with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism to Ballyowen special school, where I saw at first hand the great work all our SNAs do in that school, but I am also aware daily and weekly, as all of us in this House are, of the great work our SNAs do for so many of the children across this...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (20 Oct 2021)

Mark Wall: I support Senator Moynihan for bringing this Bill before us. It is very important to give the support that has been given throughout the House given its importance to our student population and how we treat those who are the future of our country. As my Labour Party colleagues said, we have a crisis in student accommodation but it is one that did not need to happen. I am glad the...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (29 Mar 2023)

Mark Wall: I, too, welcome the Minister to the House. The lifting of the no-fault eviction ban is the most important issue I deal with at this time. I welcome the opportunity to discuss it with him this evening. As someone with community clinics, I can tell him that the ban is the number one topic in Kildare South this week. At clinics in Newbridge, Kildare town, Monasterevin and Athy, people wanted...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Mark Wall: I add my voice to those voices calling for the extension of maternity leave for women. If this pandemic has taught us anything it is the importance of family life. The call is loud and clear in terms of the extension of maternity leave by 12 weeks. The Minister must take that on board as quickly as possible. I also wish to be associated with my three colleagues who raised the poor...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Report on Participation Income for Family Carers: Discussion (11 Oct 2023)

Mark Wall: I take what the professor said. Where are the witnesses in relation to the medical assessment? Are they proposing changes or are they looking at changes? Do they think it is fit for purpose at the moment? I wanted to follow up on that comment, and Professor Murphy has just mentioned it again. I know she is not saying that we should carte blanche give carer's allowance to everybody, but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Homelessness Issues: Discussion (30 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I thank the witnesses for attending and, as been said by other committee members, for the work they all do. It is important to many people when we look at the numbers that were announced recently. I have two specific questions. The last time Ms Hayes was before the committee we spoke about people from Dublin moving to my good county in Kildare and there was an issue regarding them...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I welcome Mr. Dempsey, and Deputies Phelan, Ó Cuív and Howlin. Like the Cathaoirleach, I will use the opportunity to pay particular tribute to my colleague, Deputy Howlin, for 40-plus years in both Houses. On behalf of the Labour Party, it will be a very sad day when he no longer represents us as he has done so powerfully for the party and the people of Wexford. I am touched by...

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Energy Poverty: Discussion (17 Jan 2024)

Mark Wall: I thank Dr. Kelithy. As the Cathaoirleach stated, it is a matter the committee will take up. The moratorium is coming to an end. That point was made to me at several clinics yesterday. My question on windows and doors was not answered. Does the SEAI provide a specific grant in that regard? Its website refers to windows and doors. I am continually asked about this. Is there a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Dec 2020)

Mark Wall: I would like to raise two issues with the Leader with a view to having a debate on them and getting answers from the relevant Ministers. The first concerns homeowners who are facing increasing and mounting bills from their management companies for retrospective work being done on their homes and apartments. For example, in one building in Newbridge, over 30 homeowners have to pay for fire...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Mark Wall: I wish to be associated with the welcome to our distinguished visitors. Given the good news the Minister has brought forward in respect of those in full-time education up to the age of 18, I will again raise the issue of foster carers. I know the Minister announced in the budget an additional payment of €75 for foster carers, €25 of which came into place from 1 January. Given...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Dec 2021)

Mark Wall: I agree with the sentiments of Senator Chambers on Afghanistan. It is important that we have a discussion of the issue. I, too, read the distressing article mentioned by the Senator, which reported that over 1 million children are at risk of starvation. It is an issue we need to discuss and do more on, as colleagues have said. I want to raise two other issues. The first concerns sport....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome Aimee Foley and her family to the House today. As other colleagues said, I thank her for her bravery. It is very much appreciated by so many. I will give her and Senator Conway an assurance that the Labour Party and I will work with Aimee on what she asked for today. Support for victims is something on which we all need to work. She can be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2023)

Mark Wall: I support Senator Boylan's comments on what is happening in Gaza at the moment. It is horrific what is coming out, and we can all call for an immediate ceasefire, given what we are seeing on our screens day in, day out and what we are hearing. I want to put on record my support for that call. Yesterday, I had the chance to visit the Athy and Castledermot youth diversion project in its new...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2023)

Mark Wall: I want to be associated with Senator Carrigy's remarks and the work he has done with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism. I am a member of that committee, which has done terrific work. We look forward to the implementation of the 109 recommendations set out in our report. I encourage all Members to do the training, which I hope to avail of next week at the next session. At 4 p.m....