Results 1-20 of 44 for speaker:Sarah O'Reilly

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I extend my congratulations to the Cathaoirleach on his election as Cathaoirleach of the House and to Seanadóir Seán Kyne on his appointment as Leader. I will begin my first speech in this Chamber by thanking those who voted for me. I remember in a special way Councillor Anthony Waldron who passed away recently. He was a gentleman and we held a lot of the same political values....

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

Sarah O'Reilly: I wish to raise an issue causing farmers great distress, namely, ACRES payments. I have been working on a number of identical cases in which farmers have been denied payments as far back as 2023. In my communication with the Department, it is quite obvious to all that the farmers are not to blame in these cases. In December when I followed up on the issue, I was told by the Department of...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: We are now five weeks from Storm Éowyn and while ESB crews worked tirelessly to restore power, broadband services remain in total disarray. Many people across Cavan and Monaghan are still without a connection for broadband, landlines and network coverage. People are completely stranded, especially those working from home and those whose livelihood depends on connectivity. I will take...

Seanad: Response to Storm Éowyn: Statements (26 Feb 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for coming in to listen to us today. When Storm Éowyn happened the people in my constituency were hit really hard. There was loss of connectivity, electricity, water, as well as fuel shortages and a total blackout in my area. An 84 year old man looking after his 83 year old wife with dementia could not call for help because there was no network coverage....

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

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association for raising a crucial issue and bringing it directly to the doorstep of the Dáil and Department of agriculture today. I had the privilege of joining the protest and hearing at first hand the genuine concerns and frustrations that these farmers are facing due to the recent decision to include mineral soils under GAEC 2. This policy...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: I welcome the recent announcement from the Department of Transport that there will be an increase in funding to improve rural and regional roads in Cavan and Monaghan. While this is an encouraging step in the right direction, it does not allow for the overall shortfall that we saw in funding between 2008 and 2023. Over that 15-year period, there was a shortfall of €105 million in the...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: Fáilte and best of luck to the Minister in her new role. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on women’s health. The Department of Health has released statistics to Aontú which show that there is a 12% difference in the five-year survival chances for women diagnosed with breast cancer in public hospitals versus those diagnosed in private hospitals. This...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: In the run-up to International Women's Day, I want to acknowledge and recognise a woman who is suffering greatly in a bid to get justice for her son, Noah Donohoe. Each and every one of us is someone's child. Many of us have a child or children of our own who we know could very well have been Noah. If what happened to this family was to happen to any one of us, none of us would ever stop...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: I do.

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

Sarah O'Reilly: The support for Fiona Donohoe, Noah's mother, all over Ireland is incredible and I want her to know that it is unwavering. We all know that something is not right and that Fiona is not getting all the information that is available and that she rightly deserves. Every woman and mother I know, North and South, talk about this case. They stand united in full support behind Fiona in her quest...

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (6 Mar 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: Mar atá luaite ag daoine eile inniu, táim fíorbhuíoch as an deis a bheith agam inniu labhairt libh ar ábhar tábhachtach, is é sin, ceiliúradh agus cothú ár dteanga dhúchais. Tá an Ghaeilge luachmhar don ghlúin seo agus na glúnta atá romhainn. I gContae Mhuineacháin, tá traidisiún láidir de...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: I wish to raise the issue of the school bus scheme. While it may seem too early to be raising this, I am already being overwhelmed with communications from stressed-out parents. Under the current criteria, a primary school pupil must live at least 3.2 km from their nearest school to qualify for a bus place. In 2024, it was mooted that this will be reduced to 2 km and then eventually to 1...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill, which Aontú will support in both Houses. It is a pity that the Government's promises have rung so hollow that my colleagues in this House have been forced to introduce a Bill to push the Government legally to fulfil its commitments to people with scoliosis. It is a condition that has severe physical impacts, but it is not just a physical...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: We are eight weeks out from Storm Éowyn and we still have many difficulties in my area in Cavan. To date, the Department of Social Protection has received 66,000 applications for the humanitarian assistance scheme with only one third of them approved. Many people have been in touch in recent days to say their applications for support have been rejected. In fact, some people have not...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy National Plan: Statements (20 Mar 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: The Minister is very welcome. I thank him very much for coming here to hear what we have to say. We hear time and again about the Government's commitment to rural Ireland but the figures tell a different story. The latest statistics on CAP payments reveal a shocking and unacceptable disparity. The statistics point to evidence that proves what we all know already: there is no actual...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: I too welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Niamh Smyth from Bailieborough, and her family. It is great to see them here today. I call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to take immediate action on the war crimes Israel is committing by bombing hospitals. Cavan native and surgeon, Dr. Morgan McMonagle, is currently acting as a humanitarian worker in Nasser hospital....

Seanad: Road Safety: Statements (25 Mar 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I thank the Minister of State for coming to speak to us. Every single death is a tragedy for victims, families, friends and communities. However, the new speed limits were a knee-jerk reaction to an issue that was more complicated. Speed can be a factor in road deaths but it is not the only issue that contributes to the loss of lives on our roads. For example, motorways have a high...

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Motion (26 Mar 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important issue. I wholly support the Sinn Féin motion. Across the country, there are thankless parents who have to fight tooth and nail to get access to education for their children. As was mentioned already, a child's right to education is enshrined in our Constitution. There must be equal access to education for children with...

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

Sarah O'Reilly: The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. The Government is drowning in dysfunction. The implementation of the accommodation recognition payment is another example of this dysfunction. The scheme was originally set at €400 per month, it was then doubled to €800 and the proposal now is to reduce it to €600. The Government has offered no clear rationale for this....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Strategies (1 Apr 2025)

Sarah O'Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank her for coming in. I have a letter in my hand from the national cancer control programme, NCCP, detailing how the HSE is failing to meet its radiation treatment target of 90%. This target aims to have those who are deemed fit for radiation treatment to begin the treatment within 15 days. The 10% buffer is there to allow for...