Results 1-20 of 224 for speaker:Ciarán Ahern

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I am delighted to speak on the all-island rail review. We need to see a major modal shift in how we get ourselves from one place to another on this island so that we are not so dependent on our cars. Rail will obviously play a huge role in that. We have a somewhat sorry history in this country when it comes to rail infrastructure. What was once a fairly comprehensive rail network in the...

Nursing Homes: Motion [Private Members] (2 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I commend my colleagues, Deputies Sherlock and Wall, for tabling the motion. All of us in the House were outraged by the "RTÉ Investigates" programme, which showed the appalling levels of abuse and malpractice in older people's care settings. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our society. They depend on the help of others to meet their basic needs, as any one of us here...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: In response to a question I put to him a number of months ago regarding autism supports and services for children in my constituency, the Taoiseach said he was of the view that many of these services should be provided through schools, and I agree. That being the case, why are so many schools in Dublin South-West being denied additional special needs assistants, SNAs, despite a clearly...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Sustainable Development Goals (26 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 197. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps his Department has taken to support the development of Ireland’s next Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) National Implementation Plan; and how stakeholders, particularly civil society organisations, are being engaged in its formulation. [35094/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Sustainable Development Goals (26 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 198. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the means by which his Department is ensuring that the next SDG National Implementation Plan will reflect an integrated, whole-of-Government approach; and the mechanisms in place to coordinate actions across Departments, especially on cross-cutting goals. [35095/25]

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (25 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I am addressing these motions on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Kelly, who is chairing a committee at this time. As we debate these motions we cannot be blind to their history, and our thoughts are with the families of the victims of the Omagh bombing and all those who are victims of organised crime and terrorism. It is important to stress the motions are not about the Special Criminal...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I thank the council members for attending and giving us the benefit of their expertise. Obviously, they have done an incredible amount of work in getting the report to us. That has to be commended. On a very high-level basis, I have questions about some of the methodology the council has used. I understand that, between this report and the council's most recent budget, the council has...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I thank Ms Gallagher for explaining that. We might come back to it later. Very briefly, the council has spoken about a fossil fuel phase-out by 2039 and this being an absolute imperative. Is the Government's decision to overturn its policy on the importation of fracked gas and the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure by way of LNG terminals compatible with our imperative...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I want to discuss LNG again. Based on what Ms Donnelly said, the council's view of the State's strategic reserve is that we are only going to need that if we are failing in respect of our climate targets. The fact that the State is proposing that is in itself nearly an admission of failure on the part of the State and that we are not going to meet our targets. Has the council done any...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I wish to come back to the methodology used in this report. The move from the Paris test to temperature neutrality is key to us in considering the next budget. Ms Donnelly mentioned earlier that the IPCC is using the Paris module, or Paris test. My understanding is that the IPCC does not prescribe any metrics regarding these types of things. It says that rapid reduction in methane, rather...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Climate Change Advisory Council (25 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: Ms Gallagher is saying these budgets are not based on business as usual?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: It is good to hear that work is under way. We would like to see a separate division of An Garda Síochána rather than a separate policing force. I would like to understand the Minister's thoughts on that. Antisocial behaviour and violence on public transport happens in all of our constituencies, not least in my own constituency of Dublin South-West. It does not often get too much...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I will press the Minister again to provide a more defined timeline for this. When does he think it is going to be done? Has the Minister looked at the Travel Safe policy document prepared by SIPTU? Has he met SIPTU or any other interested parties yet? I suggest that he do. There is one proposal from SIPTU I was particularly taken with. It related to public transport assistance units....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 88. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he has taken to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers of Dublin Bus in the aftermath of an incident at Mountjoy Square; his plans for a dedicated transport police; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34557/25]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (24 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: What steps has the Minister taken to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers on Dublin Bus in the aftermath of the very serious incident at Mountjoy Square in April in which a man threatened a bus driver with a gun? Will he outline his plans for a dedicated transport police force?

Presidential Voting Rights: Motion [Private Members] (24 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I think it is the first time I have addressed the Minister of State in the Chamber. I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him the best of luck with it. The Labour Party has long supported the extension of the voting franchise. We feel it goes to the heart of our democracy. I thank Sinn Féin for tabling this motion, which we will support. Many proposals on voting rights,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (24 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 253. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will instruct Meath County Council to introduce road safety measures at a location (details supplied) which has seen four road accidents in the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33796/25]

Public Transport Experience: Motion [Private Members] (18 Jun 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I thank Deputy O'Gorman for bringing this motion before us. The Labour Party will gladly support it. I do not think there is a word in it that I would fault. The Green Party, to be fair, kick-started much-needed investment in our public transport during its time in government, following decades of neglect and underinvestment. It achieved fare reductions on public transport and enhanced...