Results 181-200 of 588 for speaker:Pat Buckley in 'Dáil debates'

National Surplus (Reserve Fund for Exceptional Contingencies) Act 2019: Motion (8 Dec 2020)

Pat Buckley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. I have to put it on the record that when this rainy day fund was first announced and we were on the opposite side of the House, we were not in agreement with it because it was more of a rainy day fund for the banks rather than health, infrastructure or housing. However, it is amazing how matters have changed in less than 12 months. I...

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

Pat Buckley: On the same issue, MWB Two Limited is proposing the construction of 246 units. I have been talking to survivors and supporters who are very concerned there will be no proper investigation and that nothing will commence now. They are not against the development but it is a fact they have not been given a spare chance on this. They are asking whether An Bord Pleanála can defer the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (2 Dec 2020)

Pat Buckley: I also welcome the Minister of State's response. It referred to out-of-hours services and concluded by saying, "Any changes to the current service provision in any treatment centre would be subject to discussion with and approval by the HSE Cork-Kerry community healthcare chief officer." That is what I was trying to say - that the communication between the HSE and GPs in SouthDoc does not...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: General Practitioner Services (2 Dec 2020)

Pat Buckley: I also stand in solidarity with the section 39 organisations. We cannot afford to lose SouthDoc services in Fermoy and Mitchelstown. We have discussed the lack of rural transport many times in this House. If we lose these services, people will have to go to Mallow, Cork city or all the way to Midleton and we do not have very much public transport. It is impossible for those without public...

Mental Health Parity of Esteem Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Nov 2020)

Pat Buckley: It is great to have an opportunity to speak on this Bill. I congratulate Deputy Ward. I also wish the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, the very best of luck in her role. I will be very brief and try to explain to people what parity of esteem means when it comes to mental health. It is defined as valuing mental health equally with physical health, which would result in those with mental...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Pat Buckley: This is an issue I have been trying to raise for the past three weeks on the Topical Issues debate. Since August 2016, I have raised the lack of secondary school places in east Cork. Unfortunately, this arises every year. In March 2020, I raised the issue of 200 children in east Cork who could not get to school because of transport problems. In June 2019, I raised the problems with...

Working from Home (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Nov 2020)

Pat Buckley: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and I commend the Labour Party on bringing it forward. The fact that the Government will not oppose it is welcome. I read the explanatory note on the Bill and in the crisis we are in, this is probably one of the times where we could use the common-sense approach. Many speakers referred to the stress of working, whether at home, in the...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Pat Buckley: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Bill. This is a comprehensive Bill and, as previous speakers stated, it is about working together for the goodness of this island as a while. To be honest, it is probably inevitable that we are heading for a united Ireland at some stage, despite what has been touted in the media at times. I agree with many of the speakers who...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Nov 2020)

Pat Buckley: I raise the issue of Covid and the NPHET restrictions on school transport. NPHET announced a 50% cut in capacity. Since last night, I have been contacted by more than 50 pupils from Cobh who are with a private bus operator and the operator will be cutting capacity by 50%, which means 50% of pupils cannot get to school. The operator has offered the alternative of doubling the bus route but...

Flood Prevention Policies: Motion [Private Members] (4 Nov 2020)

Pat Buckley: Since 1995 my town of Midleton has been flooded 11 times. In 2015 and in 2016 the Main Street was destroyed with more than 400 houses and 180 businesses affected. I have listened to a number of speakers here and I believe it is down to resources, local staffing and local knowledge. The lad with the shovel and the JCB for the country rural road is gone. I also have an issue that we do not...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I welcome the Bill but it is like making a foundation out of crêpe paper. It is a bit weak. It does not go far enough and Sinn Féin's amendments, of which there are plenty, would certainly strengthen it. What the people want is security, especially in this current Covid climate. Security of six weeks is insulting. We need to give renters a break. We are coming up to Christmas...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: The Minister should give people a break, for crying out loud, and support the amendments.

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I will try to be brief as I had an opportunity to speak last night. I listened to the Minister's contribution and I commend the colleagues who have spoken. I refer again to the matter of the sixth interim report and why it has not been published. The former Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, asked on a number of occasions for it to be published and several speakers...

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I have three and a half minutes to try to explain to the Minister how people have suffered for the past 70-odd years. These survivors have lived hell on earth and I ask the Minister not to condemn them to hell in their death by not doing the right thing. "[My son] was wrenched from my breast by one of the nuns while I was feeding him and taken away for adoption." I know the woman who said...

Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Second Stage (21 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I appeal to the Minister and all Government bodies to change their minds, do the right thing and not to condemn these people to hell.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Chomhairle.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I do not want to sound alarmist but I have been contacted by family member whose brother went to hospital in Cork the day before yesterday to get tested because he has underlying problems with multiple sclerosis. He went through the full process and when he asked when he would get the results, he was told to go home and that the hospital would mark him down as a positive test. In two more...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I believe it was Cork University Hospital, CUH.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I believe it was CUH. I am not 100% but it was one of the hospitals in Cork. I believe the drive-in test centre where two people waited too long and left, and a number of hours later got a text back to say they tested positive, is in Carrigtwohill. Many people out there are frightened. Can we get clarity on what are serious results relating to Covid and on the nature of results...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2020)

Pat Buckley: I congratulate the Regional Group for tabling the motion. I hope that it will take Sinn Féin's amendment on board. On the previous occasion I spoke in the House on post offices, 12 were to close in County Cork. That affected 34 towns and villages. For those living in Rockchapel in County Cork, the local post office is now in Brosna, County Kerry. Things have not improved much. ...