Results 181-200 of 622 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Patrick Costello

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (30 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: It is timely that we gather today to discuss this issue, yesterday having been UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It is important we recognise the sumud — the steadfastness — of the Palestinian people in the face of ongoing, grinding occupation. In our debate on the cross-party motion on de facto annexation earlier in the year, we spoke with a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: I would like to start by indulging in some parochialism by congratulating St. Patrick's Athletic on their win at the weekend in the FAI League Cup.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: I am getting there. What we saw at the weekend was a packed Aviva Stadium, which shows the potential of the League of Ireland. What we have, in reality, is a League of Ireland that is struggling day to day. What we need is meaningful support for the league. We need better facilities and investment in academies. Post-Brexit, young people who are looking to improve themselves and build a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: I was recently contacted by the daughter of an 89-year-old constituent with advanced Alzheimer's who has recently lost any home care support they had. I am not the first Deputy to raise the issue of home care support and, more importantly, the lack of home care support. While there has been some investment in the area, the challenge is that the individual private companies do not have to...

Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: I will pick up a theme that several Deputies addressed, namely, missed opportunity. In discussing the Marine Survey Office we need to bear in mind that Ireland has been in the spotlight because of our fisheries for reasons that are not good. There have been long-running investigations and exposures of slavery, forced labour, exploitation and of human trafficking. Credit is especially due...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (18 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: My colleague Deputy Smith and I are here to represent and raise the concerns of the St. Michael's estate community. They have been waiting and waiting for the regeneration. As Deputy Smith said, they have been fighting for 21 years for the regeneration of St. Michael's estate. They need clarity. They need certainty that the regeneration will provide housing that is affordable for that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (18 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: The disconnection from market rents is a positive aspect. It is the sort of thing that needs to happen. Yet, we need to factor in the tenant’s ability to pay. Otherwise, we are still creating properties that will be unaffordable for a huge number of people. The reality is that the threshold at which social housing becomes unavailable to people is far too low. It has not been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: 57. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the preparations the Government is making for the potential triggering of Article 16 by the British Government. [56580/21]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: I would like to raise reform of the coroner service nationally. I must give credit to Deputies Gould and Ó Laoghaire, who have been raising this issue consistently. In 2000, a full comprehensive review was published by the Department of Justice, which recommended radical reform. Recent research by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has shown this reform simply has not happened....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: Threshold is running a campaign for a statutory deposit protection scheme. Such schemes protect renters and have been shown in other countries to work quite well in protecting renters and their deposits. Such schemes are also promised under the programme for Government. The obvious home for such a scheme would be the Residential Tenancies Board. However, anyone who has dealt with it will...

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: Like all the previous speakers, I welcome this Bill as a positive step. However, I disagree with the Minister of State’s comments that human trafficking and people smuggling are different. They are hand in glove. People smuggling is often the engine that facilitates the movement in human trafficking. I do not think one can be separated from the other. It is perhaps this false...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Nov 2021)

Patrick Costello: Yesterday, like many other Deputies and Senators, I joined outside Leinster House a number of parents of children born through surrogacy who are looking for the most basic of rights for those children to be recognised, namely, the right to a family. They expressed their shock and dismay at some of the proposals coming forward. We have a special rapporteur on children who has recommended...

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Statements (21 Oct 2021)

Patrick Costello: I am pleasantly surprised to find that I have a lot more than just five minutes of a speaking slot. I am not sure I will need all of it, which will probably be good news to the Minister of State. I wish to start by echoing the thoughts of many in the Chamber on the success of BreastCheck and the screening programme. I acknowledge the hard work done by the staff of BreastCheck, the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Patrick Costello: The recent budget provided a welcome increase of just over 20% for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. We have seen problems with the administration of the general data protection regulation, GDPR, regime here. Data protection authorities in other countries have tried to sidestep us. The Data Protection Commission has been called out for being a roadblock in the enforcement of...

Recovery of Tourism and Aviation: Statements (7 Oct 2021)

Patrick Costello: I agree with many of the comments made by Deputy Verona Murphy. Having spent a week in Fethard-on-Sea a few years back, I concur that it is definitely an excellent holiday destination. I also agree that we should not be wasting money on tourism but should be spending it carefully and in the right way. There are many opportunities to pick the low-hanging fruit in order to significantly...

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

Patrick Costello: Like many areas of youth work and many areas in general, the Garda youth diversion projects have been under significant strain in the past 18 months or so as a result of Covid. This has allowed many of these projects to reach out and find new ways of working. Much of this outreach was effective in reaching out to young people who might not have been involved previously in the centre-based...

Climate Action: Statements (30 Sep 2021)

Patrick Costello: It is good to discuss in the Chamber the climate action plan. We are also discussing other matters, those being the recent UN meeting and the national development plan, NDP. The national climate plan and the NDP are inextricably linked and our climate action depends on them working in harmony. Our ability to face down climate change depends on all of our plans and organs of government...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Patrick Costello: The reply I received stated that the decision was taken in light of the resources needed for the several missions being run in the area. The House recently passed legislation relating to being able to clarify the chain of command in the context of multinational operations. That is very useful legislation but it is only needed now, rather than also in times gone by, because we are not able...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Patrick Costello: I am sharing time with Deputy Haughey. Like many colleagues, I want to express my concern around the situation in Afghanistan. In some ways, it is hard to find the words to express that concern. It is a very serious, multifaceted and multilayered issue and there is an immediate urgency to it, but it also speaks to wider problems we face here and as part of a global community. On the...

Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (29 Sep 2021)

Patrick Costello: I believe I am sharing some of that time. I certainly have not prepared to contribute for 20 minutes, and I hear incredulity from behind me at my having 20 minutes, so I assume I am sharing time with Deputies Jim O'Callaghan and Durkan.