Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,078 for speaker:Mary Seery Kearney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Referendum on Right to Housing: Discussion (3 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: We did not realise that we had an option to wait.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Referendum on Right to Housing: Discussion (3 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the witnesses for their presentation and all the background documentation, which I have read. I completely support the objective of prioritising housing and security of tenure. Everyone should have the right to a secure home. I have been involved in the provision of social housing, worked with the homeless and, as a public representative, advocated on behalf of families in need. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Referendum on Right to Housing: Discussion (3 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I was not suggesting that it was a subordinate right within Article 43 but it is being advanced as a qualifying provision. It comes back to the fact that the right is being attached to individuals and not to the Oireachtas. I would have thought putting the impetus and obligation on the Oireachtas would be a more secure means of ensuring it would be more effective in budgetary allocation....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Referendum on Right to Housing: Discussion (3 Nov 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: My concern is in regard to other arenas of law such as in the X case and the court determining a right within the Constitution. It was not until the Fine Gael-led Government came to power that that was brought into law. There can be a 20-year gap. Just because something is written into the Constitution does not mean it will happen.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I welcome the Minister and the provisions he has brought forward in this Bill. It is a great initiative. It is not the preserve of the Opposition to be uncomfortable with rushed legislation and the perception that this House is being used for rubber-stamping. However, I appreciate that haste was necessary in this instance. This Bill and the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Senator McDowell has stolen all my lines. There are bona fides in the presenting of this Bill, but we can never say anything on it without prefacing our remarks by acknowledging the context, namely, the appalling wounds and trauma and the retraumatising that is happening in the course of this discussion. I believe there was an original intent to see a legal problem, see a deadline and deal...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: These amendments are welcome. They are a response to the amendments that were fought over and the debates that occurred in this House. I accept that there is a need to extend the commission's life to 28 February. I am curious as to how the groupings worked on this because I would think this should have been discussed with amendment No. 9. As I understand it, the purpose of the extension...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I have a point of order. That is not what the article states.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: It is not what the article states. It refers to the 2018 amendment of the 2004 Act; it is not referring to the Bill currently before the House.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Regarding contributors to the confidential committee, how can they make a decision on whether they should have their names attached to their contributions if they do not have a copy of what they said? I agree with Senator Higgins in this regard. The advice is that people would be able to identify themselves within the report, such is the transparent manner of the representation of what they...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (23 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I disagree strongly with Senator Bacik. This is about the database and its preservation, and just because there is allusion to other matters it does not make them the central part of this Act. It is unfair to make that statement. With due respect, the only party politics being played arise from the Sinn Féin position of criticising the Government.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Would it be possible to bring the Minister with responsibility for further and higher education, research, innovation and science, Deputy Harris, to the House? I am echoing the sentiments of Senator Pauline O'Reilly in speaking up for our third level students. They are in the most invidious of positions because two of their academic years have now been affected. There are great supports...

Seanad: Electoral (Civil Society Freedom)(Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (22 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: This is a great legislation and it is a great stimulus for debate and the thought behind it is thorough. I quite like the definitions in it. I am someone who has built my whole life on advocacy, working in communities and being an activist. The obvious choice of career was to try to move into politics and make that effective change from inside this House. I understand the chilling effect...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I echo the sentiments and spirit of Senator McGreehan's proposal on the basis that I have had the experience myself, when dining in Kings Inns, of a senior member of the Law Library asking me what school I went to. When I replied, the next comment was, "How very remiss of your parents." I support her views. I have three points to raise with regard to the changing environment and our...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Returns policies usually apply for 28 days so if one does one's Christmas shopping now, it will not be possible to return the gifts after Christmas. We need to support the Consumer Association of Ireland, with funding or otherwise, in getting out the information and ensure that where there is a need for exchange policies, it is broadcast and supported so that we have social distancing and a...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: My understanding of what is happening with this legislation is perhaps overly simplistic and I may stand corrected before the day is out. My understanding is that a unique database was created when the commission was carrying out its work and that this database has not been covered by the 2004 Act. The commission itself was founded under the 2004 Act. The 2004 Act prescribes the collection...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I, too, have been extraordinarily moved by all of the contributions. I am grateful to Senator Boyhan for his honesty, transparency and passion. Equally, I am always impressed by Senator Higgins's passion. I am conflicted by this legislation as is the Minister. It is not how we want this legislation to be but needs must because time is of the essence. I oppose the amendment, not because I...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: For clarification purposes, perhaps my emphasis was misplaced. The statutory instrument particularly states the confidential committee shall produce a report of a general nature. All that should happen, and all that should result at the end of the confidential committee's work should be the general report and not a lot of documents or anything that would constitute evidence. My point is it...

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Similarly records should not have been arising in that instance. If we are adhering to what is here, there should only be a general report.

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I have full confidence in Judge Murphy, having read all she has produced on previous commissions. I have full confidence in her integrity in ensuring the statutory instrument is completely adhered to. This is my main point. I observed at first hand the Gacaca courts in Rwanda, which was the manner of dealing with the necessity of putting on record the history and truth of people's...