Results 2,041-2,060 of 2,078 for speaker:Mary Seery Kearney

Seanad: Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) Records, and another Matter, Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Could we red-circle an enforcement aspect somewhere in our discussion? With regard to local authority funding, there is no alignment in particular with staffing in relation to heritage, but there is a staffing element. I refer to an element of construction costs from a State perspective to make sure there is checking or oversight and that we do not repeat the mistakes made during the major...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: It is within the specific mechanism. It covers housing; it also covers local government. There are specific mechanisms in that. I would not-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Yes, and enforcement. I would have thought it was a somewhat lax area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Could we perhaps add in the collection of rents and arrears of rents?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: Those are some of the reasons we end up going to approved housing bodies, AHBs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I support Deputy McAuliffe's view because not every plebiscite has resulted in there being a directly elected mayor. That proposal could well be turned down by the people of Dublin when the matter goes to a vote. In that instance, we would need to have a system whereby local government, the powers of councillors and so on would be radically reformed.

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I understood that I would have six minutes.

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: That was not my understanding. I will move to the point as quickly as I can.

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: My apologies.

Seanad: Leaving Certificate 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I will be as quick as I can. I echo what Senator Murphy said. I think the Minister's handling of the situation has been extraordinary. She has shown great dignity, respect and regard for everybody. It is a sobering reminder that the human beings who put algorithms in place are susceptible to errors. I seriously question the lack of a checking mechanism. What oversight was there of the...

Seanad: Ireland-China Relations: Motion (8 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad and congratulate him on is appointment. I know that he will discharge his duties with great competence and professionalism. I found myself in the most unexpected position, as a new Senator, of completely concurring with the motion proposed by Senator Mullen. I feel very honoured to have had the opportunity to put my name to the motion, for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to attend the House today. I wish to raise with her the disabled person's parking card, the primary medical certificate and the regulations governing the eligibility for them. Both of them come under the remit of her Department. When I addressed the House on this subject on Make Way Day, I spoke about the experiences of a constituent who is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I appreciate and hear that the Minister of State recognises the challenge. What we are really honing in on are the qualifying criteria for the primary medical certificate. I accept the need to confine the parking permit to people with genuine mobility issues. I get that link and the point was very well made. However, the parking permit is inextricably linked to the adaptation of cars for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I support the Government's decision to move the whole country to level 3 rather than level 5. I want to emphasise that the Tánaiste expressed his complete and absolute confidence in NPHET. We are all very grateful for the work it has done but its role is to advise Government. It is for the Government to take into account the broader considerations that are required in the best...

Seanad: HSE Winter Plan: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I congratulate the Minister of State on the HSE's winter plan. It is a very ambitious plan which takes into account the very challenging and potentially competing demands of Covid and non-Covid healthcare. I am proud that our Government has circled in red additional supports for those in the increased risk category, the elderly, homeless people and those with chronic illnesses, and provided...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I agree that we need a full review of its operation. As long ago as when former Deputy John Gormley was Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, it was outlawed. A circular for private housing estates said that there would not be a management company governing them. We need to see what happened with that and be able to interrogate that

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: We need the Minister of State and the author of the report in, regardless of what happens in the budget. Clearly, it may come before the select committee and may be addressed by it. The other side to it is that while I take Deputy Ó Broin's point, the councillors are on the ground working for people's quality of life on a daily basis on the simple issues, such as footpaths. I refer...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I want to highlight that today is Make Way Day and that we need to ensure our footpaths are clear for wheelchair users. I call on homeowners and the councils to cut back hedging, and call on people to stop illegally parking on footpaths and to make way and be considerate. I acknowledge that the councils, from what I have observed of Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council, have...

Seanad: Safe Reopening of Tertiary Sector and Key Priorities for Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (24 Sep 2020)

Mary Seery Kearney: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for making time available to us. It is a great excitement for me to speak for the first time in the actual Seanad Chamber. I begin by congratulating the innovation. I am very happy that the Department includes in its name the further education element because it is instrumental. I founded a college of further education and vocational...