Results 2,061-2,080 of 6,611 for speaker:Seán Kyne

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

Seán Kyne: I would like to thank Senators Ruane, Higgins and others for bringing this Bill forward. I also welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad. I note the contributions made and support for the Bill from the ICLL, which represents numerous organisations. Its view is that section 22 of the Electoral Act 1997, as amended in 2001, is having a detrimental impact on the important and legitimate...

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

Seán Kyne: I would not, but one would suspect-----

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

Seán Kyne: We hear stories, and we have to assume that these stories are not without some fact. I also have concerns about the use of a polling card alone, that is, being able to walk in with a simple polling card with a name and address on it, and no request for identification. Although one may be asked, will that happen? That has to be looked at. We have heard stories in the past of polling cards...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Workforce Planning in Acute and Community Care Settings: Discussion (21 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: I apologise for being late. I was listening to the hearing from my office before taking my seat. Ms Susan Clyne's submission states that "[f]or young GPs seeking to establish themselves in a new community, the initial investment costs in premises, equipment, IT systems, insurance etc ... are particularly prohibitive". How do the primary care centres that have been built in different areas...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Cúraimí an Choimisinéir Teanga agus Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019: An Coimisinéir Teanga (21 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an gCoimisinéir Teanga agus leis an méid atá le rá aige inniu agus atá leagtha amach aige ina thuarascáil bhliantúil. Tagraím do chúpla rud. Tá ceist agam maidir le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus ceadanna pleanála agus an céatadán ansin. Is é mo thuairim go bhfuil sé ag oibriú...

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Cúraimí an Choimisinéir Teanga agus Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019: An Coimisinéir Teanga (21 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: Ar an ábhar sin, an gcuirtear Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga ar an eolas faoi cheadanna pleanála timpeall na tíre sna Gaeltachtaí?

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: Cúraimí an Choimisinéir Teanga agus Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2019: An Coimisinéir Teanga (21 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: An bhfuil an coimisinéir ag lorg na cumhachta sin?

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

Seán Kyne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I raise the issue of services for people with disabilities and their families. Budget 2021 builds on the strong work of the previous Government and the former Minister, Finian McGrath, in this area. I commend the Government for securing additional resources and funding for disability services in this budget. The additional €100 million...

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

Seán Kyne: It was ordered last week that the House would take Second Stage today. The Minister is here to hear all the views of Members and it is right and proper that, rather than postponing anything, we have the debate and that Members on all sides put across the points they want to make and the Minister can respond. We will have plenty of time for debate on Second Stage and, again, subject to the...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: What a difference a year makes. The Minister is welcome to the Seanad. It is an extraordinary budget for an extraordinary time. Last year, the greatest challenge facing our country was Brexit and budget 2020 was framed with Brexit in mind. Budget 2021 has been framed with not one but two extraordinary challenges facing us, namely, Brexit and Covid-19. We are in the midst of a global...

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister. This is my tenth budget as a Member of the Oireachtas. Like many of us, we have seen everything from the IMF and budget cuts to a regaining of sovereignty, an increase in expenditure and the pressure and uncertainty of Brexit when balancing the books a year ago. This year has shown the rationale for a rainy day fund to those who doubted it. The reason it was...

Seanad: Investment Limited Partnerships (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (7 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: As a former Whip who attended meetings of the legislative committee, they were attended by the Attorney General and the staff of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Any engagement on any Bill is between them and the Department. It is wrong to suggest that the office, as the drafters of legislation, engage with anybody. The office is the height of professionalism and carries out its work...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (1 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this important matter for this morning's Commencement debate. While I want to focus on the Westdoc service today, this issue is related to the broader matter of general practice in Ireland. As we know, general practice in Ireland is under severe pressure and is facing major challenges. We do not have enough GPs and after many years of service and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (1 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Minister of State for attending the House and for her reply. Like all Members, I know she recognises the importance of rural GP services. The importance of sustaining rural communities and providing services to them may seem like a broken record, but the GP is at the heart of that. When people retire after a long number of years, they may have 30 or 40 years of service in a...

Seanad: Aviation Industry: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister of State. As she and I know, a decade ago we lost our airport in Galway. At the time, we did not imagine we would be facing a situation where there would be a possibility of losing Ireland West, Shannon or Cork airports, although, hopefully, that will not be the case. Of course, the loss of Galway Airport at the time was based on the withdrawal of the public service...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2020)

Seán Kyne: I draw the House's attention to the stay-and-spend scheme, which is due to run from tomorrow, 1 October, until 30 April 2021. The stay-and-spend tax credit is new and is available for the years 2020 and 2021. It may be used against income tax or universal social charge liability in a year of assessment. It is for expenditure incurred up to 30 April 2021 on holiday accommodation or eat-in...

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

Seán Kyne: I ask the Deputy Leader to request the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, as Cabinet Minister responsible for local government, to come before the House to engage with Senators on local government funding. As we know, especially those of us who are former councillors, local authorities are invariably under financial pressure, but this year the pressure has increased exponentially. The...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (23 Sep 2020)

Seán Kyne: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. It has been noted that the Bill is somewhat rushed but I know it has been discussed over a period. I acknowledge the public consultation that took place in August and I commend the Minister of State on it. It generated a level of interest and as others have said there were just about shy of 9,000 submissions. That demonstrates the interest in...

Seanad: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (18 Sep 2020)

Seán Kyne: I wish to take this opportunity to wish Senator Joe O'Reilly the very best in what, I hope, will be his new role and also to wish Senator Warfield well in his future.As others have said, a contest is important but obviously I will support Senator Joe O'Reilly. I have known him since 2011, when we were both new Deputies. Our paths diverged after that but it was a pleasure to serve and he is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: I concur with the Cathaoirleach's remarks of thanks to the Ceann Comhairle and the staff in the Seanad office and the Houses of the Oireachtas in general for their work over the past hectic and somewhat chaotic number of weeks and in these unprecedented times. With late sittings and the new positions in which we find ourselves, they have done a tremendous job. I wish everyone well for the...