Results 2,081-2,100 of 6,622 for speaker:Seán Kyne

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...

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

Seán Kyne: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion re the second report of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion re earlier signature of the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020, to be taken at the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, all Stages of the Residential Tenancies and...

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

Seán Kyne: I thank all Senators for their contributions on very important matters, both national, international and local. They are equally important. I start with Senator Byrne's comments and I also wish the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, a happy 50th birthday. I had the pleasure a number of years ago to attend an event in my constituency of the time with Mr. John Hume, although it was a...

Seanad: Report of Committee on Procedure and Privileges: Motion (31 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: I move: That the report of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on the amendment of Standing Orders 70, 71, 72, 78, 85, 95, 98, 99 and 104 and consequential amendments to Standing Orders 76, 98, 99, 105, 107, 108 and 113 and the adoption of new Standing Order 45a be adopted, laid before the House and printed.

Seanad: Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Motion for Earlier Signature (31 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

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

Seán Kyne: Last week, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, stated that urban transport could be transformed in six months under the stimulus plan. I certainly hope that is the case. The funding of €115 million for active travel, public transport and infrastructure is very welcome and much needed. It follows on from the allocation of €200 million under...

Seanad: Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill, which gives effect to many of the measures published in the July stimulus initiative. The stimulus involves a €7.4 billion investment in our economy and society and is vital to our efforts to combat the unprecedented pervasive impact of Covid-19. It is only possible because the previous Government's management of the economy means the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding exempted development regulations concerning Dublin Airport, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of the Order of Business; No. 2, motion regarding restoration of Bills to the Order Paper, to be taken without debate on the conclusion of No. 1; No. 3, motion regarding the appointment of ordinary members of the Houses of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: I thank Senators for the issues they have raised. Senators Higgins, Fitzpatrick and Ruane referred to the deaths of five people in homeless services in Dublin over the past week. Our sympathies go to those individuals and their families and the people who loved them. I understand two individuals died in a facility in the north of the city last week, one individual who had been accessing...

Seanad: Planning and Development Act 2000 Regulations: Motion (29 Jul 2020)

Seán Kyne: I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 3) Regulations 2020, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 22nd July 2020.