Results 201-220 of 951 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services (26 Jun 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for his response. The response from the Department and the Minister is essentially what I have been asking for. With regard to that draft legislation, if proposals are put forward by the groups representing childminders, I hope the Minister will agree to them. There is no doubt about the Minister's commitment to supporting childcare. It is about the changes...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Business Supports (18 Jun 2024)

Garret Ahearn: He is doing so with great energy.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Budget 2025 (18 Jun 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister for being here and taking this Commencement matter. Before I speak about the 9% VAT rate, which is being pushed very hard by sectors across the country that are struggling, the hospitality sector in particular, it is first important to acknowledge what his Department and this Government have done. Since we have been in government in 2011, we have always held the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Budget 2025 (18 Jun 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister very much for his response and agree with everything he said. Any time I speak with businesses in Tipperary, the very first thing they say, before they make a request, is that they recognise what this Government has done over the past number of years, particularly during the Covid-19 period, in supporting them and their employees and in keeping them alive. That has been...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (30 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber this morning. As he is well aware, one of the biggest criticisms we get as Government public representatives when there are announcements of international protection or Ukrainian citizens coming to a town is the lack of communication. That happened only this week in Tipperary when there were rumours circulating over the weekend that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (30 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Of all of what he read out, only two paragraphs answered some of the questions I asked. I appreciate it is not his Department. He mentioned if the contract is agreed and that they are working with the provider. The provider said a few months ago that he would not use it for international protection and then he was found out. The new owners...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (30 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: This proves that when I ask questions-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (30 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: -----and I know the answers myself, the Department and the communication team do not deliver those answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: Members participating in the meeting remotely are required to do so from within the Leinster House complex only. Apologies have been received from Deputy Quinlivan. In October 2023 the committee reported on artificial intelligence in the workplace. One of the key observations of the committee was that further discussions would be needed to explore the wide-ranging impacts that AI may...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I invite members to discuss the issues with the representatives. I remind those participating remotely to use the raise hand feature and, importantly, to cancel it when they have spoken.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank Deputy Stanton, your timing is perfect. I now call on Deputy Shanahan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: That concludes the first round of questions. We will move on to the second. I have three indicating already. The first is Deputy O'Reilly, who has seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank Mr. Rollison. I call Deputy Bruton who has seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: That concludes the second round. There is one person indicating in the third round. Deputy O'Reilly has seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Businesses: Discussion (Resumed) (29 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: That concludes our consideration of this matter today. I thank the witnesses for assisting the committee in its consideration of this very important matter. I now propose that the committee goes into private session to consider other business. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (22 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. I wish her well and congratulate her on the new role. I have not seen her here since her appointment. I received correspondence from Lorraine Lowry, the principal of Scoil Chormaic, signed by all of the staff, in which she outlines some of the concerns the schools has related to special schools. It is appropriate that I read out the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (22 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for her response. It must be acknowledged that a lot was done in budget 2024. The Taoiseach has made this a priority by appointing the Minister of State to the role and having her in Cabinet. From the perspective of principals, they get frustrated when they hear this is the responsibility of the Department of children or this is the responsibility of the...

Seanad: Employment Permits Bill 2022: Committee Stage (22 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: Next Tuesday, 28 May 2024.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Unfortunately, Clonmel has been in the news in recent days regarding some incidents that have happened on a site on Heywood Road. This is a site that has been earmarked for 82 modular homes for Ukrainians. Unfortunately, someone who was working on that site was injured, hospitalised and stayed overnight. There have been a number of incidents there. Certainly,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2024)

Garret Ahearn: -----but this is important to say because people on the ground know this. The level of violence that has happened has to be condemned but that will not stop. There is a community and there are neighbours there who are willing to do that and more, if things do not change. There needs to be better communication from the Department or someone will get seriously hurt.