Results 221-240 of 4,672 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Comóradh Sheachtain na Gaeilge: Ráitis (9 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Táim an-bhuíoch labhairt mar gheall ar ár dteanga. Mar a deirtear, tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. Nuair a bhí mé ag fás aníos i bhFionnghlas, ní raibh aon Ghaelscoil ann. Sa scoil, bhí mé ábalta Gaeilge a scríobh agus a léamh ach ní raibh béim ar an nGaeilge a labhairt, rud a bhí scannalach. Anois...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Will the Tánaiste indicate the status of the Dog Breeding Establishments (Amendment) Act? Will he also indicate if unannounced inspections of dog breeding establishments will be included in the proposed legislative amendments? If so, can he tell us whether these inspections will be carried out by proper authorities such as the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Self-advocacy and Women with Disabilities: Discussion (9 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the panel for all the presentations. Each of them - Eliona, Derval, Una, Amy, Sarah and Nem - spoke about gender-based violence and that the instance of it is higher in women with disabilities. I was struck by what Nem said about there being a lot of evidence to suggest it is members of the family, people who are close to them or carers that this comes from. Obviously, there is a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: My constituency has seen an unprecedented increase in cases involving exorbitant energy bills. For example, a young mother received an energy bill for €6,000. As the Tánaiste can imagine, this caused her unnecessary distress and could have impacted her ability to pay her mortgage. The Government has indicated that it intends to bring in a windfall tax in the coming weeks. Can...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Yes.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: It is mainly the gas bills.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessing Justice: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Ms McCaffrey for the introduction and all that she has said. I agree with a lot of the aims and how the service is going about things. Mental health issues in the prison population are reckoned to be approximately four times the national average, which is very worrying. Much of it is increased by alcohol, drugs, or otherwise, and dealing with that is difficult. What is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessing Justice: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: That is good, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessing Justice: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I have seen them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessing Justice: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: Yes, I wanted to ask two questions, the first of which relates to the mention of phones in the cells and the connections with the Samaritans. Are those phones now open for people to make phone calls? The way the prison system works is that prisoners will get three phone calls per week, etc. Is that opening the door and, if so, what are the security implications of that? I am just curious...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessing Justice: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: That would not mean every cell, would it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Accessing Justice: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Dessie Ellis: That is okay. I agree with it.

Housing and Evictions: Motion [Private Members] (21 Feb 2023)

Dessie Ellis: In this housing crisis, no one should be made homeless or be put under that threat. If the eviction ban ends in the coming months and if it is not extended, this threat of homelessness will become a reality for many families. Renters are stressed, anxious and fearful for their future and parents are fearful for the future of their families. It is just not sustainable that people should...

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Motion (21 Feb 2023)

Dessie Ellis: The establishment of a Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use is long overdue. Hopefully, this April we will have in position the necessary 100 people to look at this and to consider all aspects of drug use, including recovery facilities, legal and policing issues and the roles of task forces and policing committees. I am a long-time member of the Finglas-Cabra drugs task force. Drugs task forces...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability Proofing and Data: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank everyone for their inputs. Disability-proofing and data in this regard are extremely important. Our goal must be to ensure this type of data collection happens. There are huge challenges in this regard. I refer to population growth. The ageing population, especially, is a big challenge for us. It is generally accepted that the cost-of-living crisis has affected people with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Disability Proofing and Data: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I know the CSO does not gather individual information. However, there are so many different forms and some people with disabilities cannot fill them out, whether it is because of a mental health issue or schizoaffective disorder. They cannot even get a bank statement, if it came to that. There is such a big gap. Someone needs to sit over what these forms are asking people to do. It seems...

Cost-of-Living Supports: Motion [Private Members] (14 Feb 2023)

Dessie Ellis: My constituency, Dublin North-West, has a varied socioeconomic demographic. Those areas of the constituency that are more economically disadvantaged are vulnerable at the moment to the escalating costs of energy and basic foodstuffs. People are justifiably fearful and anxious about their future. There has been a deluge of rising costs across the board, from increased mortgage rates and...

Emergency Housing Measures: Motion [Private Members] (9 Feb 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this timely motion and I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this important issue. Many renters now find themselves in a precarious position as the deadline for the end of the eviction ban is fast approaching. It is set to end on 1 April 2023. People are feeling fearful and vulnerable and for many the uncertainty as to whether they will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Raising Awareness of the Lived Experience of Congregated Settings: Discussion (9 Feb 2023)

Dessie Ellis: I thank everyone for their contribution. Without people like them advocating as they do for people with disabilities, I shudder to think of where we would be. Article 19 of the UNCRPD gives equal rights for people with disabilities to live in communities with choice equal to others. That is a principle that we all stand by. The commitment in the programme for Government to eliminating the...