Results 2,381-2,400 of 3,693 for speaker:Lynn Ruane

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I thank the Minister of State. It would be great for that issue to be brought back to the Department. The idea that the vaccine is most effective at the age of 12 or 13 is based, and I am open to correction on that, solely on the idea that any person after that age may become sexually active and would reduce the levels of impact. That is based on assumption. It seems that giving access...

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

Lynn Ruane: I echo everything that my colleague, Senator Higgins, said. I would add that no Senator wants to see Seanad staff having to work to such an hour in the evening. It would not happen as a consequence of Senators doing their job, but of interference in the democratic process of this institution. Last week, I mentioned Keltoi, which is the only medical detox programme in the country. For many...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: Before I speak on the amendments tabled in my name, I echo my colleagues on the rushing through of this legislation and the manner in which it has been conducted.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I will speak to the amendment in a moment but this is important. We are talking about forestry workers, no one wants to see them lose their jobs, and we want to see their conditions protected. We also need, however, to have the conditions of the people working in the Bills Office respected. They are not being respected in the manner in which this Bill is being pushed through.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: They are under incredible pressure and working from home as well. On amendments Nos. 3, 5 and 10, we understand the necessity around subdividing the appeals committee to try to speed up the process rather than their having to meet together. Will the Minister of State explain her objections to our amendments which simply call on the Minister of State to ensure that when the appeals committee...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I am going to speak on my amendment in this grouping, which is amendment No. 21. It is the first time I have spoken on this legislation. I echo all the concerns raised in the last few hours regarding the amendments and the process itself. Regarding this proposed amendment to section 3 of the Bill, it is similar to amendments Nos. 19 and 20. There is a proposal to delete an important part...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I move amendment No. 21: In page 5, to delete lines 7 and 8.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I move amendment No. 54: In page 8, lines 15 to 26, to delete all words from and including “(1) The” in line 15 down to and including line 26. This amendment would delete the proposed section 14D, which allows the Minister to direct the forestry appeals committee as to how to prioritise different appeals or classes of appeals over others. I cannot see how the claim can be...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: This seems an inappropriate political interference from a Minister with the independence of the committee and unfortunately in circumstances where a directive was made under this section, I believe it would call the integrity of the process into question. If the whole point of this Bill is to restore confidence in an overloaded forestry appeals process, anything which might delegitimise its...

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: Senator Higgins has covered it.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: Our amendments Nos. 82 to 86, inclusive, all relate to the power the Minister of State intends to give herself to set new fees for making appeals. It is a new power and centres on the part of the Bill which is a cause of real concerns among the citizens and environmental groups.

Seanad: Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I thank the Cathaoirleach. The concern is that any new fees will be set at a level that will discourage the making of appeals. Based on the Minister of State's own admission that the appeals system is overloaded, this is a concern for individual citizens who may be on low incomes or for groups with an interest in the environment or forestry who may make multiple appeals at the same time and...

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

Lynn Ruane: I thank the Minister of State for being in the Seanad this afternoon. I thank the Minister, Deputy Harris; the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins; and the officials in the Department for all the work they have undertaken to prepare a safe reopening of the higher and further education sector this term. I wish to echo much of what my colleague, Senator Hoey, said in her contribution....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I call on the Leader to bring the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Feighan, to the Chamber to discuss the national drugs strategy, with particular reference to Covid-19. During the first lockdown, addiction services were not necessarily seen as essential services with the result that many of them had to close their doors. Many residential aftercare services sent home...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Sep 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: "(2) This Act shall not apply to a residential unit within a licensed premises or a residential unit in the same building occupied by a specified person.". This amendment would prevent gardaí from entering a residence in which someone who manages, owns or works in a pub or nightclub lives. It...

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

Lynn Ruane: I second Senator Higgins's proposed amendment to the Order of Business in respect of the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020. I would also like to join with Senator Fitzpatrick in her condolences to several people living in homelessness who lost their lives in the last week. Unfortunately in the last few months a lot more people have lost their lives. It is not making it into...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (29 Jul 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I welcome the Minister. I have three more questions that I hope will be answered. On people who need to undertake essential travel to countries that are not on the green list, such as the UK, I have had a number of representations in the past couple of days from very concerned women who need to travel to countries that are not on the green list for a termination of pregnancy that is not...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (29 Jul 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I might recommend that if someone has missed-----

Seanad: Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jul 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I will not add a great deal because Senator Higgins has touched on many of the points I had intended raising, notably the back-to-education issue. It is very welcome that the Department has indicated the pandemic unemployment payment can be part of a social welfare payment that can lead back to education. However, the fear is that we are moving into a space where many of the deadlines have...

Seanad: Education: Statements (28 Jul 2020)

Lynn Ruane: I do not think that 30 seconds will do justice to what I have to say so I will use it to say that the way that the speaking time is being dealt with is so undemocratic. It lacks diversity-----