Results 241-260 of 669 for speaker:Grace O'Sullivan

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: That is our right.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I seek clarification regarding Senator Humphreys's concerns. We were given nearly 20 amendments to this Bill just a day ago. As with the point of planning, we need time to assimilate the information and become confident about signing off on this amendment. Given his experience, I will ask Senator Humphreys to advise me on-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: That is the formal process.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for the clarification.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Marine spatial planning is a large area and we in the Chamber want to give it that recognition. I want all Senators to give this matter real consideration, as they have done. I take on board the Leas-Chathaoirleach's comments about the process for recommitting to Committee Stage, where Members could have some influence, but I do not want us to sign off on something that was handed to us the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Would we not be better off with stand-alone legislation on marine spatial planning?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 20:In page 44, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following:“Amendment of section 2 of Principal Act 7. Section 2 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (1) by the insertion of the following: “ ‘satisfactory completion’ includes compliance of all houses with the Building Regulations.”.”. Sections 34(4)(f) and (g) of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I will press the amendment.

Seanad: Marine Spatial Planning: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I am delighted we are here to talk about the marine spatial strategy, which is one of my favourite subjects. I thank Senator Coffey for his remarks about my work with various environmental non-governmental organisations over the years and his recognition of the importance of marine spatial planning. When he mentioned that whales are migratory species, I was reminded that our duty of care...

Seanad: Marine Spatial Planning: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Equally, they can be seen off the Irish coast. We are talking here about the great marine space. I agree wholeheartedly with Senator Coffey that this is a tremendously exciting time for Ireland.We have a significant opportunity to recognise the value of the biodiversity around our coast in terms of climate change. Seaweed is a sequester of carbon. I do not like the word "harness" but how...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State and it is great to see him back in the Seanad. It is great to hear that tourist numbers are up. Ireland, as an island nation, has something to offer tourists. As has been said, people come here not only to see this country's natural beauty but they also come for the culture, heritage, pub life and everything else that is available here. I would like to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Right to Housing: Discussion (12 Jun 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. This morning, I attended a presentation on the pre-budget submission by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The submission states that in Ireland as many as 780,000 people live below the poverty line, 85,799 households are in need of social housing and almost 10,000 people are homeless. I have been an elected representative for two years and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister and his officials to the meeting. I would like to focus on the local authority boundaries and, in particular, the boundaries in the south east, which is considered a regional growth centre under Project Ireland 2040. Demographics are changing and it is recognised that economic growth is needed in the area, considering that the unemployment rate has increased over the...

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 1:In page 9, line 4, after “apparatus”,” to insert the following:“and (iv) by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (k):“(l) to report annually to the Oireachtas on the implementation of the National Radon Control Strategy or any successor strategy.”,”. It is estimated that 250 people die of...

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I accept what the Minister said. He obviously recognises the impact of radon on public health. What I am proposing is that we would get a comprehensive report from the EPA. However, I understand that the buck stops with the Minister. If I understand him correctly, he is giving the House a commitment that he will report back to the House and assure us that steps are being taken with regard...

Seanad: Community Banking System: Statements (30 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the opportunity this debate affords us to examine the financial services landscape in Ireland and the need for An Post to provide services for a new generation of customers to whom traditional postal services appear irrelevant. There will be a great temptation to see the Kiwi post bank system, which we have heard about here, not just as a solution to the future threats faced by An...

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I move:That Seanad Éireann: acknowledges: -- that Irish waters are crucial habitats for biodiversity and provide an invaluable source of income for rural areas in tourism, fisheries, research, heritage, energy and more; -- that our seas and ocean are under unprecedented pressure, generated by the combined impacts of climate change, ocean acidification, shipping, fossil fuel...

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: The figure is about 6,000.

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister of State for his comments. In respect of the petition on the avaaz.orgsite, it is not specific but it is quite close to the motion. It is my view that it is very much in line with the motion. I am very disappointed with the Minister of State's response. I know our motion is ambitious. That is because of the pressures that are on the marine environment. I recognise...

Seanad: Marine Protection: Motion (23 May 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: That is with regard to microplastics and microbeads.