Results 261-280 of 23,069 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2022)

Paddy Burke: Planning permission has held up many projects on account of various issues. Nearly 40 years ago the Naas dual carriageway was held up because of a snail. A wind farm near where I live was held up because of objections to the planning permission due to concerns that the red grouse would become extinct. Objections to a bridge over the River Moy on the grounds of the freshwater pearl mussel...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the announcement by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton, of over €13 million in co-funding for transport projects in Ireland under the European Union's Connecting Europe facility.This is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth and jobs in Europe. I particularly welcome the €2.5 million for Irish Rail to support studies on the...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: I can see the point Senator Gavan is making but I agree with the Minister of State. Good legislation has to stand on its own two feet. It cannot be the case that we are bringing in legislation but we will have to amend it in a particular way because of something else. It has to stand on its own two feet. What Senator Gavan is proposing is a matter that can be brought forward by a...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: As Senator Sherlock said, this has to work for all workers. It has to work for employers as well. We have to be fair to employers as well. This is, as has been said, groundbreaking legislation. I suppose everything is relative. Whether one is on a lower wage or a middle-income wage, one's outgoings will be relative to what one's income will be. If somebody is out sick, whether he or she...

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement: Statements (22 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this very important topic. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I know he is very much au fait with this topic. It is sometimes hard to understand what is happening. We were importing peat while at the same time producing peat for export, although that was shut down and we are now just importing peat. On the other hand, we were...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: I would like to raise an issue with the Deputy Leader. I suggest that we ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to come to the House to discuss the matter. It concerns the tariff for electricity that is being exported by ordinary private individuals. They are not getting paid. The Minister said that such a tariff would be introduced in May or June. There does...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Tánaiste for coming to the House and wish him well with this legislation. It is very welcome.It is only right that workers are well looked after. Employees must be kept happy because then they will do more work and the better the return one will get. As previous speakers said, however, there is going to be a knock-on impact from the cost of this scheme. Somebody has to...

Seanad: Cost of Living: Motion (15 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister to the House. This is a great debate. We have debated this issue up and down and the Minister will hear more before the evening is out. I am sure the Departments of the Ministers for Finance and for Public Expenditure and Reform are looking in at what is being debated here as well. What has happened over the last ten or 12 years is unprecedented. We have had the...

Seanad: Cost of Living: Motion (15 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: These were the same fellows who said we should close banks and that we should-----

Seanad: Cost of Living: Motion (15 Jun 2022)

Paddy Burke: -----take money out of the economy and close the economy down. That is what they said. Now they say we should pump money into it. Pumping the money into it has paid off when you look at what has happened. People's salaries had been reduced. Everything was reduced. Social welfare was reduced. Hospital services were reduced. However, all of those have been expanded over the last number...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2022)

Paddy Burke: I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate on Irish Water and how one might get an extension to a water or sewerage scheme. There is a lot of ambiguity about how it works and how extensions are prioritised. There are many small towns throughout the country that need extensions, and I wonder how these are prioritised. Will the Deputy Leader also ask the Minister about the charges imposed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Policy Issues for Carers: Family Carers Ireland (18 May 2022)

Paddy Burke: I support the many things our guests are seeking, particularly regarding the means testing. I believe it should be abolished. I also fully support the increase in the carer's allowance. I see at first hand in my mother's house the great work that carers do. She is 95 years of age and the care they give is unbelievable. Family carers cannot give the same care that these carers give. What...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Paddy Burke: I ask for a debate on infrastructure. I have in mind a piece of infrastructure extending from Longford towards Ballaghaderreen, with which Senator Murphy would be very familiar. It bypasses Strokestown. I refer to the N5, which has been the subject of problems because Roadbridge went into receivership. The project may well have to be retendered for. There are problems now. The Leader...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Paddy Burke: He got a few tips on the football field as well.

Seanad: Media Report on Governance in Local Authorities: Statements (12 May 2022)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister of State, who is a great attender of debates in this House. This is a great opportunity to discuss this very important issue with him. It arose out of the RTÉ programme, which local authorities did not come out of very well. There were certain local authorities involved but one could say it represented every local authority because I am sure there are a lot of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Apr 2022)

Paddy Burke: At some stage, we should arrange for a debate on the national development plan. There will be major changes in the plan's costs because of inflation in the price of materials, diesel in most cases and, due to shortages, labour. I hope that the Deputy Leader will arrange for such a debate. The collapse of Roadbridge is having a considerable effect on our area in Mayo as well as in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Apr 2022)

Paddy Burke: I too would like to congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his contribution to the joint session of the Houses this morning and on inviting President Zelenskyy to address the Houses of the Oireachtas. I would also like to congratulate the Taoiseach on his contribution and his overview of the scenario. We are all at one with Ukraine in this situation. The Acting Leader might ask the Minister for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Paddy Burke: I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to come into the House in relation to the energy situation. Where are we going? How will we meet our targets by 2030? Where are Coillte and the ESB going and what will they do? They are the two big energy players here and it is nearly impossible to see what their plans are. A...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: National Action Plan on the Development of the Islands: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2022)

Paddy Burke: I have a few brief questions for Mr. Somers. On microgeneration, we have seen recently the ESB has put huge increases in the charges for electricity, yet the tariff is only 10 cent per kWh. Who sets the tariff? How is it set? Is there any chance the tariff could be increased? In view of the costs suppliers are charging, I think it should be. There is also some concern regarding people...