Results 3,341-3,360 of 4,884 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Affordable Housing: Discussion (18 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is good to know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Affordable Housing: Discussion (18 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Information is crucial in this case. The projects mentioned by Mr. Baneham and Mr. O'Neill are more like pilot schemes for the rest of us to learn from. It is crucial that they are done right and that they give people the opportunity to afford a house. All of us will probably learn lessons from them from now on. They will be pilot schemes for the rest of the country. It is crucial that...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Needs Assistants (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for coming. I have a very important issue that I would like to speak to her about. Last month the Department issued the news that 800 new special needs assistants were to be allocated to schools from September. The reason given was that there was a record number of children in mainstream schools who required support. While I welcome the early announcement as...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Needs Assistants (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As a teacher, the Minister of State would have been-----

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Needs Assistants (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for reply. I knew the Minister was not coming to the House and I felt it was appropriate the Minister of State, as a former principal and teacher, should be here. I have concerns about the appeals process, although the appeal has gone to the NCSE. The Department of Education and Skills and the Minister announced that these extra 800 special needs assistants...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Last year, the World Health Organization, WHO, designated the compulsive playing of video games as a new mental health condition. We are not talking openly about this issue. Parents are worried and feel helpless when they see the damage being done and they do not understand or know the dangers because we are not having the conversation. Some parents will be frightened. This condition will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Senator did the same last week on the housing Bill. There was nobody here. There was nobody from Fine Gael here for the housing Bill, which is the biggest Bill ever.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is true. That is what happened last week.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I could have many an argument-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Leader did not mention the mental health committee meeting. That was the issue I raised.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jun 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Can the Leader give me a time for when this will happen? It has been eight months now. Can he give us an update on when it is expected?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I appreciate the Minister coming to the Upper House to discuss this matter with me. A new national childcare scheme will be rolled out from this October which will replace previous childcare support programmes. The aim of this, as I understand it, is that parents of children aged from two to 15 years attending any Tusla-registered childcare service will be entitled to some level of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am disappointed with the answer because years ago when all these groups were set up, the after-school services were always in what would have been called disadvantaged areas but now these parents are going to lose out. They will not be able to afford to send their children to after-school services. We are talking about the most vulnerable in our society. I beg the Minister to re-examine...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Childcare Services Funding (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I appreciate that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Friday, 21 June is the national family carers' day in Ireland and Shine a Light will mark the occasion. I encourage all Senators to support it. I have consistently raised the importance of carers in our society and I am increasingly frustrated with the time it takes to process carer's allowance applications. At my regular clinics I hear of backlogs of between six and eight months and that...

Seanad: Fire Safety in Apartment Dwellings: Statements (30 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I do not have to tell everyone there is a crisis in housing as not only do we see the homeless figures climbing but we have mistakes for which we are now paying. Too many apartment blocks were built to poor standards. We have a tortured history in how we built accommodation. To be fair, it seems to me that the co-living scheme, which is being touted as the solution to all our problems, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Many of my concerns have been answered. I think I am more confused now. The Minister has responded to questions about enforcement, timescales and resources by saying he will come back to us. When he said he will start an awareness campaign, he said he thinks Dublin City Council will be the lead base in that regard. I appreciate that short-term lettings are more common in Dublin and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: No, I have been listening. Who is going to enforce this? Is there an issue with regard to the timescale? A question was asked about awareness and the Minister responded to that. I am not being unfair. I think this is welcome. As a member of the housing committee, I have expressed concern to the Minister about many matters. I know this issue is particularly relevant in our cities. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2019: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (29 May 2019)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I would have concerns. I am still not happy with some of the answers. There are still issues that need to be sorted out. The most significant issue, and the Minister knows it, is the fact that everything boils down to money and resources. It does not matter which regulation the Minister introduces or which local authority someone works for, if there is no money and enforcement, it does...