Results 21-40 of 359 for long speaker:Martin Kenny

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (14 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: Long awaited comes at last, and this has certainly been the case with the executive in the North. We all extend our congratulations and our best wishes to the success of that executive. It comes as one of the key factors of the Good Friday Agreement in the hope that it offered of a co-operative Government that would work together for the benefit of everyone and to build a society that would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Large-scale Capital Projects: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (14 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: That seems very long.

Road Traffic Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: ...points for the one incident. That is welcome and it needs to come in. The mandatory drug testing after a collision or a particularly serious collision is also something that should have been in place a long time ago. That measure is certainly welcome but it is closing the stable door when the horse has bolted; the collision has happened and the person was driving while intoxicated. We...

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: ...regarding the Stardust inquest is a key issue that needs to be resolved. I am sure we can have a sense of it working through to a conclusion, I hope, for the many families who have waited far too long to get a sense of justice and closure regarding that tragic event. For many other families, the Coroner Service is where they go to try to get closure and an understanding of what happened....

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: ...to other places. Yet, we continue to hear these negative stories being spread and put up in different places around the country. Unfortunately, because people are concerned they have waited so long to get adequate services for things they need for themselves, they are very easily brought down this road that these very devious, narrow-minded, right-wing people are opening up for them. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (25 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: .... It is vital that ComReg gets the staff it requires to do this and as the Minister of State said, it is under consideration. I welcome that but I hope that the considerations do not take very long.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Defective Building Materials (18 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: ...people point out that difficulties still arise and problems might emerge in the future. The Government must get a grip on the regulation of materials that go into people's homes, which are a very long-term investment. It must ensure a system is put in place to hold to account those who abuse the system. That has happened and this is clear evidence of it. I want an absolute assurance...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Weather Events (13 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...rushing to help and clean up but they must be paid, fed and looked after while this is ongoing. In many of these situations, they will not have access to funding because they will have to wait a long time to get insurance. We all know that. The Minister of State said the local authority will be the lead organisation. Should local businesses or the local GAA club go to the local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Weather Events (13 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...certainly have been killed. It was a very dangerous situation. The tornado cut a track of about 30 or 40 metres through the village and destroyed practically everything in its path. It also tracked along the river into the harbour area. Boats were upturned along the jetties. The tornado caused devastation everywhere it went and travelled almost a kilometre through the countryside as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan 2023: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (7 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...or something else, it will have to be grown, with the carbon taken in, captured and held in the building. To get farmers to buy in to that, they will have to be certain there will be a market and a long-term future in it. To make that happen-----

Immigration: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...centre while they await a decision from the Department of Justice. These people receive a payment of €38 per week and have their meals provided in the centre, where they are left staying for far too long. This is the direct provision system established by the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government back in the nineties as a temporary system. The system has been expanded...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...and Mr. Strachan mentioned a number of them. I would like more detail on the priority being given to metro north, which has been a bugbear around this place for over 20 years. It has been a long time talked about but nothing has happened. The main airport in Ireland, Dublin Airport, is one of the few airports in the world without a train or underground connection. It is something we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Martin Kenny: .... Strachan mentioned the envelope the Exchequer has and that we have an obligation to spend it wisely. However, we also have an obligation to future generations because rail infrastructure lasts a long time - it has been there since Victorian times. It is not a short-term investment but a very long-term investment that we have to look at over the long term. I would like to hear Mr....

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...more difficult for people to develop businesses and opportunities to get employment, we will intensify these stresses and strains. We welcome the movement and changes in planning with regard to the long delays that people have, particularly with An Bord Pleanála. This certainly needs to happen. I fear, and most TDs on both sides of the House fear, that the Bill will make things...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: I concur with Deputy Ó Cuív about the situation on the part of the line from Collooney to Claremorris. For a long time we have sought funding to preserve that line to ensure that it is in place. I note the Minister's comments about freight and everything else. We all agree that investment in rail is an investment that requires much lower funding for a much bigger return for the...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (23 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...being made to people. That is all welcome and needs to happen as quickly as possible. I also welcome the pay-related payments, which are hugely progressive. We needed to see that happen a long time ago. As has been said, it puts us out of step with most other countries in Europe where that is the reality. There is quite a small number of people on jobseeker's allowance in Ireland. It...

Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...have. While many of them may be corporations and companies, one of the big issues we have is that when people are in employment, even in what were traditionally considered to be permanent long-term jobs, they are no longer regarded that way. I regularly speak to people who tell me they are in a job which they thought was a pretty good one. I was recently speaking to someone who...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...be done to get everybody's PPS number in place, but I think it will assist in that regard. Likewise, the issue whereby when someone passes away, they often remain on the register, sometimes for a long time, also needs to be dealt with. Given the type of employment that exists nowadays, people often work away from home or abroad for periods. If they are not in the country on the day...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Supplementary) (15 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: ...country, especially in rural areas, that have serious problems getting connectivity. Sometimes they have seen the vans and the survey has been done. People have been observed out with monitors along the road and looking up at poles, and the residents and businesses think something is going to happen. Years go by and nothing arrives. I hope this additional funding will go some way...