Results 21-40 of 1,016 for at speaker:Paul Gavan

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I want to come back in because this is a good amendment. I have to agree entirely with Senator Boyhan that talking about the spirit of the amendment really means nothing at the end of the day unless the amendment is accepted. Talking about the role that the new mayor will have in terms of chairing is all well and good but, as has been pointed out, we are here to discuss the legislation...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is very welcome. I wish to express a little frustration regarding these amendments. Sinn Féin is not opposing them but we did ask for a briefing note on them. Even from what the Minister of State has just said, there is quite a lot involved here. We did not get such a briefing note. That is not a good way to go about doing business in terms of tucking these...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Acting Chair. The Minister of State is welcome back. With regard to amendment No. 8, if we want this position to be a truly transforming one for local democracy, the position of mayor must be the sole focus of anyone elected. To allow for other employment during the term of office would be a definite signal to the electorate that this is not a role that has value. If it is to...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: On a point of order, and I mean this respectfully, the Minister of State is speaking so fast that I cannot understand what he is saying. I know he wants to get the Bill through, but I ask him to speak at a pace that we can understand. I want to listen and respond.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: I think we are almost out of time but I will say, and I mean this respectfully, I am so disappointed. The interpretation of the plebiscite the Minister of State has included in this Bill is so conservative. If we were to ask the people of Limerick if they would like their mayor to tackle the issue of waste management, they would tell us that of course they would. The idea that it would...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (8 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: That is good because I have an extra five minutes. I wish to make a point in all seriousness about the inclusion of these amendments. I acknowledge the fact that the Minister of State has answered on the policing issue by saying the community safety partnership has not yet been set up and has expressed the wish that the mayor will be chair. That is now on the record of the House, which I...

Seanad: Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: ...party and in particular, Deputy Richard Bruton, who I have got to know quite well through our work together on the enterprise committee and who I have the height of respect for. There is no doubt that John Bruton made a very significant contribution to Irish life over four decades of service. Even looking at the range of Ministries he held, including industry and energy, education,...

Seanad: Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is very welcome. The Bill is required for Ireland to participate fully in some of the institutional mechanisms available in Europe to support the people, the economy and the infrastructure of Ukraine. The Bill seeks to enable the State to take part in donor and trust funds that have been established by the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2024)

Paul Gavan: Not at all, a Chathaoirligh, you are the finest. With regard to the Commencement matter this morning, I, like all Members, put on record my solidarity with Senator Clonan. On countless occasions, Deputy Quinlivan and I have tried to get answers in respect of University Hospital Limerick and the trolley crisis there, but we are yet to have a line Minister come to the House to deal with a...

Seanad: Digital Services Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Paul Gavan: The Minister of State is welcome. Sinn Féin is supportive of this Bill and the EU Digital Services Act as it seeks to regulate very large online platforms and provide a more equitable online environment. The Bill aims to address illegal and harmful content. It is hoped it will also rein in the powers of big tech and give Internet users a bit more control over their digital lives....

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Paul Gavan: It is great to see our colleagues here today. They are very welcome. Sinn Féin will be supporting this Bill. I will begin by quoting a speech made by Deputy Mark Ward last year when he was speaking on this Bill in the Dáil. He said: We need to ensure that children are not groomed into crime and that they can ... be children - playing football, taking music lessons, hanging out...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Paul Gavan: I want to begin by joining with others in offering my condolences and those of my party to the family of Mr. John Connor. The restoration of the Executive and Assembly is very good news for all of the people of Ireland. It allows for the full operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all its interlocking institutions, especially the all-island North-South institutions. It is an...

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: Listening to our colleagues, Senators Mullen and Keogan, brought me back in time to 1983, when I first got involved in political action. I campaigned against that awful eighth amendment. Their speeches brought me back to a time when they were the dominant voices. That suffocating oppression of women was mainstream and so strongly in place that it was a horrendous time. As a result, each...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister of State for coming in this morning. I also wish to express my disappointment that neither the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, nor the Minister, Deputy Harris, were available to come in. The Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT, carried out an extensive survey of more than 550 academics, including lecturers and researchers, in third level institutions...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I have to disagree with the Minister of State because this research shows very clearly that on the ground, things are not happening. On the ground, precarious employment across the third-level sector is at an all-time high. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is talking the talk but he is certainly not walking the walk in this regard. One of the key aspects that is missing is collective...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I begin by also acknowledging the fine work of Senator Seery Kearney on the surrogacy Bill. I have witnessed it first-hand.I want to once again raise the issue of Palestine and, in particular, the very powerful lobby we have received over the last week calling for the EU-Israel Association Agreement to be terminated. This is the correct call to make and I am calling on the Government to...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: I thank the Minister for speaking on the amendments. As she knows, colleagues from Fórsa attended the previous two debates on the Bill.I acknowledge the Minister was good enough to speak to them on both occasions. While we welcome the two years in that amendment, it does not deal with the core issue. I have spoken to my colleagues in Fórsa almost on a daily basis in the past...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: ...: “Report on establishing a social welfare adequacy commission 21. The Minister shall carry out a review on establishing a social welfare adequacy commission in order to ensure social welfare rates meet the Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) to study the effect that adequacy of social welfare rates could have on addressing poverty levels and that the report shall be...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Paul Gavan: We propose the establishment of a social welfare adequacy commission that would advise the Government on social protection payment rates. The commission would make recommendations on payment rates ahead of the annual budget with the aim of ensuring they are adequate, meet a minimum essential standard of living, MESL, and protect people from poverty. This would ensure that all recipients are...