Results 21-40 of 338 for speaker:Patricia Stephenson

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to provide me with an update on the implementation of the zero tolerance strategy for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I have asked that we have a particular focus in our discussion on housing provision and on the Government's plans to address the acute crisis faced by survivors of domestic violence across the country. ...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I am delighted to hear about the progress being made on the strategy for removing offenders from the home. That is a really positive step for women, particularly in situations where there are children. I would love to get an update on that as it goes through the Department. The Minister of State's response focused mainly on emergency housing. In my contribution I was trying to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Oct 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: This week marks ten years since the Carrickmines fire that claimed the lives of ten members of the Connors family including five children and a pregnant mother. It was a very dark night in recent Irish history. It was a tragedy that exposed not just the fragility of life but the fragility of the State's commitment to the Traveller community. In the immediate aftermath, we heard lots of...

Seanad: Budget 2026 (Finance): Statements (7 Oct 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I wish to share time with Senator Cosgrove.

Seanad: Budget 2026 (Finance): Statements (7 Oct 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: This budget is a missed opportunity to deliver for families and women, and childcare in particular is an example of that. The budget does not address the Government’s election promise to cap fees at €200 per month. Some families are paying more than €1,000 per month at the moment and have been for quite a while. That is leading to women making decisions about not going...

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I am sharing my time with Senator Cosgrove.

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I move amendment No. 1: After the fourth paragraph under "recognises:" to insert the following paragraph: "- the ongoing annexation and apartheid practices in the West Bank and the escalation of settler violence since October 2023 and the genocide in Gaza;"

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Fianna Fáil Senators for tabling this motion. We all know the extermination of Palestinian people has been relentless for almost two years and we must do everything we can and do so now. I was gladdened to hear the Minister of State mention the occupied territories Bill; however, he did not actually mention the committee report recommendations, which include services. He...

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I move amendment No. 2: In the fourth paragraph under “acknowledges:” after “following the July 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion; and” to insert “the ban on trade with the illegally occupied settlements is based on the International Court of Justice and is required under international law;”.

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I move amendment No. 3: After the last paragraph under “calls for:” to insert the following paragraph: “- sanctions on Israeli Government Ministers responsible for overseeing the genocide in Gaza and annexation in the West Bank.”.

Seanad: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Motion (25 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I move amendment No. 4: After the last paragraph under “calls for:” to insert the following paragraph: “- sanctions on violent settlers responsible for violence against the Palestinian population in the West Bank.”

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: As I am sure all Senators know and as we heard from Senator McCormack, last night there was once again a breach of international law while the Global Sumud Flotilla, a peaceful humanitarian mission sailing in international waters, was attacked by drones. These boats are a threat to absolutely no one. They carry baby formula, water and the most basic forms of aid. The people on board...

Seanad: Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation: Statements (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: The revised NDP could and should have been a turning point and a moment to finally reset our approach to housing and infrastructure delivery in Ireland. Unfortunately, I see very little ambition or vision in the revised document. One of the biggest infrastructure challenges we have in Ireland is housing. We have over 16,000 people in homeless accommodation and that includes a horrible...

Seanad: Mental Health Bill 2024: Second Stage (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I will be echoing a lot of the things that have already been said. I lend my support as well to Senator Nicole Ryan's powerful contribution. Her contributions are always powerful and today's is no different. I have concerns about the Bill. A Bill on mental health in Ireland is well overdue, but this Bill is flawed in its purpose. The purpose of the Bill is to protect people and to...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Business of Joint Committee (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Perhaps we could have a session on procurement. A great witness would be Dr. Paul Davis. He is a lecturer on procurement. It has come up multiple times around our infrastructure projects. It would be a session focusing on procurement blockages, what is going wrong, why we are seeing issues like with the national children's hospital in terms of change orders going through, and how to fix...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I have a question about procurement. I know we have had a few high-profile examples, such as the national children's hospital, of where procurement seems to have fallen between the cracks or has not worked effectively. I would be interested to hear of the reforms the Minister suggests putting in place in the area of procurement so that we avoid the pitfalls of the past or present and ensure...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: It would be worth considering if we are having a comprehensive approach. Currently, collective bargaining is not a right in Ireland. Civil servants, teachers, nurses and others all have that right because it is built into their systems. If private sector companies are delivering public sector contracts and that right is not in place for their employees, then we have a two-tier system. I...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: The minimum wage directive.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Priorities and Provisions in the Review of the National Development Plan: Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (24 Sep 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I will not hold the Minister to that, because I know it is not his Department-----