Results 21-40 of 53 for speaker:Noel O'Donovan

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: While there was a discussion about jobs coming to Letterkenny and Donegal, I hoped Mr. Duggan would bring some to west Cork as well.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings Scheme: Department of Social Protection (16 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: He might consider it. I welcome his presentation. This is a pragmatic and prudent project to deliver for this country, and not before time. Auto-enrolment is a cost on business. Businesses have had additional costs over the past number of years. Broadly, the scheme needs to be welcomed because any employer wants to keep their employee happy and plan into the future. I will make the...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (9 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like other speakers, I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. It is the first opportunity I have had to speak to the Minister officially in this Chamber and to wish him well in his role. Obviously, there was a deep sense of personal pride to be appointed as a Minister for Deputy Calleary, his family and his supporters and the people of Mayo and I wish him well in the years ahead. This is...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Engagement on Matters Relating to Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank all the groups, specifically Family Carers Ireland and Sinead, for coming in. This has stopped us in our tracks and in the work we do. We see the importance of supporting them more. One particular line struck me, namely, that an audit of respite services is needed. We need to find out what the solution is to improving respite services and where the best model in the world is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: My constituency colleague in west Cork pipped me to the post in congratulating Cork GAA on its success at the weekend. I congratulate the Cork set-up both on and off the field and my own clubman, Kevin O'Donovan, the CEO of Cork GAA, on his work in recent years with Cork GAA. I hope it will bring us back to the place we want to be. As Senators, we all see the value that sport and GAA bring...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I rise today to put on record my appreciation and that of the west Cork community for the efforts of An Garda Síochána, our Naval Service, the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners on the seizure of more than €30 million worth of drugs off Courtmacsherry yesterday morning. The community there is in shock, although delighted about the seizure. We are aware that the...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries: Statements (2 Jul 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Like all other speakers, I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I welcome the fact that we have a Minster for fisheries now working on behalf of the Government. It is a really positive step forward in terms of the fishing industry. I thank the Minister of State for his engagement so far across the country and for recently visiting Castletownbere and attending the AGM again....

Seanad: Dental Services: Motion (25 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I will be brief. A lot of valid points have been made, and I do not want to repeat what has already been said. I thank the Minister of State for being in the House for this debate. When talking about dentistry, certain words come to mind. When we go to dentists, we are all reminded of proper dental hygiene and brushing our teeth in the morning and evening. Some of us may well be guilty...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I rise to discuss an issue in the town of Kinsale. The town is widely known locally, nationally and internationally as a major tourism hub and place of immense beauty. It is the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way. An issue around the development of a commercial mussel farm at the gateway harbour entrance to the town has arisen in Kinsale. I am not a politician of protest and believe that...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Has FLAC this information in written correspondence from the Department?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Perhaps Mr. Bowes will share that with us.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: Does FLAC have a view as to how we would stop that situation occurring where a previous partner and a current partner were recently bereaved? That is the Department's issue with this. Is there a view from FLAC as to how to get around that situation?

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I am not saying that paying two previous partners should not be the case but understanding the reasons the Department may have issues with it would be beneficial for us. What number of families may be in that position at present? It would be beneficial if we could get those numbers.

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres (18 Jun 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank FLAC for being here this morning. Social protection legislation is quite complex and technical. I thank FLAC for its work on ensuring end users get the protections they need. I have just two quick queries. The first is on the nature of the presentation on the removal of the entitlement of divorced and separated people. In the first instance one could say that there may well be...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I join in the comments of Senators across the House on the topic of the situation in Gaza. There are no words we can use in the House today that can express the wrong - the sheer genocide, the sheer murder - of what is taking place at the moment. We talk about issues in our constituencies in this country, such as disability and infrastructure issues, but it behoves us all, as legislators...

Seanad: Higher Education: Motion (7 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and wish him well in his endeavours in the years ahead. I raise the issue of student accommodation and the shortages thereof. It has been mentioned a few times by my colleagues here. There is no denying we have major issues when it comes to a lack of housing, which is also creating significant issues with homelessness, but the lack of housing is also...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (1 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and thank him for being here to discuss an issue that is really important to me, the Minister and the farmers of west Cork. I refer to the issue of derogation. The Minister will know that, during a discussion on the CAP in this Chamber a number of weeks ago, I discussed the importance of derogation for the farmers of west Cork, many of whom I represent....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Nitrates Usage (1 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I thank the Minister of State for his words. I genuinely see and understand his conviction about holding the derogation. For the farm families I represent, this is a business that needs certainty like any other business. On holding a section at 250 kg N/ha, if we can statistically check the water quality in streams and rivers surrounding an area that is at 250, I believe it would support...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 May 2025)

Noel O'Donovan: I want to raise the issue of the driver test wait times at present. It has been raised in this Chamber previously. Specifically, in west Cork, the Southern Star did some research recently and the wait time is six months at present. That is absolutely ridiculous. I am calling for a debate in this Chamber with the Minister for Transport directly on the matter because the RSA is not fit for...