Results 21-40 of 85 for speaker:Gareth Scahill

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Renewable Energy Generation (12 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I appreciate that this is not the Minister of State's brief. The opportunity for energy independence cannot be something we let go. I have some feedback. A leading industry body has warned that biomethane production in Ireland must be incentivised and supported ahead of cheaper imported biomethane. The current Government target for indigenous production of biomethane is 5.7 TWh each year...

Seanad: Delivering a World-Class Education System: Statements (12 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad. This is an important issue and I am proud to speak about something that matters deeply to all of us, namely, ensuring that all children get a chance to learn, grow and reach their full potential. That is what our education system is all about. Ireland is working hard to build a world-class education system, not just for some children, but for...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I thank the Minister for her detailed statement. I welcome Sheila O'Byrne and Catherine Coffey O'Brien to the Chamber today. I thank them for engaging with me beforehand and for their candour as they told their story. I look forward to seeing how we can meet their demands and requirements later on. I rise to express my support for the Supports for the Survivors of Residential...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Insurance Reform: Motion (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I second the motion.

Seanad: Insurance Reform: Motion (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I support what my colleague Linda Nelson Murray has said. I also acknowledge the 16.7% increase in the personal injury claims guidelines is excessive. Today I want to spotlight a particular area, however, where the insurance system currently presents an unforeseen hurdle which directly impacts a vital national priority: encouraging our talented diaspora to return home. Ireland is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: As my colleagues have done, I wish the Cathaoirleach the very best of luck. I also welcome our guests from Research Ireland. I am looking forward to working with all committee members on a cross-party basis. We all have a single goal in mind. We all want to see how best Ireland can utilise this technology. We must ensure Ireland does not just keep pace but leads in the global roll-out...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: The contributions of the witnesses have been very informative that we will need to use AI to summarise it. The AI safety report was published in January. Dr. Seoighe has said there was no consensus and that Ireland was the only country out of 33 countries to highlight the social impact and the fundamental human rights aspect. He is the deputy CEO of Research Ireland. What was Ireland's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: It is an AI safety report. There is an onus on the committee to inform people and ask the questions. There are issues around safety but, as Dr. Seoighe highlighted, there are massive benefits to this too. That is why I was glad he outlined at the end of his submission the potential benefits for people, businesses and society as a whole, and that is also why I asked that question. Black...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Research Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Gareth Scahill: In certain versions of it, when you tell it the information is wrong, it will actually apologise to you, which is interesting. One of the questions I had down was how policymakers should balance the risks and benefits of AI, but Dr. Seoighe is saying the next report will potentially answer that.

Seanad: Economic Competitiveness: Statements (28 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: The Minister is welcome to the Chamber for his first visit this term. This is a topic that is central to Ireland's prosperity and future and our nation's competitiveness. When we talk about competitiveness, we are discussing our ability to thrive in a global marketplace, attract investment, foster innovation and create a high quality of life for our citizens. The good news is that Ireland...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (27 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I wholeheartedly support the extension of the Act. It allows for the responsible consumption of alcohol in designated outdoor seating areas. I welcome that it allows businesses to operate with clarity and certainty. It is pro-business. It is important we protect businesses and give them that clarity. It is also essential that An Garda Síochána has clarity with regard to its...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I wish to again raise the school transport scheme. I have made a number of representations to Bus Éireann regarding the efficiency of some of the routes. We are getting to that busier time of the year when the demand for it is going to build up. Unfortunately, the responses from Bus Éireann are weak if not delayed indefinitely. They are not receptive enough to the voices of...

Committee on Education and Youth: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: Like my colleagues, I congratulate the Chair on his appointment and wish him the best of luck.

Committee on Education and Youth: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I look forward to working with everybody on this committee. We can achieve a lot. I am not going to go over what my colleagues mentioned already, but since I entered the Seanad, I have had the opportunity to visit several secondary schools and some primary schools. Most of them were already on the schools building programme. In the time it took to implement that programme, however, their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: I move that we suspend for the duration of the vote.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: It is fitting the Minister of State is here because her constituency is located between Senator Boyle's and mine, between Donegal and Roscommon, so we know she will not let us down. A couple of weeks ago I tabled a Commencement matter on the number of dentists accepting medical cards and the Minister's response was that we needed to look at having more public dentists on the scheme. When...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dental Services (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: While I welcome the fact there will be 20 additional dentist places available, I do not believe that will meet the demand that I raised a few weeks back. Dental hygienists say that Ireland is experiencing a workforce crisis in dentistry, both in the public and private sectors. Although a call from many dentists has been heard loud and clear in the media, it is not being heard elsewhere....

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

Gareth Scahill: I raise an issue in Roscommon with regard to the Gortaganny-Caher area, which experienced wild gorse and bog fires over the weekend. There was extensive damage. I compliment the local fire service on its response and the fire services from neighbouring counties, as well as the air support from helicopters providing water, on getting the fire under control after 36 hours. A number of...

Seanad: Driving Test Waiting Times: Statements (20 May 2025)

Gareth Scahill: The Minister of State is welcome. Senator Duffy mentioned the waiting list, which has 83,486 people on it. I will not say anything about the RSA, but its website still refers to an average waiting time of ten to 12 weeks even though we have been experiencing this issue since the Covid-19 pandemic. I hope the solution that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, is coming up with includes...