Results 381-400 of 669 for speaker:Grace O'Sullivan

Seanad: Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017: Second Stage (23 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: I commend Senator Swanick on bringing this legislation before the House. I have a significant interest in this area having been a lifeguard for five years, employed by Waterford County Council. I am aware of the work done around the country by the voluntary bodies, such as Irish Water Safety, and the first responders and Waterford City River Rescue, among many others. Considerable effort...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: This topic is very difficult for many of us to discuss. In spite of how it is so often represented in public debate, it is not an issue of two sides, black or white, but rather a complicated and multifaceted one that involves both personal conviction and ethics as much as facts and details. This is unavoidable when it comes to something as significant and important as abortion. It is now...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: Instead of receiving the support and assistance of their State in their time of need, they have faced criminalisation, demonisation and isolation. At the same time we put the eighth amendment into the Constitution we severely controlled access to contraception in Ireland. We are rightly contemptuous of that regime now and one would be hard pressed to find anyone to defend it. Similar...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Grace O'Sullivan: We must avoid the divisions and hostilities of that campaign. There is an obligation on all of us to keep the debate respectful, to understand the points of view of those who do not agree with us and to remember that the views of the Irish people are neither set in stone nor as polarised between two mythical poles as might seem from the debate to date. One of my favourite political quotes...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I stand today on behalf of the people of Bantry and the south west. They are in distress over the granting this week by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Damien English, of a seaweed licence to BioAtlantis to mechanically harvest 1,860 acres of kelp in Bantry Bay. Will the Leader ask the Minister of State to come to the House to debate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development: National Planning Framework: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I have made my own submission to the process but I want to raise a few points. The Minister talked about making the business case for investment. We are talking about societies here, more so than business. I would be nervous if the Minister was only focusing on the business case. I wonder why we are having this discussion without the capital plan on the table beside us. If I am...

Seanad: Special Needs Assistants: Motion (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I am standing to support the Labour motion, and to say that it is very welcome that Labour took the initiative to do this. We talk in Ireland about being an inclusive society. The role of the SNAs is to support inclusion. I have seen it first-hand in schools in Tramore and through the needs of my own children. It is crucial that the SNAs get the security that is required to ensure that...

Seanad: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I concur with most of my colleagues that there really has been a lack of proper debate on the signing up to PESCO. It was almost forced on us last week. Senator McFadden said that we are opposed to peace and Europe in our statements but, in fact, I am for peace and justice, and I am all for Europe. I want to be very clear about this. The Green Party campaigned in favour of the Lisbon...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Establishment of Town Councils Commission) Bill 2017: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: Deputy Cassells is very convincing. He made a superb presentation and answered questions. He talked about the commission taking new information in the new Ireland. If this proposal goes ahead, we must take into account that the economy and demographics are changing. Given that there would be more specific demands on them and they would have more executive powers, town councillors would...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I ask Senator Craughwell to tell us who are the lunatics to whom he referred in the context of PESCO. I am highly insulted and disgusted. The fact that we can converse and discuss issues such as PESCO through social media is a good thing. To call people lunatics is very unfair and damaging so I wish Senator Craughwell would take back his remark. I agree with my colleague from Sinn...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I completely concur with Senator McFadden. A debate on carers should take place and we need to burrow down into the reasons carers are not getting sufficient support. Last week in this Chamber we heard statements from the Ministers, Deputies Denis Naughten and Shane Ross, on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. Later today we will hear from the Ministers responsible for...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (6 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: Another storm is forecast for tomorrow. Storm Caroline is coming in, bringing winds of 110 mph from the north west. It is our latest forecast for bad weather and is unfortunate for everyone. Ireland is one of only four countries in the EU where greenhouse gas emissions are still above 1990 levels. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has shown that agricultural emissions increased...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (6 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: Last year the Government produced a 75 page comprehensive document on the targets on climate change in compliance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. This year, several Ministers have come to the House to discuss climate change in their area of responsibility. We had the senior Ministers to date but with no disrespect to Deputy English, the Minister of State at the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (6 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I requested a copy when the Minister of State came to the Chamber but it was not circulated to Members until just this moment. It is really necessary to have a copy of the statement when the Minister comes into the House, as it gives Members a better opportunity to keep up with the points. My view of the climate crisis in recent months is ever more coloured by my experience of being a...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (6 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: The Minister of State offered Senators an opportunity to come back-----

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (6 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I was just seeking clarification. I thought we had an opportunity now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: I would like to ask Mr. Dolan for confirmation on something and to thank him for his presentation. On the pre-legislative consultation with the Department, did he say that it happened or did not happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: It did not happen. Was the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association involved in pre-legislative consultation with the Minister and the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: That was prior to the Bill being-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2017)

Grace O'Sullivan: Were BirdWatch Ireland or the Hedge Laying Association of Ireland involved in any such consultation? They were not. I just wanted to clarify that because of the importance of consultation and, as Ms Duggan mentioned, the importance of having fora in order that stakeholders can get a positive process under way so that we do not have to have people getting frustrated here in the meeting. The...