Results 401-420 of 849 for speaker:Mark Wall

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2023)

Mark Wall: Is Senator Ruane pressing the amendment?

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Committee Stage (1 Feb 2023)

Mark Wall: Amendments Nos. 61 to 64, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2023)

Mark Wall: It is good to see the Deputy Leader in the chair today. I will bring up a number of worrying cases I have been involved in or am currently dealing with that have regard to utility companies whose customers have contacted me. In one case, I spent a number of days over the Christmas holidays helping a family whose power had been cut off despite a moratorium on this happening. Those days with...

Seanad: Protection of Private Residences (Against Targeted Picketing) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Jan 2023)

Mark Wall: When is it proposed to sit again?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome all the witnesses today: Ms Derval McDonagh, Ms Sarah Jane Lavin, Ms Angela Locke-Reilly, and Dr. Áine Roddy. Ms Lavin, a fellow Kildare person, is particularly welcome from the great county of Kildare. I totally agree with Ms Lavin that independent living does not start at 55. That is a very important issue that she raises today. Could she comment on that? I deal with a...

Seanad: Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin: Motion (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House for the debate on this important motion. I welcome this announcement, given its importance to our democratic process, as referred to by colleagues. The Labour Party will support the motion. It is five months since the Electoral Reform Act 2022 was passed but its four independent members are only being appointed today. Will the Minister of State...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I call Senator Boylan. Is she sharing time?

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Community Welfare Service: Department of Social Protection (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I thank our guests for coming in this morning for this important debate. Based on my 16 short years as a public representative, I would like to thank all the CWOs out there because, as was rightly said, they have a difficult job. They are competent in the job they do and every one of them I have dealt with in those 16 years does their job to the best of their ability. The problem, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Community Welfare Service: Department of Social Protection (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: Can the witness come back to us on that because it is an important issue? The Department has 432 CWOs and is getting another 74, which is brilliant but we need to know how many of those are actually working. In fairness, I appreciate that there is attrition and whatever else but it is important that we know how many CWOs are operating on a daily basis in the country.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Community Welfare Service: Department of Social Protection (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I accept that. However over a period of time the witness should be able to give an example. What we are hearing on the ground is that there is a lot of absence and sickness. I can accept a lot of that but we need to know that 412 staff is the figure or how close to that the Department can get. I am sure that figure can be provided to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Community Welfare Service: Department of Social Protection (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: If the witness wants to give the committee a figure for this week, I will accept that. We can see then where the 412 are and how many people are actively working today. This week would be fine for me and I am sure for other committee members as well, Mr. Hession.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Community Welfare Service: Department of Social Protection (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I am sorry to hear about the witness's wife and kids but they are not working in the community welfare service.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Community Welfare Service: Department of Social Protection (14 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: As the Chair has said, we will accept that.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Admissions (13 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for taking the time to be with us. The Minister for Education will be very aware of this issue as I have raised it with her on a number of occasions. Indeed, it is almost one year to the day since she met with Members of the Oireachtas from south Kildare to discuss this issue, following a meeting arranged by the Ceann Comhairle. In...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Admissions (13 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Unfortunately, the first page is cut and pasted from a reply given last year. This is the problem I have in respect of school places in Kildare South. I have been highlighting this for a number of years, as have colleagues in the Oireachtas and on Kildare County Council. Thankfully, we see the results of that on the second page of the reply....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I wish to be associated with the comments of various Senators about Seanad 100 yesterday. For many of us, it was a special occasion. I thank the Cathaoirleach and all the staff involved for arranging it. I wish to raise two issues with the Deputy Leader, the first of which is the shortage of medication throughout the State. In several recent conversations I had with my local pharmacist,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: Additional changing places facilities will allow many families to plan for family days out and family events that so many of us currently take for granted. This would be a huge and important step forward. It has been welcomed by Changing Places Ireland and by many families to whom I have spoken. I thank the Minister of State for taking this step. It will make such a difference to so many...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I support that. I am aware of the Minister's commitment to the means test review and listened to her at the social protection committee, of which I am a member. I recognise how important this is for so many families. I would like clarification from the Minister on the last point Senator Higgins raised. It is important and the Minister is very much aware of my previous interjections on the...