Results 4,321-4,340 of 4,708 for speaker:Neale Richmond

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (20 Feb 2019)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Chairman. I will try to make the 45 minutes he has allowed solely to me to suffice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (20 Feb 2019)

Neale Richmond: I will try to keep my remarks to specific questions with minimal commentary. In regard to the multi-annual financial framework I would like to raise the timelines the Minister of State has laid out for Council adoption. Is this in order or is it a little bit shorter than it usually is due to obvious concerns facing the Union at the moment? What are the timelines laid out for the European...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Years Sector (19 Feb 2019)

Neale Richmond: I am delighted to welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, to the House. I appreciate his taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone. As every parent knows, the early years of a child's life are of great importance in ensuring the child reaches his or her full...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Years Sector (19 Feb 2019)

Neale Richmond: I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I agree with much of what he said about this issue, which I am very passionate about. Every new parent should be given the same basic start and opportunity for the new life they are bringing into the world. I am not necessarily the best parent. I had many privileges when I had the opportunity to help, support and pretend to pay attention to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Neale Richmond: I am grateful for this comprehensive overview. The Working Group of Committee Chairmen had another comprehensive briefing yesterday. I definitely sense full support from all committee Chairs in all parties to get this through in time. Deputy Cullinane is right to remark on the unity in the Irish political process, but we cannot leave out the clear unity in the European political process....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2019)

Neale Richmond: I listened with interest to the Commencement debate earlier.A pertinent matter was raised by Senator Warfield on passport applications for children of same-sex couples abroad. It was very important and I really hope that issue can be resolved. It led me to the idea that we really need a debate in the House on the passport system and the future of the passport system for a couple of other...

Seanad: Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (22 Jan 2019)

Neale Richmond: I warmly welcome the Tánaiste to the House, who is a frequent visitor, and thank him for his remarks. As ever, they were very clear and give us a good idea of the position. They might cause a few people to pivot on their prepared scripts, but so be it. I commend the Government on the preparation made so far in dealing with all the possible consequences of Brexit. We should bear in...

Seanad: Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (22 Jan 2019)

Neale Richmond: A Brexit will be bad for this island, the UK and the EU, regardless of whether there is a soft, hard, medium rare or no-deal Brexit crash out scenario. If I hear the phrase "managed no deal" one more time, I think I will go blue in the face. There is no such thing as a managed no deal. It is an absolute worst case scenario about which everything is being done on both the European and the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Neale Richmond: It is Queen's County.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Work Permits Applications (6 Dec 2018)

Neale Richmond: I welcome the Minister of State and thank her very much for taking this Commencement matter. This is an issue she might be familiar with both in the context of her current brief and a previous portfolio. I have raised this issue and the delays in processing work permits on a number of occasions. However, I would specifically like to refer to the stamp 3 system. This week it was announced...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Work Permits Applications (6 Dec 2018)

Neale Richmond: I am very grateful to the Minister of State for her remarks, which are welcome and provide a lot of information. I am hopeful in terms of the work that will be done between the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and their Departments. Much of this feeds into the Minister of State's current role, particularly in the higher education sector, when we consider the many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

Neale Richmond: I apologise for having to pop out for a vote in the Seanad. I welcome the Minister of State back to the committee for one of her regular and appreciated updates on a range of areas ahead of next week's important GAC meeting. I will start at the finish and work back to the meatier subject of Brexit. Needless to say, what has been happening in Hungary in recent days is worrying. The Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

Neale Richmond: It was really the Article 50-----

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2018)

Neale Richmond: In the last hour, the European Commission announced the rolling out of the second round of the DiscoverEU interrail ticket project. This was launched last year following strong campaigning by our MEP, Brian Hayes, in conjunction with Manfred Weber, the leader of the European People's Party group in the European Parliament. The scheme is very simple. It gives 18 year olds across Europe the...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Neale Richmond: At the risk of accusations I would like to briefly welcome the Minister of State to the House. As convenor of the French-Irish friendship group I would like to echo his welcome to the delegation from the French National Assembly. I have a couple of points which are specifically relevant to section 3. I welcome Senator Black's comments when she said this was about a wider issue, and her...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Neale Richmond: I hoped to speak to section 4 but the Leas-Chathaoirleach did not notice me indicating.

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Neale Richmond: I did indicate. I ask the Senator not to interrupt me. I thank Senator Higgins for clarifying certain regulatory matters. I had concerns regarding how those regulations would interact with EU regulations. On section 6, dealing with the importation of settlement goods, will the Minister of State clarify how a conviction for an offence under subsection (1) may be appealed? If a person is...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Neale Richmond: For the information of the Leas-Chathaoirleach, I wish to contribute on section 11(a) when it is reached. Section 9(1) refers to territorial waters. Will the Minister of State, in summing up, differentiate between inland and offshore waters? How are disputed claims over those waters arbitrated under international law?

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2018)

Neale Richmond: I will speak very briefly on this section. I apologise for the slip-up earlier. My point, rather than a question, relates to section 11(b) and the definition of a settler within an occupied territory. I have a concern about this. As suggested by others, amendments might be forthcoming on this on Report Stage. Within the Bill, there is an element of vagueness. One could draw the occupied...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2018)

Neale Richmond: The Order of Business is No. 1, Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m.; No. 2, Home Building Finance Ireland Bill 2018 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1 and to adjourn not later than 2 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 3, motion regarding the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European...