Results 421-440 of 956 for speaker:Mark Wall

Seanad: Civil Defence Bill 2023: Second Stage (18 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I thank my colleague from County Kildare for the introduction. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I welcome the Bill, as does my party, the Labour Party. As has been said by colleagues, the Bill is long overdue given the importance of the Civil Defence to us all in our communities. This Bill will underpin an organisation that has been at the heart of community events in...

Seanad: Tourism: Statements (18 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy. It is a key employer in our communities and adds to development in many of them, as does heritage. The Minister mentioned that tourism was worth almost €10 billion to the economy in 2019, which is very positive. She also mentioned the latest CSO figures, which are worth repeating. Irish residents took 13.3...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I congratulate the Kildare under-20s all-Ireland winning team. It was a tremendous day for any lilywhite who was in Cavan last Saturday and for all of those involved. I thank the team and management for creating such an atmosphere. Obviously, I offer my commiserations to Sligo but it was a great day to be a lilywhite. I want to talk about retained firefighters. There was a breakdown in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I thank Mr. Harris for coming in. It is important to start with some statistics. This is our 48th meeting and our 19th public session, which shows the importance of what we are discussing today. To reference the AsIAm report for more, 86% of autistic people feel that they do not get the same chance, and 57% of the public recognise that autistic people are treated in a different way. That...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media: Statements (11 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I too welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is a very important and timely discussion we are having. I also thank the members of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media for producing this report because it is a conversation we need to have. I will talk in my contribution about a conversation we need to have around the kitchen table in every house in this...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I want to raise the Not our Fault campaign led by Sam and Odette Doran, which other Members have raised previously in this House. Each Wednesday Sam and Odette are outside Leinster House in respect of apartment defects. I was lucky enough to speak with them last week about their campaign and what they are hoping to achieve. There is an urgent need for a debate on this. Other Members have...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State into the House for this important Bill, which the Labour Party very much welcomes. We are told the sole purpose of the Courts Bill 2023 is to provide for the necessary legislative amendments to increase by 24 the number of judges in the District Court, Circuit Court, High Court and the Court of Appeal. That is very much welcome. We are told the Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Local Link Transport Services: Discussion (10 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome our guests today. It is good to see them again. It is only a week since we last met with some of them. I want to start by acknowledging Mr. Kerry. As he mentioned in his introduction, he is responsible for Kildare and south Dublin. I have daily and weekly briefings with him on various issues. I want to put on the record, as I did last Wednesday when I spoke at the fares...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Local Link Transport Services: Discussion (10 May 2023)

Mark Wall: Ms Graham will have one on her desk later today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Local Link Transport Services: Discussion (10 May 2023)

Mark Wall: Is there co-operation between the local authorities and the NTA? Are there constant conversations? One thousand into 12,000 does not really go, as Mr. Gaston has said. What can we do to speed things up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Local Link Transport Services: Discussion (10 May 2023)

Mark Wall: Last week, we attended the national fare strategy launch in Buswells Hotel across the road from here. Mr. Gaston mentioned fares being based on the distance as the crow flies. Does he think this will have a knock-on effect on rural transport? Some of the routes involve loops and so take longer than a route as the crow flies. It is very important. Pricing was mentioned in the opening...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Local Link Transport Services: Discussion (10 May 2023)

Mark Wall: We will wait and see.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the guests in attendance today. I wish to thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Larry McCarthy, to address the Chamber just over a week ago. One of the final things the uachtarán mentioned was the fact that GAAGO was available for €79. Unfortunately, since then, I have been contacted by a number people and, as...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 May 2023)

Mark Wall: There is one other issue I want to raise. I understand that the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with special responsibility for sport and physical education, Deputy Thomas Byrne, is meeting today with representatives of the three largest national sporting organisations. That is very important, and something I have raised before. We...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Inclusion of Apprentices) Bill 2023: Second Stage (3 May 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House, and I look forward to his response to this very important Bill. I put on record the Labour Party's thanks to Senator Sherlock for her considerable work on preparing and bringing forward this Bill. As has been said, there has been a drop of more than 300 apprenticeship registrations, down from 8,607 in 2021 to 8,286 in 2022. To put it simply, the...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Inclusion of Apprentices) Bill 2023: Second Stage (3 May 2023)

Mark Wall: The Minister of State, without interruption.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by GAA President, Mr. Larry McCarthy (26 Apr 2023)

Mark Wall: I welcome the uachtarán, his wife Barbara, children Conor and Shane and the rest of his family. I welcome also the GAA officials and everyone who is here with the him. I welcome him as a proud member of Castlemitchell Gaelic Football Club in Athy, County Kildare. The Cathaoirleach has already referred to it, but it is especially pleasant to stand here today after our victory in...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by GAA President, Mr. Larry McCarthy (26 Apr 2023)

Mark Wall: We even have Hollywood copying us now and that shows the power of the GAA as well. I use this opportunity to say comhghairdeas to a good friend of mine and fellow Athy person, Hilda Breslin, uachtarán of the Camogie Association. Integration and how important it will be has been mentioned and the uachtarán has lead on that, but I wish Mary McAleese the very best. It is important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Draft Regulations on the Operation of the Social Welfare Appeals Office: Discussion (26 Apr 2023)

Mark Wall: I thank the Chair and welcome Mr. McKeon and Mr. Molloy to the meeting this morning. I wish Mr. Molloy the best in his new role. I spent 20 years working on appeals in social welfare. I have always found them to be fair. I have also always found that it is an important mechanism for public representatives working on social welfare payments. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, I have...