Results 461-480 of 886 for speaker:Mark Wall

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Second Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister to the House. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill. The Labour Party has been advocating for an increase in the qualifying limits for the fuel allowance over many years. My office has dealt with applicants who were just a few cent over the limit. I welcome the move by the Minister to increase those limits. The reaction in my office has been...

Seanad: Childcare Services: Motion [Private Members] (7 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I second the motion. I pay tribute to Senator Sherlock for the terrific work she has put into the motion on behalf of our Labour Party colleagues. I acknowledge the advancements in core funding and the work done regarding pay. I want to concentrate on rural areas where there are issues. I am sure the Minister of State is familiar with the issues in her area. In rural Kildare a number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome Dr. Bambrick and Mr. Berney and thank them for the presentation. As Deputy Kerrane stated, it will inform our scrutiny. It was a worthwhile presentation. My first question relates to self-employment and perhaps Dr. Bambrick could respond. She mentioned self-employment and how it will affect auto-enrolment in her report. Perhaps she will expand on that for the committee. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill: Discussion (7 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I thank the Vice Chair.

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I, too, welcome the Minister to the House and the chance to speak about this Bill. It is a relatively short technical Bill that will provide a statutory basis to allow an increase in funding to Fáilte Ireland. The current ceiling is set at €300 million and the Bill will see that increase to €500 million. The Labour Party will, of course, support the Bill, as it did in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I wish to raise Defence Forces issues with the Leader once again. I read a number of comments by Lieutenant Colonel Conor King, general secretary of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, in advance of its annual conference, which takes place in Kildare today. This morning, Lieutenant Colonel King outlined his fears about the growing retention crisis in the Defence...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome Aimee Foley and her family to the House today. As other colleagues said, I thank her for her bravery. It is very much appreciated by so many. I will give her and Senator Conway an assurance that the Labour Party and I will work with Aimee on what she asked for today. Support for victims is something on which we all need to work. She can be...

Seanad: Ireland's Military Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister. I thank him for making himself available once again to discuss our defence and neutrality. I also thank the Independent group, in particular Senator Clonan, for tabling what is a very important Private Members' motion that the Labour Party is very glad to support. The illegal, unwarranted and unacceptable invasion of Ukraine by Russia has given some commentators and...

Seanad: Ireland's Military Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: Yes, the independent review. I thank the Minister. We are very happy to support this motion. Ireland stands tall on the back of its proud tradition of international peacekeeping as a militarily neutral country. We believe we must invest in our Defence Forces to secure the futures of those who serve, and to protect and secure our territory. We welcome tonight's debate. We hope it will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I thank the Chairman. I thank my colleague, Senator Rebecca Moynihan, for allowing me to be part of the Kildare festival of questions that my other colleagues have had answered so far. I welcome Ms Kavanagh and Ms Aspell to the meeting today. I also thank our colleagues from Meath. I put my congratulations and thanks to the staff of the housing section of Kildare County Council. It is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I want to be associated with the votes of sympathy to Bridget and her family on the passing of her brother. I also welcome the approval by Cabinet of the Gambling Regulation Bill. In particular, I want to again thank the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, for his considerable work on this. Along with colleagues and the Leas-Cathaoirleach, a number of us in this House have raised...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I support Senator Gavan in his call. I also attended that meeting the other day and it is very important that we ask the Minister to clarify the position because so many people are dependent, as we were dependent on them, during the darkest hours. I welcome some good news from my own home town of Athy. Since I first put on some motions many years ago to Kildare County Council following the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome the Minister of State to the House this morning. We are here to discuss housing aid and housing adaptation grants. I hope there will be some good news on a review. I am dealing with these issues on a daily basis in Kildare and, unfortunately, the grants continue to cause a lot of problems. It has been 13 months since I last brought up this matter and at that stage I was promised...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Schemes (9 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I wish to put on the record again my thanks to the State for providing this funding. It makes such a difference to so many people, and I am sure the Minister of State is aware of that through his own office. The problem at the moment is that we now have people waiting such a long time, and cannot wait any more. We were told by the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Further and Higher Education (9 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: Well said, Senator Ahearn.

Seanad: Transport: Motion (9 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I thank all of the Fianna Fáil Senators, in particular Senators Fiona O'Loughlin and Pat Casey, for bringing forward this very important Private Members’ motion, which is very welcome. The extension of the short hop zone to Newbridge station in my county of Kildare is an issue that I and Labour Party colleagues in Newbridge and south Kildare have been working on for some time....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Operation of the Social Welfare Appeals Office: Department of Social Protection (9 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome our guests. I agree with previous speakers in regard to in-person oral hearings, which are so important for many people I deal with. As public representatives, we have attended those hearings in the past and found them to be useful in supporting our constituents and dealing with them. Will that continue to be part of the new regulations, whereby public representatives will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Operation of the Social Welfare Appeals Office: Department of Social Protection (9 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: No, thank you Vice Chair.

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I also welcome the Minister of State to the House. I congratulate my Kildare colleague Senator Martin on introducing this very important Bill. I assure the House of his beekeeping skills and attest to the quality of his honey. My family would compliment him on the honey. I also welcome our guests in the Gallery this evening. This is a very important Bill and I was very happy to put my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Mark Wall: I welcome everyone, particularly Ms Geraghty and Ms Carr. I also welcome Gandhi; it is great to see him here. It just shows what is involved, when we actually see a real-life assistance dog. They are all very welcome. I have a couple of questions. Deputy Tully touched on assistance and companion dogs. What is the difference between an assistance and companion dog? Is the latter just...