Results 501-520 of 790 for speaker:Catherine Ardagh

Seanad: Seachtain na Gaeilge: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit agus cuirim fáilte go dtí an Seanad roimhe arís. Tá rath mór tagtha ar Sheachtain na Gaeilge ón am agus a raibh mé i mo ghasúr. Caithfimid iarracht a dhéanamh sa Seanad agus i dTeach Laighean an tseachtain a choimeád mar sheachtain gur fiú í a chéiliúradh. Ba chóir...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I raise the issue of inpatient beds for mental health services, in particular, for people who are suffering from anorexia nervosa. We have learned by way of the reply to a parliamentary question tabled by the leader of the Fianna Fáil Party, Deputy Micheál Martin, that the State provides a mere three specialist beds at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin for adults with this condition...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I wish to raise the abysmal delivery of apprenticeships by the Government. Last week, a well choreographed national development plan, NDP, was rolled out in Sligo with a promise of large-scale capital projects being rolled out nationwide. The truth is, however, that these will never be delivered because there is a huge shortage of labour in the country not just in the construction industry,...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: Five hundred houses a year since Fine Gael has been in government.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I would like to raise three items. The first relates to the new national children's hospital and it is a good news story. It relates to the benefits which have stemmed from the community benefit programme, which was knitted into the construction of that project. The community benefit programme facilitates the employment of locals in the area in order that they gain some meaningful...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: There are three items I wish to raise today. I raised the first of these last week, the prospective sale by Permanent TSB of €4 billion of a non-performing loan book to unregulated vulture funds. I put on record my objection to this prospective sale. I note the Taoiseach's comments during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, when he intimated the sale may not be to vulture funds but...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I wish to raise three items today so I beg the Cathaoirleach's indulgence. I wish to express my genuine disappointment at the collapse of the power-sharing talks in the North yesterday. I concur with the statements my party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, made when he expressed his bitter disappointment at the lack of an agreement to restore devolved government. As he said, politics is...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I wish everyone a happy St. Valentine's Day. Holidays like this tend to make those who are alone feel a little more isolated and vulnerable. I commend Senator Swanick's calls to set up a task force on loneliness and encourage all Members of this House to call on elderly neighbours or those living alone to wish them a happy St. Valentine's Day. Some people receive very little communication...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I also welcome our esteemed guests to the House. I wish to draw attention to the daft.iereport, which was published this morning and which shows an increase in rents throughout the city. Rents in Dublin alone have gone up by an average of €380 a month. Let us be clear, wages are not going up as fast as rents and people in receipt of the housing assistance payment, HAP, are struggling...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I also welcome members of the Air Corps to the House and commend them on their public service. I raise the HPV cervical cancer vaccine and the reluctance of some people to immunise their children against cervical cancer. I agree with the sentiments expressed by Dr. Ciara Kelly in an article she wrote in the Irish Independentin which she stated we should celebrate on the streets that we have...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: This is Safer Internet Day, an EU-wide initiative to promote safer use of the Internet for all, especially young people. The theme of Safer Internet Day 2018 is "Create, connect and share respect: a better Internet starts with you". Not only do Internet platforms have a role in cultivating a safer space for users, but as individuals, politicians, teachers and parents, we have a role to play...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: Ar son Fhianna Fáil, cuirim fáilte roimh an Taoiseach go dtí an Seanad inniu. Ba mhaith liom freisin comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis go pearsanta ar a phost nua mar Thaoiseach. It is a great achievement for the Taoiseach to be elected to his office and to be the youngest Taoiseach Ireland has ever had. It is a great personal achievement of which he and his family can...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: With a small bit of political apathy setting in, many people are switching from "Prime Time" to another programme on RTÉ called "First Dates". However, not all first dates end well. I welcome today the Garda backing a nationwide roll-out of an Ask for Angela campaign for those who feel unsafe on their dates. This campaign encourages those who feel uncomfortable in a situation, whether...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: Last week, I raised the issue of a primary care centre at Curlew Road which was promised by the Government in 2012. It was apparently still in the Government's plans when my colleague, Deputy Billy Kelleher, tabled a parliamentary question in 2015. Today, at 3.13 p.m., I received a note from the HSE stating that the site does not form part of the funded plan for development. Can the Leader...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: It has not built any new homes. When it was awash with money, it did not build any.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: That includes allocations from the rent allowance to the housing assistance payment, HAP. It is not new building.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I can bring the Leader to Dublin South-Central and show him that nothing has been done since Fine Gael got into power.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I can bring the Leader to-----

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: Yesterday I heard the Taoiseach suggest to the nation that people attend BOD, bank of dad, to look for a loan to fund a deposit to buy their first home. That is all very well and good for the minority, but it clearly indicates that we have a very serious issue on our hands. If the Taoiseach, after years as a Deputy, a doctor and a councillor, has to attend BOD to fund his deposit, how are...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Catherine Ardagh: I welcome the Cathaoirleach back to the House and wish him a happy new year. Although the Government seems to be making a large number of announcements regarding housing figures - many of which have contradicted previous announcements - the harsh reality is that there is a cohort of people, including families with children, who are living on the verge of homelessness having being served with...