Results 521-540 of 956 for speaker:Mark Wall

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy and Employment: Discussion (13 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: I also welcome our guests today. I apologise for coming to the meeting late. I missed some of the opening statements and the witnesses may have already answered some of my questions. I apologise for that but thank all of the witnesses for being with us today. It is very important. There is an area I wanted to concentrate on. I am aware of and dealing with a number of people who have...

Seanad: Teachtaireacht ón Dáil - Message from Dáil (7 Dec 2022)

Mark Wall: Dáil Éireann has passed the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022 on 7 December 2022, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

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

Mark Wall: Senator Burke wishes to share time with Senator Currie. Is that agreed? Agreed.

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...