Results 541-560 of 956 for speaker:Mark Wall

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...

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

Mark Wall: I thank Ms Archbold, Ms Murphy, Mr. Darmody and Cara for attending. It is vital that we hear these stories and that people appear before us. In fairness, Cara's was one of the most powerful testimonies that I have ever heard. If she were not 12 years of age, or if we did not know she was, we would never have said she was that age. Her testimony was powerful. That is not to...

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

Mark Wall: Of course.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Other Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Referendums and Lessons from Other Jurisdictions (27 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: The Chair will be glad to hear that many of the questions I had intended asking have already been asked. I thank Mr. Docherty-Hughes, Mr. Thomson, Mr. McCord, Mr. Paul F. Farrell, Professor Harvey and Mr. Paul J. Farrell for attending. This committee was set up to listen and that is what we are doing today. I will make some quick points and they go back to what Mr. McCord said about...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister for Social Protection to the House to debate what we feel is an important and necessary change to the social protection system. I want to heartily welcome some visitors to the Gallery: Damien Peelo, chief executive officer of Treoir, the national federation for services for unmarried parents and their children, and...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: I start by acknowledging what Senator Gavan said that this debate has been very measured. That is very welcome. I think the Minister will also acknowledge that.We all set out to acknowledge that there is a problem here and we need to fix it. That is where we need to get to, and we must do so as quickly as possible. I will refer to contributions made by my colleagues. Senator Hoey stated...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: I ask that for the sake of everybody who is in the Public Gallery and those who are listening in. Let us, as the Seanad does with its best work under the Cathaoirleach, work together and get this Bill through as quickly as possible.

Seanad: European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: I too welcome the Minister of State to the House. The European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022 amends the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003, thus ensuring as the Minister of State said, Irish law is fully consistent with the Council framework decision of 13 June 2002. It adds timeframes for making certain decisions and makes certain actions obligatory rather than discretionary. The...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: I move amendment No. 7: In page 10, to delete line 33 and substitute the following: “(e) 4 lay members of whom— (i) 1 shall be nominated from time to time as required by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and appointed by the Minister, and (ii) 3 shall be appointed under section 13.”. It is our understanding, based on the heads of Bill, that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: I thank everyone very much for coming here this morning. I have a number of questions to address in this committee meeting. I will start off with Ms Byrne and compliment the work of DCA Warriors. It is an organisation I come across very often in my line of work. The advocacy it undertakes and the help it gives to families at very difficult times is very welcome. I put that on the record....

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Mark Wall: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “Object of Act: judicial independence 2. (1) With a view to upholding the independence of the judiciary as the foundation of public confidence in the administration of justice, the Oireachtas in passing this Act seeks to ensure that the recommendation and selection of persons to serve in judicial...