Results 41-60 of 163 for speaker:Keira Keogh

Committee on Children and Equality: Election of Leas-Chathaoirleach (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I declare Deputy Aisling Dempsey elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach of the joint committee. I congratulate her. We will now go into private session to discuss housekeeping matters.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: If Dr Corbett could be brief, as we are already over the five minutes, it would be appreciated.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: It is proposed to publish the opening statement to the Oireachtas website. Is that agreed? Agreed. Before I call members, I remind them they will be allocated seven minutes' speaking time. Unfortunately, the timer still is not working, but we will do our best. This allocation must include the response to questions. If time permits at the end, I will allow a brief second round of...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I welcome Ms Tanya Ward, who is the CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance. I will announce the next group of speakers because the schedule has gone a bit all over the place. Senator Nessa Cosgrove will be followed by Deputy Aisling Dempsey, Senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony and Deputy Claire Kerrane.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I might allow a brief reply, if that is okay, and we will move on.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: The Senator will get a second round. We will move to our Leas-Chathaoirleach, Deputy Aisling Dempsey.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank Dr. Corbett. We will move to Deputy Ó Murchú.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank the Deputy. We will move to my own slot now. Before I ask questions, I want everybody to be aware that we need to be careful when talking about specific cases that everything is in the public domain. I think we are all right for now, but as we go forward, I ask that we pay close attention to that for the rest of the meeting. I thank Ms Ward for her contributions so far. I echo...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: Earlier, my colleagues raised families who are in emergency accommodation but are not linked in with other services. In my own county, I visited an emergency accommodation centre in Charlestown recently. I was really pleased with the services in the kitchen, the washing facilities and with how clean and spacious it was. I met one lady whom I linked with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: There are very different needs in cities and rural areas. There may be lots of young families in one location, whereas there might be a mix in rural Ireland. I have about one minute left and then I will come back again. I am really passionate about online safety for children. I am behind the Tánaiste in pushing for age verification at 16, but one thing that is not getting a lot of...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank Ms Ward. We have 39 minutes left. I would like an indication as to who would like to speak. I have Senator Keogan, Deputy Ó Murchú, Senator Murphy O'Mahony, Senator Cosgrove and me. Would Deputy Kerrane like to speak?

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: Let us go with seven minutes per slot. We will aim for that and if other members come in, we will need to reduce. I call Senator Keogan.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank Dr. Corbett. Would Deputy Ó Murchú be okay if Senator Cosgrove went next? Go ahead, Senator.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I will allow a brief reply and then I will go to Senator Murphy O'Mahony.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I again thank the witnesses for all of their engagement so far. I will stick with special care. We have touched on some traumatic cases in respect of Tusla. I do not think the general public is aware of how challenging and difficult some special care cases can be. We discussed recruitment, the need for more salary bursaries and so on. The fantastic support workers are in danger at times...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: That is especially so if a child is aged 16 or 17 going into special care and, at 18, can no longer be kept. I will not say "held there". Step-down would be great, as Dr. Corbett said, before the child goes back to society. Ms Ward and I attended the launch of a report, entitled "Meeting the Legal Needs of Children and Young People in Ireland and Enhancing Access to Justice - A...

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I was very impressed with the youth advocacy group that spoke at the event. It would be very helpful to have it before the committee. One of the things that struck me was, "Nothing about us without us". I have been doing a little work lately, especially in my area of County Mayo, meeting people from Mindspace, which is a centre to support mental health for teenagers aged between 12 and 18....

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: We are taking note of them. We can discuss it with the rest of the committee-----

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: Just the two of us.

Committee on Children and Equality: Engagement with Children's Rights Alliance (19 Jun 2025)

Keira Keogh: I thank Ms Ward, Dr. Feely and Dr. Corbett. It was really informative and the engagement was very welcome. I thank them for taking time this morning. I will adjourn the meeting. We will reconvene on Thursday, 26 June.