Results 41-52 of 52 for speaker:Patricia Stephenson

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Overseas Development Aid (5 Mar 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate his commitment to human rights and humanitarian aid, and I know it has always been on the Irish Government's agenda. However, it is so important that we really use the power that we have with the US and in the EU to reinforce just how abhorrent what we are about to see is. It also goes to the survival of many Irish organisations that live in the...

Seanad: International Women's Day - Women's Health: Statements (5 Mar 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Minister for coming to the House for this debate. We have already heard about medical gaslighting this afternoon. I suspect most, it not all, of the women in the Chamber can speak about experiences they have had when they have not been believed. Perhaps they have had really severe migraines and been told to try yoga or drink herbal tea. I once turned up in such severe pain to...

Seanad: Care, Supports and Enhanced Provision of Services for Older People: Motion (5 Mar 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Minister of State for coming today and thank the Fine Gael Senators for bringing forward this motion. We are talking about older people and sometimes we do so as though they are a homogenous group. However, I am sure we all know lots of older people who are living their best lives, hiking and skydiving. We need to think about them as individuals and the different supports we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I will speak today to overseas development assistance, ODA. In recent weeks, in the early days of the Trump Administration, we have seen a cutting of USAID funding by approximately 50%, which has consisted of a complete cutting of staff overnight and a complete embargo on the implementation of humanitarian projects across the world. This week in the UK, Keir Starmer has brought the ODA of...

Seanad: Response to Storm Éowyn: Statements (26 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Minister of State for attending. We have heard the phrases "once in a lifetime storm" and "unprecedented extreme weather event" so many times in recent years. We know these are not isolated incidents. For children growing up today, this is just the norm and their new reality. What was once considered rare is now a frequent weather event. All of us in this room acknowledge...

Seanad: Community Safety: Statements (25 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I thank the Minister of State for coming to speak to us today about this issue, which has obviously been in the public psyche. As all the other speakers have already said, people across cities, towns and rural areas are feeling a greater sense of threat. I live on the Carlow-Kilkenny border and rural communities are concerned for their safety, as we have heard from others. We heard that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: There has been significant discussion in the media recently regarding the lifting of the triple lock mechanism and it is within this context that I ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the Chamber for a debate on the proposed Bill to remove the triple lock, which is included in the Government's spring legislative agenda. This is not just a technical change in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I welcome Senator O'Loughlin referring to gender-based violence in her contribution. It is an important issue that we as a House should be addressing. We have issues in Ireland in relation to how we respond to gender-based violence. Across December and January, eight women on the island of Ireland were killed: Malika Noor Al Katib, Vanessa O'Callaghan, Searon Naughton, Karen Cummings,...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (13 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I really appreciate the complexities around government and running a country. I do not believe we should shy away from that but we need to make sure that evolution is happening in a way that is meaningfully considered. Senator Craughwell said it might make for better management. I would like us to make this decision on evidence. I will introduce an amendment later that requests a report...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: As I said, we should not be pursuing what is outlined in this section without having the report, on which I have introduced an amendment under the next section. I will speak to my points again. We should not be pursuing this. We have no evidence that having additional Ministers will bring value for money. We have instances of misuse of public spending. It is no one's fault, but we now...

Seanad: Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2025: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 3A of Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Act 1998 2. The Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas within 3 months of the passing of this Act on the need and appropriateness of...

Seanad: Cathaoirleach a Thoghadh - Election of Cathaoirleach (12 Feb 2025)

Patricia Stephenson: Congratulations to the Cathaoirleach and all my colleagues in this room, including people who have been here previously and new Senators like myself. It is such an honour and a privilege to be in this space. It is very humbling to hear everyone speaking and to be here with them. I look forward to serving people throughout this country very diligently in this role for however long it may...