Results 581-600 of 951 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach very much. I welcome Senator Carrigy’s class here today. It is a very proud thing to have one’s own primary school come to visit Seanad Éireann. Senator Carrigy does a great deal of work for and on education in this Chamber and when he talks about it, he is thinking about the school in Ballinalee. I thank my colleagues for acknowledging...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I almost knocked down one or two of our guests when I was racing to the Chamber too but they kindly left me a gap. I welcome the kids from Longford and acknowledge their local Senator and the work he does for education in this House. It is timely because my question relates to my own primary school in Grange. I would like a debate with the Minister for Education. Schools around the...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Payment of Interns) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank Senator Sherlock and the Labour Party for tabling this Bill. It is important to have a good discussion about it. It comes at the right time to increase workers' protections and rights. As most of us who are on the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment know, the Tánaiste and Minister of State are progressing much legislation to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Today marks three months since the start of the war in Ukraine. I want to first acknowledge the Cathaoirleach for visiting Kyiv last week, along with the Ceann Comhairle, and for showing the solidarity that we as a country should show Ukraine.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: He met with President Zelenskyy and with the Prime Minister. There is a worrying trend within the European Union in the conversation of where the war is going in Ukraine by putting pressure on Ukraine to negotiate with Putin. The Cathaoirleach was there last week. He knows that Ukraine is winning this war. Russia is retreating. Now is not the time to be asking Ukraine to negotiate with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: The first phase of the redevelopment of Kickham Barracks in Clonmel is under way, in conjunction with the building of a sports hub just outside the town. This involves funding received in the context of the urban regeneration development fund and allocated by the then Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government several years ago. It is an exciting and significant project for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I acknowledge National Bike Week. I am from a county where we have two people who have won the green jersey in the Tour de France, Seán Kelly and, recently, Sam Bennett. We have been quite successful. I acknowledge the positive role cycling plays. I cycle quite a lot. I did a cycle around the peninsula of Dingle a couple of weeks ago and was not the better for it for a couple of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Last weekend, we in the Fine Gael Party had a very successful meeting in Tullamore in respect of agriculture and rural Ireland. Hundreds of people were there and wanted to give their views on what we, as a Government, could do to support them. It was a listening exercise for us. As a party, we have always prided ourselves on representing rural Ireland and farmers. Many people from my...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Has the Cathaoirleach ever gone in there?

Seanad: Europe Day 2022: Statements (11 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. It is good that we are able to celebrate Europe Day and make statements on it. Ireland as a country is the perfect example of why the European Union is a success and we have benefitted on the back of that. It is important to acknowledge that if it were not for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporting this country in joining the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I agree with the Senator's comments. We had a very good discussion on Second Stage, and the Bill was supported throughout. The fact that there are no amendments underlines that assertion. I thank the Minister of State for his time.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Senator Ward and I had the harrowing but insightful experience of visiting Kyiv in Ukraine for two days at the invitation of the Chairman of its parliament. We were the first two parliamentarians to visit that parliament, and it has asked that people keep visiting because doing so shows the EU's support for Ukraine and opposes Russia's propaganda.We visited Bucha where 117 people from ten...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the witnesses. I compliment them on the submission and opening statement. From my experience, the submission was among the best we have had in the past few years. Ms Mangan mentioned Senator Currie and her work in this field over the past couple of years. Senator Currie has, within her own party, brought this forward. Unfortunately, she cannot be here today but I know she is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I have a couple of follow-up questions from Senator Currie. Ms Mangan mentioned supports from local enterprise offices in her contribution and how these could assist businesses in making a financially beneficial transition. Could she expand on that? Is the biggest issue with the legislation that it does not reflect and unlock the full potential of locationless work? Could she talk about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: The first question is for Mr. Hegarty and concerns workers' rights for people who are not in Ireland. The EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, was before the committee a couple of months ago. I asked him about people who want to remote work, for example, somebody in the Algarve in Portugal working for a company in Ireland. Is there a challenge going forward in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: When Ms Mangan spoke about challenges relating to the hybrid model and the way it works in the home, I connected with much of it. In my household, my wife was working from home five days per week for almost two years. She works for a wind energy company in Cork as an accountant. As people have gone back to work, her company has been good in providing four days at home and one at work. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: It is a strange situation. Both the employee and the employer feel like they are winning here. The employer sees the employee is working the hours they were formerly spending driving, while the employee feels that at least he or she is not driving and is saving money as a result. People who used to drive from Clonmel are saving more than €100 a week, especially given the current...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Could hubs make a difference in that regard? If an employee is going to a hub rather than working from home, the normal 9 to 5 work time kind of falls back into place for him or her. Employees may currently be working for an hour at home before the child gets up and doing an hour after 8 p.m. when the child goes to bed. If one goes to a hub, however, it feels like one is going into a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Rights (26 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to take this matter. This is an important issue and the fact that the Minister of State is here is evidence of that. This matter arose on foot of the publication of a directive from the European Commission on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence. Most people across Europe would welcome that document but there is one...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Rights (26 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. He is right that the proposal is at a very early stage and the most important aspect to take into account is his openness. He has said that he is "committed to ensuring that the interests and rights of all stakeholders are appropriately protected under the proposal and should it be warranted consider whether it is necessary for...