Results 621-640 of 764 for speaker:Kathryn Reilly

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: All Senators will have seen yesterday's newspaper report of a woman in County Donegal who had to transport gardaí to her burgled home because no Garda car was available. When she reported the burglary, she was told by a garda that he did not have access to a patrol car. Could the Minister for Justice and Equality be brought to the House to discuss this issue? The Garda press office has...

Seanad: Rent Supplements: Motion (4 Jul 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister to the House. Like Senator Ó Clochartaigh, I thank the Leader for the opportunity to bring this important motion before the House. My colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, has outlined the difficulties, in terms of changes to the rent supplement, facing many of the families. Staff in my office, as I am sure are staff of other Members, councillors and citizens...

Seanad: Mortgage Arrears, Banking and the Economy: Statements, Questions and Answers (3 Jul 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Like other speakers I wish to touch on the issue of mortgage arrears. While I welcome the move which will ease the burden on some of those in distress, the first reaction of my party to the proposed legislation is that it is a missed opportunity. What is needed is an independent and responsive insolvency service to deal with insolvencies and bankruptcies, but what is proposed is a one-sided...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I support the comments of Senators Cullinane and Quinn in regard to the budgetary process and pre-budget discussions that will occur here in advance of budget 2013. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a report last week by a two-thirds majority. The report, entitled "Austerity Measures - A Danger for Democracy and Social Rights" highlights a comment made by the...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: WB Yeats said this is no country for old men. At present, it does not seem to be a country for young men, young women or young families either. I call on the Leader to make time available as soon as possible for a discussion on youth unemployment, as I have done previously although it has not yet happened. Youth unemployment is currently running at approximately 30% in this State and,...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Yes.

Seanad: Referendum on the Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (14 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome this debate. It is good to be able to reflect on what was a long campaign and for us to be able to go back and talk to people we canvassed and worked with during it and bring their views here. Referendum day was the people's day and they spoke out clearly in favour of the treaty. I was proud to play a role in Sinn Féin's campaign against the treaty. We mapped out an alternative...

Seanad: Fire Services (14 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will be brief and to the point on this issue. I seek information on the progress made to date on the provision of a new fire station in Virginia, County Cavan. Approval in principle had been granted by the Department to Cavan County Council's proposal for the provision of a new fire station in Virginia, but that was a few years ago and it has not yet proceeded. A site is available to...

Seanad: Business Undertakings (Disclosure of Overpayments) Bill 2012: Second Stage (13 Jun 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will try to not take too long. Like Fianna Fáil, we in Sinn Féin will support the Bill. If it proceeds to Committee State, we will commit to amending it and making it as good and as strong as we possibly can. As has been indicated, there is no obligation currently requiring someone who has accidentally been overpaid to disclose or return the overpayment. We need a uniform system of...

Seanad: National Lottery: Motion (23 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will not use all of my speaking time. Sinn Féin will support the motion and oppose the Government amendment. The motion is set against a particular backdrop. The Government has been tossing around the idea of selling off the family silver or, as Senator Norris suggested, the farm tractor for a while. Flogging State assets for a quick buck is not in the public interest. This is aside...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Last December, when the Minister for Education and Skills announced details of the education infrastructure plan for 2012, St. Mary's national school in Virginia was omitted from his list. In April the Minister published the five year infrastructure plan, which outlines when the major projects needed to cater for demographic growth will be completed. Some 77 schools were given the green...

Seanad: EU Presidency: Statements, Questions and Answers (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. We are living in times of great change, North and South and across Europe. We have seen recently how the tide has changed in Europe against the forces of austerity. That is to be welcomed and it is to be hoped this time next year the austerity treaty will be a distant memory of an attempt to constitutionalise a failed economic model. We are...

Seanad: Review of White Paper on Irish Aid: Statements, Questions and Answers (9 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Like previous Senators I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I apologise that I may not be here for his response because I must attend a meeting of a committee that he used to chair. Sinn Féin welcomes the strategy and goal outlined in the White Paper. As has been mentioned previously, Ireland has an honourable tradition of providing aid and development. This week my colleague,...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I welcome the Minister and his officials to the House. Deputy Coveney, with his great grasp of his portfolio, is one of the Ministers to whom I enjoy listening to most in this Chamber and I welcome him back. Sinn Féin welcomes this Bill, which is of great importance to the economy and in particular, to the rural way of life, which has taken some severe hits in these times of economic...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 May 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Sinn Féin warmly welcomes this Bill and congratulates Senator Power on her initiative and assure her we will support the Bill should it be pressed. We firmly believe discrimination and intolerance should be challenged and stamped out wherever it exists and that the days of loopholes and shelters for any type of ignorance should be put behind us. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I will be brief as many of the arguments were played out in the debate on Friday. The one-parent family payment provided recognition of the greater practical burden faced by one-parent families trying to access employment and raise children. Other Senators raised the matter of the contributions made in the Dáil. The Tánaiste said there that the measures relating to the lowering of the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I urge the Minister to take on the amendments. We are not tying the hands of the Minister on the detail. The amendment relates to the sentiment of outlining a roadmap. My colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, said on Friday that we are being asked to ratify legislation on the basis of promises. While Ministers come and go, the legislation remains. The amendment provides for some confidence...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (30 Apr 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I appreciate that the Minister accepts the spirit of the amendment, but, as legislators, we must base our decisions on what is contained in the legislation. Therefore, in the absence of a framework or plan for the future, I must press the amendment.

Seanad: Small Business: Motion (28 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2012)

Kathryn Reilly: Members have been discussing the household charge a lot in this Chamber. During the debate on the legislation underpinning the household charge, Senator Ó Clochartaigh tabled an amendment pertaining to poverty analysis of legislation, which proposed including such analysis in respect of that particular legislation. The Central Statistics Office has revealed today that the number of...