Results 641-660 of 669 for speaker:Grace O'Sullivan

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome the Minister of State. I compliment Senator McDowell on pushing this Bill forward. When I became a Senator, he was one of the first people I spoke to about the Bill and he was very insistent about getting support for it. I also second the points made by Senator Lawless regarding the Irish diaspora, of which I was a member for 20 years. I think I was more Irish abroad than I am...

Seanad: Budget 2017: Statements (11 Oct 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I support the words and sentiments of my colleague, Senator John Dolan, on the Government's lack of real support for those with disabilities in budget 2017. I am a naturally positive person. I do not intend budget day to change that and I am happy to welcome some of the better aspects of the budget. The fact that we are emerging from the dark days of major budget deficits and cuts is good,...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Manus Cooney (5 Oct 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I welcome Mr. Cooney to the House with a great céad míle fáilte. I understand he experienced a bereavement in the summer on which I extend my condolences to him. I am from the south east, although my family hails from the Cathaoirleach's local area of west Cork. What is the main priority in terms of political representation for the diaspora, in particular, undocumented Irish...

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I second the motion and express my strong support for it. It has been placed before the House by my Civil Engagement group colleague, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins. I do not believe the Government is giving serious recognition to the impact the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, will have on all sectors of the economy and all citizens, both now and into the future. This is an...

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I referred to low quality meat.

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: Rubbish.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I was heartened yesterday to see a large protest in Dublin city centre in support of the provision of funding to promote cycle safety, organised by the Dublin Cycling Campaign and cycling.ie. Over 500 cyclists took time to tell the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, that the current allocation of funding to promote activities such as walking and cycling was a...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I delivered the keynote speech yesterday at a diversity conference in Waterford where a young lady, Ms Nowar Dlikan, a Syrian refugee, gave an account of her story and of the atrocities she and all citizens are experiencing in Syria. I have heard more disturbing news this morning from the Syrian city of Aleppo where Syrian Government forces, with the help of their Russian allies, have...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: It is lovely to be back in the Chamber again. The summer recess was far too long and I feel we should all have been back a few weeks ago, getting on with the hugely important issues facing citizens. Today, the Green Party published legislation on microbeads, which are small plastic beads found in soaps and cosmetics. They are causing contamination in our marine environment, as well as...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: Hear, hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Ervia: Chairperson Designate (21 Sep 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank Mr. Keohane for attending. The other speakers asked on specifics but I would like to ask about Mr. Keohane's vision for the next three to five years and how he sees the whole energy market in Ireland in terms of supply and, in particular, efficiencies. The other speakers also talked about the challenges. For me, one of the greatest challenges in the coming years is the whole issue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Ervia: Chairperson Designate (21 Sep 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: Does Mr. Keohane mind if I ask him about his international experience prior to his appointment? It would give us an insight into his experience in terms of his new portfolio.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I know many Senators hail from coastal communities around the country and I am from Tramore, County Waterford. I bring the Leader's attention to a serious failure in policy that is having an impact on the sustainability of livelihoods in coastal communities and has implications for biodiversity and marine habitats. Ireland signed up to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive in 2008 and...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I second the motion. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this important motion and I urge all Senators to come on board and allow it to pass today. I thank Senator Dolan for introducing the motion, which is based on his considerable professional expertise. Regrettably, I was unable to speak earlier on the Seanad Bill, but I do want to briefly note that it is this kind of...

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Jul 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank all Senators who have signed a motion calling for the release of Ibrahim Halawa. In particular, I recognise the work Senator Mark Daly has done in the past three years and continues to do to try to secure Ibrahim's release. I would also like the Seanad to acknowledge the great efforts of Lynn Boylan, MEP, as well as former Minister, Mr. Alan Shatter. Today marks the 1,055th day...

Seanad: Ibrahim Halawa: Motion (7 Jul 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I second the motion.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Jul 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I refer to the report that the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, is proposing to de-designate 46 raised bogs as natural heritage areas. We need to speak urgently with the Minister on her plans. She is focusing on addressing a specific challenge by abandoning completely any attempt to address the national and international importance of our bogs. As a...

Seanad: Communications, Climate Action and the Environment: Statements (6 Jul 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, for coming to the Chamber. This is my first opportunity to congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well in his brief. Let us be under no illusions. The role he has accepted is one of the most challenging. With poverty, both at home and abroad, social exclusion and disadvantage, we can rank the climate change catastrophe as representing...

Seanad: Farm Safety: Statements (6 Jul 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister, Deputy Creed, for coming to the Chamber. I will take a different tack. The use of the chemical glyphosate as a herbicide is a matter of extreme importance to farm safety. Glyphosate is probably the most prevalent chemical in the world that is used as a herbicide weedkiller. It is most commonly available in Monsanto's product Roundup. As Members are no doubt aware,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Jun 2016)

Grace O'Sullivan: Yesterday the European Commission decided to issue an 18-month extension to the approval for the sale of products which contain the chemical glyphosate. This chemical is used by the Monsanto company in its common weedkiller Roundup. There are serious concerns about the cancer causing properties of glyphosate. The Commission announced some new, non-binding restrictions on the use of...