Results 681-700 of 1,072 for speaker:Emer Currie

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I thank Kim for putting the important issue of direct provision firmly on the agenda today. I do not think anybody wants to see the direct provision system continue. Direct provision does not work and that is why we need to change it. In addition, we must look at it in the context of now and the bigger picture. All the witnesses spoke with so much pride. It was good to hear that there...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I will not overwhelm the witnesses with questions. Could Dr. McGuinness elaborate on what he said about the peace dividend? How much of a peace dividend has there been? On the subvention and trying to pick into the subvention, I have read lots about how it is not €15 billion and about removing parts of it like the defence spending. When it comes to the debt, is there a risk that it...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I am still cooking my questions. I thank Mr. Thumann and our other guests for their remarks, the feedback on debt and subvention, pointing out that there is so much we can remove and that, from a historical perspective, the precedent is there in respect of debt. My question relates to citizens' assemblies. In the view of Professor McEvoy, what is the best approach, taking on board that we...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I have two practical questions. What are the differences in the age demographics? We are we 25 years into the Good Friday Agreement. The progress we have seen has been very positive and I do not want to appear to be criticising it. Professor Heenan referred to the people who are doing that incredible work such as the all-island cancer strategy and initiatives like that, the work in...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I have a question for Mr. Carlile. I congratulate him. I was there on Saturday. Does he distinguish between the language of calling for a border poll and planning and preparing for a constitutional change in the future? Does he understand why the former is something that people can have fears or be hesitant about but that having a conversation about constitutional change is different to...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I thank the guests very much. In response to the last two contributors, I agree that language has to be protected, obviously along with gender rights, equal rights, climate justice and access to education. They all made really good points. We have an opportunity to make sure, from a trade union and employment perspective, that we deliver in a better way. I do not want to ask any more...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Psychological Services (5 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I thank the Minister of State for stepping in today. This is a Commencement matter on education addressed to the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. I hope the Minister of State can relay my messages back to her. We need more psychologists in the HSE. We need them working in schools, in primary care, in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, and on our children's disability...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Psychological Services (5 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: The last paragraph is my update. I welcome the high-level working group to look at this in the round, but the issue of fees is urgent and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible for equity and for these people to feel valued. I ask the Minister of State to bring that back to the Ministers if he can. Something else that has come to my attention is the good news that the Minister of...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by the Rt. Hon. Lord John McFall, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords (5 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I am honoured to thank Lord McFall and to do a summary not only because I am a Senator or because I am chair of committee A at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, but also because I am from County Tyrone. I am a proud Tyrone woman. Lord McFall is very welcome. The theme of today has been relationships. I reassure Lord McFall that is on the agenda of BIPA. On the sovereign...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber for the second time today. I have never spoken on this Bill but I recognise, as the barristers in the room have said, that we have a strong record of judicial excellence and independence. This is about opening a more transparent process, which is welcome. The Minister mentioned diversity many times in her speech. It is obvious much thought has gone...

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Emer Currie: It was most definitely the summer of the passports. All of us had nail-biting moments and long telephone waits. I thank the brilliant Passport Office staff who went out of their way to help people as much as they possibly could. An incredible 1 million passports will be issued this year. This, in itself, is good news and something to be welcomed. We must also thank the Minister of State...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: I thank everyone for their excellent submissions and presentations. Regarding the Foróige submission, I had the pleasure of working with the organisation in Blanchardstown, specifically with Miriam Ryan and the team there. I am originally from Tyrone. I grew up in a house that was committed to youth work. We had a youth club. I did not have the same opportunities when I moved to...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: I will start my questions with Ms Myers. I mentioned youth work and the importance it played in my early life. I do not feel that here in the South we are investing enough in universal youth services. I believe this has become more of an issue in recent years. If we were giving enough funding to universal youth services, it would pay dividends. It would certainly help to fuel this...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: Three minutes is not a long time to set out one's stall but we have read their submissions. I thank Reverend Kyle Paisley, Dr. Devlin, Mr. Reidy, Mr. Swain and Professor Ashe. I hope that this is the beginning of moving the conversation from wanting a united Ireland to what kind of united Ireland do we want. I mean by that what they are telling us about Brexit and that nobody wants to...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: We are all kind of asking the same questions in respect of what we need to include in our preparation. I have heard great suggestions in respect of facilitated dialogue, community engagement and an independent body. There is so much to cover. Senator Black and Mr. Cushnahan kind of spoke about the same issue, namely, identity versus accountability with regard to the Assembly. I am...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: Am I first again? I am an easy target today. Is this my last chance to speak?

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: We are going to have three or four sessions and it is all going to be done relatively quickly. As I said previously, I really want us to produce a report at the end of this process that outlines the options for a pathway to bring this forward. I thank Seamus for his submission. When I read it, it pressed so many buttons for me and it did so again today because it reminds me why the Good...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: I thank the Cathaoirleach for all of the work that has gone into today. We read the submissions, went through them and decided who was coming, but it was the Cathaoirleach who made sure this room worked today, and we are very appreciative of that. I do not think the Good Friday Agreement asked the constitutional question; I think it left it open-ended. I believe the values that underpin it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: Mr. Durkan's submission eloquently screams sense. It is lovely to read. He talked about rights promises. I want to ask him about the legacy Bill, which is an attack on rights. The Irish Government is, of course, completely opposed to the legacy Bill. We had a cross-community group of victims here yesterday. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, met them and reiterated how...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. Mark Durkan (29 Sep 2022)

Emer Currie: Does Mr. Durkan think the DNA of what we are looking at now is connected to that legislation?