Results 61-80 of 5,552 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:John McGuinness

Housing for All Update: Statements (Resumed) (4 Oct 2022)

John McGuinness: I raise an issue with the accommodation being provided for the Ukrainian people who are coming here. The majority of it is up to standard but there is a significant number of locations where the accommodation falls well short of standards we could be proud of. I ask the Minister of State to look in particular at a location in Carlow and some locations in Kilkenny. It is reported the...

Summer Economic Statement: Statements (14 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: This House means something to me. It means something to the people who elected me and to the country generally. Deputy Boyd Barrett is on the Business Committee. He should do something about it instead of slagging me about it.

Summer Economic Statement: Statements (14 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: The fact is that we have to do something as a Parliament. We have to be heard, and we are not being heard. The other frightening aspect of all this is that real detailed budgetary matters, this summer economic statement and policies that would make a difference to the country and the people who live in it are now not being debated even at those parliamentary party meetings, and I am speaking...

Summer Economic Statement: Statements (14 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: There is no doubt that the overall economic performance of the country has stood the test of Covid-19 and the war and so on. That is being shouldered by many of the small to medium-sized businesses that all of us know within our own constituencies. They are, if you like, hiding the fact that they are experiencing enormous difficulties just to continue in their development and hold on to...

Electoral Reform Bill: From the Seanad (13 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: I agree with Deputy Howlin. The amendments that come before the House deserve to be analysed and the Minister should be probed on all the issues that arise from them. We have not been able to do that in the case of many Bills. The point made by the Deputy is correct. If we cannot do it, then who will after it passes through the Houses? The President has already complained about the...

Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (13 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: There is no doubt that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach, which dealt with the Bill, did a very detailed analysis of it and that most of the recommendations made in its report were taken on board by the Minister. During the course of the hearings, the sincerity of the Minister was clear with regard to stating he would seek legal advice on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Departmental Programmes (6 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: May I just indicate that I raised this matter with the Minister earlier on and would appreciate the information that was asked for?

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: I have to disagree with that, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Jul 2022)

John McGuinness: On the matters raised already by other Deputies and the response given by the Minister, I accept there has been a considerable improvement all round. The special classes are really exceptional when they get up and running and so on. What happens when a school is not happy and requires further supports or further SNAs, and school representatives come to Members of the House to raise the...

Carbon Budget: Motion (6 Apr 2022)

John McGuinness: I will begin by taking up the point made by the previous speaker in respect of this and other issues with which the State is dealing whereby we tend to leave people behind. For me, consultation is extremely important. The outcome of that consultation is even more important. We do not factor that in at the early stages in order to impress on people that their concerns, suggestions or...

Financial Resolution: Excise (9 Mar 2022)

John McGuinness: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I acknowledge that the topic we are speaking about is an issue which has been created for us due to the horrific events abroad in the context of Russia invading Ukraine. It comes on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, which added increased costs to and more issues for businesses throughout the country. This crisis comes at a bad time...

Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Feb 2022)

John McGuinness: I welcome the Bill. I commend the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on its work on the pre-legislative scrutiny on the Bill and the various recommendations that came from that committee. In his response, I ask the Minister to deal with each and every recommendation so that we know what the standing of the Department is in relation to the report and to...

Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Statements (16 Feb 2022)

John McGuinness: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the Defence Forces and this report. I come from Kilkenny city, where James Stephens Barracks is located and where the oldest unit in the Defence Forces, The Bloods, are stationed. I know the value of having the barracks in the constituency. I also know the loyalty and support that family members give to members of the Defence Forces in the context of...

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

John McGuinness: Since the Minister was appointed and the new Department established, he has certainly made huge strides on the reform of this area and indeed funding for it. That must be acknowledged. He has cut new ground in almost every part of the third level sector. When he visited the Institute of Technology Carlow he made quite an impression with the interest he took in all the projects that were...

Youth Mental Health: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

John McGuinness: It seems like another week, another scandal of outrageous proportions. Everybody in this House will speak about it and will demand action of one kind or another. It is a reflection on the system itself. I agree with Deputy Nolan when she said that the State is broken. It is true. The administration of this State is broken, and particularly the administration of the HSE. We have to come...

Violence Against Women: Statements (19 Jan 2022)

John McGuinness: I join with all other Members of this House, and indeed those beyond the House, who have expressed their sympathies to Ashling's parents, family, extended family, school community and general community to say how sorry we are that she died in such a way, in such horrific circumstances. I hope this debate and all that is being said here will result in action being taken. It is very sad to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2021)

John McGuinness: The Government has responded to the hospitality sector with various supports. There is no doubt that the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, and Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, have been extremely helpful. However, the sector is on its knees and all the sectors providing associated employment are also in difficulty, including the entertainment industry, individuals and groups....

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

John McGuinness: I welcome the Bill, particularly the changes relating to the importance of local authorities. They have been taken for granted for far too long. We have moved away from the full meaning of local authorities and what they deliver to the people they represent. In the context of the pre-planning phase, I fully agree that there must be greater consultation with the local communities involved....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

John McGuinness: I wish to draw the Taoiseach's attention to what we spoke about earlier on, namely, the increase in energy and fuel costs and how it is affecting society and the economy. On one side, you have marginalised people and people on limited incomes who cannot afford to pay for the fuel for their houses. They are making choices, as was said earlier, between food or being warm. Outside the gates...

Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2021)

John McGuinness: I wish to first put on record my thanks to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for her kind remarks earlier in the debate on the Farrelly commission of investigation, which I appreciate very much. The Bill before us deals with a number of different road traffic issues. There is a commentary in the explanatory memorandum on the changes in our use of vehicles of one kind or another and the use of...