Results 781-800 of 987 for speaker:Catherine Ardagh

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (11 Oct 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Oct 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: Despite your comments, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, as I will not be here to comment on the budget later, I will touch slightly on it. My entire contribution on the Order of Business will not be on the budget. Today, I rise to reflect on parts of the budget. Like last year, the influence Fianna Fáil had on the budget has ensured that it is more progressive and supported those who need...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: Today I would like to raise two matters, the first being respite services and the second being the rail strike. With regard to respite services, there are over 360,000 people who act as carers. They have been very badly affected by funding cuts and staff shortages. The result is that many carers are often left in a position in which they have no time off, which is having a negative impact...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Minister for attending and I congratulate her on her new role. I also congratulate Mr. McKeon on his new role. My ears perked up when the Minister mentioned that all social insurance benefits would be extended to the self-employed. Can she confirm whether that will include illness benefit? Will that be announced in the budget or did I hear her incorrectly?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: A minor issue which has been raised time and again in my constituency clinics is the income threshold for the fuel allowance. Deputy Brady raised a separate issue relating to the fuel allowance. A small adjustment could be made to the threshold but it would be meaningful for people who are not eligible for the allowance. There are ancillary benefits in various areas around the county when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: In different companies-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Remit and Legislative Agenda: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection (28 Sep 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I will contact the Minister's office because I have a specific case.

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Sep 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I refer to cancer services. Cancer Week 2017 runs from 25 September until 1 October. Since 1996, when the first cancer strategy was launched, Ireland has prided itself on providing a world-class cancer service which adheres to international guidelines and best practice. However, we are hearing reports of a deterioration in the service, with delays in the commencement of chemotherapy...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I stand in the beautiful Ceramics Room of the National Museum of Ireland and welcome all of my colleagues back for what I hope will be a fruitful new term. We, in Fianna Fáil, are very grateful to the staff of the National Museum of Ireland for facilitating our temporary relocation. We promise to ensure the integrity of the museum will be maintained and respected at all times...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: On the basis that we will not be here again, I thank and commend the Cathaoirleach's team and Bridget Doody's and Martin Groves's team for all the help they have given us this year. I would also like to move that No. 7 on the Order Paper, the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017, be taken today. I was delighted to see that the Bill, which seeks to amend and extend the 2011 Mental Health Act...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: They did acknowledge cross-party support.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I am.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, has failed to progress the legislation required to allow for the construction of a second runway at Dublin Airport. The issue has been raised by my colleague, Deputy Robert Troy, in the Dáil by way of parliamentary question in the past 13 months but no progress has been made. Deputy Robert Troy has been told consistently...

Seanad: Independent Reporting Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (19 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Minister for coming to the House again today. I believe he will be here later on as well.Fianna Fáil supports this legislation, which is one of the key outcomes of the Fresh Start agreement of November 2015. The Bill creates a new monitoring body to review and report on any paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland. It is a damning indictment of Sinn Féin and the DUP...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I welcome the new drug and alcohol strategy launched by the Government, but Fianna Fáil has some concerns the strategy does not go far enough. The most obvious gap in the strategy is that many of the initiatives are aspirational, with a lack of tangible deadlines and commitments. The report is not costed and will require significant investment. Many charities, such as the Simon...

Seanad: Mediation Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I thank the Minister for Justice and Equality for coming to the House to give an outline of the Mediation Bill 2017. I am a solicitor and am an accredited mediator with Mediation Forum Ireland, however I have never practised. I welcome the Bill. The Minister has gone into the technical detail of the Bill and I will not repeat it. Fianna Fáil welcomes this overdue Bill. I am really...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I ask the Government to be cognisant in the forthcoming budget of the financial struggles that will be placed on hard-pressed families come September. They will be hit with a three-pronged attack of massive price hikes to basic services. There will be higher electricity charges, higher waste charges for those unable to recycle, and back to school expenses. The hike in electricity costs...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: Before I commence, I would like to express my sympathies and those of the Fianna Fáil group in regard to what we learned last night about the fatal stabbing of a three year old boy in Poddle Park, Kimmage, and the injuries sustained by his mother, a 40 year old doctor.No child or woman should suffer violence like this, and my heart goes out to the mother and her family. I hope that when...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: If the Cathaoirleach will indulge me, I will raise four short items. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I congratulate the Leader on his recent engagement to Conchobhar Ó Laoghaire. On behalf of our group we wish him the best happiness into the future and wish him the best of luck with his wedding preparation. The second issue I will raise is the cath lab for the south east. I...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Jun 2017)

Catherine Ardagh: I raise an issue that I raised in this House before and that is the dangers of cycling on our roads. So far this year five cyclists have died on our roads, including the much loved principal of St. Louis Senior Primary School, Mr. Pádraic Carney. Last week he died on his way to work at the age of 53. Earlier this month the international consultancy firm, Copenhagenize, removed Dublin...