Results 821-840 of 1,879 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I would like to call upon the Government to undertake initiatives to politicians from surveillance by foreign Governments and private tech companies. The rather lax approach to security, along with the nature of our data protection laws, means that the Ministers, Deputies, Senators, city and county councillors along with the people who work with them are all vulnerable. Within the past...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I wish to raise the issue of accountability. It is an area we could do better in Ireland in politics. The public at large is interested in it. I understand that last month, solicitor Susan Gilvarry requested, and the Taoiseach subsequently approved, the 16th extension to the deadline of the final report of the commission of investigation into the National Assets Management Agency, NAMA,...

Seanad: Teacher Supply and School Places: Statements (15 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I was going to go parochial, so I am disappointed the Minister left. However, it is great to have the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, here, because he knows exactly what I am talking about. I wish to raise the issue of the boys and girls primary school in Duleek. It has had ongoing issues with rectification works since 2015. It is a state-of-the-art, brand new school. The...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I second the amendment to the Order of Business. At this stage, no one here does not know what is happening in Iran. Thousands are being interrogated, unfairly persecuted and arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights, and hundreds remain unjustly imprisoned. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including denying prisoners adequate medical care, remain...

Seanad: Islamic Republic of Iran: Motion (14 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I second the motion.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Apprenticeship Programmes (9 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for attending. I know that a woman of her political experience knows the importance of government at the local level and that healthy and high-functioning local authorities that are well-funded, well-staffed and constantly innovating can make huge changes in local areas and the people and families who live in them. My passion for local government is certainly...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Apprenticeship Programmes (9 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for her attendance and her reply. This is a very important opportunity for local government and for the Minister, Deputy Harris, and his Department. I admire the work he and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, have been doing in their brand-new Department. There is always scope for improvement, however, including in respect of some of the issues I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (9 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: Before Senator O'Loughlin responds I want to welcome to the House our visitors from Blessington Educate Together National School. I hope they have a lovely time visiting the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I begin with a phrase I do not find myself saying often. I would like to join the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, in calling for the extension of the 9% VAT for the hospitality sector. The hike back to the upper rate of 13.5% is set to take place at the end of the month. I, along with many others around the country, and I know many...

Seanad: Moving Towards Zero Tolerance of Violence against Women: Statements (9 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I think this is the first time I have addressed him in his new role as Minister for Justice. I think he has done a great job since he started in that role. I wish him good luck for the next few months while he is there. Today's topic relates to the zero tolerance of violence against women. I wish to discuss some of these data. The World Health...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (2 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I congratulate the Minister of State on her elevation to office. In 2019, the Houses of the Oireachtas passed the usual Finance Act, allowing for regulations of taxation, stamp duties and duties relating to excise. Included in the Bill was section 6, on benefit-in-kind emissions-based calculations, which gave effect to a measure included in that year's budget relating to benefit-in-kind tax...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (2 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State very much. I appreciate the comprehensive answer. The issue was the lead-in period, however, which began four years ago. It was not on the radar of many companies. I only became aware of it around December when a number of people contacted me to tell me how much they were going to be out of pocket. Do I have to look at other legislation or other budgetary...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (2 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: It would be great if the infrastructure was there to support it. I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I want to raise two issues that have been given some coverage this week. The first is the incident at the Ashtown migrant camp. This morning, I am not going to getting into who saw that or who said what, and I think that debate has played out on Twitter between individual journalists, and Senator Mullen addressed it here yesterday. The evidence or lack thereof is there for anyone with eyes...

Seanad: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Statements (1 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Minister of State for being here, and I thank Senator Clifford-Lee for her contribution. I love hearing Gaeilge in the Chamber. I wish I could speak it but I cannot.

Seanad: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Statements (1 Feb 2023)

Sharon Keogan: As I sat down to think about what matters needed to be raised here this afternoon, I wondered what it is about health, mental health and child and teenage care that has not been said in the past ten years. I do not think a month goes by without this issue being raised in this Chamber, and I support that. It is certainly an issue of national importance and deserving of our attention but our...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Cathaoirleach and appreciate being allowed up before Senator Flynn because I have to attend another meeting at 4 p.m. On this day, Tuesday, 31 January 1984, some 39 years ago, Ann Lovett died aged 15. She and her child were buried in Granardkill cemetery on Friday, 3 February 1984. On Saturday night, 4 February 1984, "The Late Late Show" was coming to an end when the host read...

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I thank Senator Higgins for spotting something that I missed. I took acting in loco parentisas meaning the foster parent. To make sure that it is, I welcome the Senator's insertion.

Seanad: Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2023)

Sharon Keogan: I would support even the addition of "grandchild" so that it reads "a parent or grandparent or grandchild of the employee". I would support that because I know many children who rely solely on a grandparent to give them care at any age. I would welcome the addition of "grandchild" and ask that the Minister give it consideration.