Results 901-920 of 1,262 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: Europe Day 2022: Statements (11 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. It is good that we are able to celebrate Europe Day and make statements on it. Ireland as a country is the perfect example of why the European Union is a success and we have benefitted on the back of that. It is important to acknowledge that if it were not for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporting this country in joining the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I agree with the Senator's comments. We had a very good discussion on Second Stage, and the Bill was supported throughout. The fact that there are no amendments underlines that assertion. I thank the Minister of State for his time.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Senator Ward and I had the harrowing but insightful experience of visiting Kyiv in Ukraine for two days at the invitation of the Chairman of its parliament. We were the first two parliamentarians to visit that parliament, and it has asked that people keep visiting because doing so shows the EU's support for Ukraine and opposes Russia's propaganda.We visited Bucha where 117 people from ten...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the witnesses. I compliment them on the submission and opening statement. From my experience, the submission was among the best we have had in the past few years. Ms Mangan mentioned Senator Currie and her work in this field over the past couple of years. Senator Currie has, within her own party, brought this forward. Unfortunately, she cannot be here today but I know she is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I have a couple of follow-up questions from Senator Currie. Ms Mangan mentioned supports from local enterprise offices in her contribution and how these could assist businesses in making a financially beneficial transition. Could she expand on that? Is the biggest issue with the legislation that it does not reflect and unlock the full potential of locationless work? Could she talk about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: The first question is for Mr. Hegarty and concerns workers' rights for people who are not in Ireland. The EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, was before the committee a couple of months ago. I asked him about people who want to remote work, for example, somebody in the Algarve in Portugal working for a company in Ireland. Is there a challenge going forward in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: When Ms Mangan spoke about challenges relating to the hybrid model and the way it works in the home, I connected with much of it. In my household, my wife was working from home five days per week for almost two years. She works for a wind energy company in Cork as an accountant. As people have gone back to work, her company has been good in providing four days at home and one at work. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: It is a strange situation. Both the employee and the employer feel like they are winning here. The employer sees the employee is working the hours they were formerly spending driving, while the employee feels that at least he or she is not driving and is saving money as a result. People who used to drive from Clonmel are saving more than €100 a week, especially given the current...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Right to Request Remote Work Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: Could hubs make a difference in that regard? If an employee is going to a hub rather than working from home, the normal 9 to 5 work time kind of falls back into place for him or her. Employees may currently be working for an hour at home before the child gets up and doing an hour after 8 p.m. when the child goes to bed. If one goes to a hub, however, it feels like one is going into a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Rights (26 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to take this matter. This is an important issue and the fact that the Minister of State is here is evidence of that. This matter arose on foot of the publication of a directive from the European Commission on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence. Most people across Europe would welcome that document but there is one...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Rights (26 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. He is right that the proposal is at a very early stage and the most important aspect to take into account is his openness. He has said that he is "committed to ensuring that the interests and rights of all stakeholders are appropriately protected under the proposal and should it be warranted consider whether it is necessary for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: A number of months ago we had the great announcement of sports capital grants for about 1,900 successful applicants across the country and some €140 million was invested into sports clubs, which has been hugely welcomed by those clubs. It is the largest sports capital investment that has been given to clubs since the measure was reintroduced by a Fine Gael Government a number of years...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Apr 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I too congratulate the Cathaoirleach on the address by President Zelenskyy today and thank him for his contribution on behalf of us in the Seanad. In highlighting the case of the mother and five-year-old daughter who have travelled to Ireland, he described the decisions we are making and the challenges we face. What is happening is all being done in the best interests of the citizens of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I ask the Deputy Leader for some information or to seek a debate with the Minister for Justice regarding Garda stations, especially the proposed new Garda station in Clonmel. It is in the capital building programme, along with a new station in Macroom and the children's court. Clonmel Garda station is ready to go, just like Macroom is, but it is being held up in the process because of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the officials for coming in today and for the work they are doing on this. Mr. Maher stated that the longer we keep people in PIAB, the better it is in terms of reducing costs to the Exchequer in terms of insurance. I ask the witnesses to expand on two statements they made. The issue relates to payouts for individuals. If someone has an accident in a place of employment, as we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill 2022: Discussion (30 Mar 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I can see the point exactly. My point is that it could sometimes be frustrating for people if they felt someone was getting too much and they could not really do more about it because it would cost more. Mr. Newham used a very good phrase in implying the process under discussion is to be an alternative process to solve claims. For a long time, there has been an alternative process to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Cathaoirleach; I think that is his official title for today anyway. I thank him for stepping up to make today possible. It is appreciated. I thank the Minister for coming into the House. He is always very good. When anyone has a Commencement matter, as lead Minister, he always comes in and takes it.. As someone from a farm of tillage farmers, it is first important to note...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (24 Mar 2022)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister very much for his detailed response. I raised the matter of supporting farmers with the rising cost of fertiliser in recent months and he came to the House on that occasion to respond to it. We discussed the matter before Christmas. We have one party in government with us that will be in up in arms with this suggestion. Is there a way to support tillage farmers with...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2022)

Garret Ahearn: If Senator Gavan could convince his councillors to actually vote in favour of housing projects, we might have more in towns like Castleconnell----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Mar 2022)

Garret Ahearn: -----than the five being built. There are thousands throughout the country that have been refused.