Results 921-940 of 991 for speaker:Aidan Davitt

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: One of our other Senators hit on the following already this morning. In his budget proposals, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, got his lines badly wrong as I suggested at the time. He is now reconsidering and redrawing his plan for a tax rebate for first-time buyers. He is on shifting ground. After meeting the Minister this morning, the IPAV...

Seanad: Fire Safety in Traveller Accommodation: Statements (19 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to comment on the report. I extend my sympathy to the families and people who lost loved ones and friends in the Carrickmines tragedy. I welcome the representatives of the Traveller community who are present. While the Minister has provided an outline of the €9 million for Traveller accommodation, what safeguards are in place for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I want to talk about a possible upside of Brexit, albeit we have to seize the opportunity.I call on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to advise whether she has put a strategy in place to target and attract businesses and financial institutions that are likely to move their operations out of Britain as a result of Brexit. Given our skilled workforce, proven track record in...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: It is great to see the Minister return to us again for what is almost her weekly round of the House at this stage. As the Minister has outlined, there are many serious implications, but this is not of Ireland's doing. I will outline some of the things we are trying to keep an eye on. Our unique relationship with Britain has been built up over years. Safeguarding the work and progress made...

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I asked the Minister at the time-----

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I asked the question earlier on. I am not demeaning the Minister's work or anything else, but-----

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: A Minister of State would be a helpful step forward.

Seanad: Rent Certainty (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (12 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Certainty of tenure and a fair rent are two core principles of Fianna Fáil. By the Senator's own admission, this is a simple Bill. We feel it is too simplistic and that this type of interference could cause more harm to an already chaotic rental market. The main factor in the increase in rents is lack of supply. Introducing a blunt cap at this stage is not the way forward. I...

Seanad: Rent Certainty (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (12 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Sinn Féin is preoccupied with Fianna Fáil. The Minister was in the House previously and the Minister of State is here now but all we hear is Fianna Fáil this and Fianna Fáil that.

Seanad: Rent Certainty (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (12 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: May I speak?

Seanad: Rent Certainty (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (12 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: We listened to the three speakers from Sinn Féin who all talked about Fianna Fáil and hardly mentioned Fine Gael. They talked about what they want to do and what they are seeking. When they walk by the homeless people on the streets of Dublin - which is experiencing a serious crisis in this regard - they should remember that Fianna Fáil did not put them there. There were no...

Seanad: Rent Certainty (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (12 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: It is good to employ a few people too.

Seanad: Rent Certainty (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second Stage (12 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: "Simplistic" was the Senator's word.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I am very disappointed with the measure for first-time buyer grants in this budget as it increases the city-rural divide and inequalities in our society. A person privileged enough to live within the M50 belt can avail of this grant but outside that it will apply to almost no one. Contrary to my colleague’s belief that this plan is welcomed by the auctioneers of this country, it is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Vetting of Personnel (6 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: The statement is self-explanatory. Since the roll-out of the new Garda vetting forms, there has been a disconnect between the legislation and the reality on the ground. A serious problem has arisen. Michael Ryan, the principal of a school in Waterford, has raised a valid query. At present, he wants to take on some temporary staff. He would have the same issue if he wanted to take on a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Vetting of Personnel (6 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I appreciate the response from the Minister of State and what he said makes a lot of sense. He referred to the new e-certification but I may not have understood him. Is it correct that if one receives a new e-certificate, it will be valid for different bodies or does one still have to apply individually for every body of which one wants to be a member, employed by or whatever else?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Vetting of Personnel (6 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I appreciate the reply.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: The news that emanated from the midlands yesterday was very serious. It has been flagged for the past month and my colleague, Deputy Robert Troy, had raised the issue of these jobs, which was also covered in the local newspapers in recent weeks. We have talked about Brexit ad nauseam but this shows one of the repercussions. While the 170 jobs lost might not be directly linked to Brexit, it...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Will the Leader address the Punch and Judy show in which the Ministers for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Social Protection are engaging to promote themselves to replace the Taoiseach? A few months ago the Minister for Social Protection was out of the traps first with promises of improved conditions for councillors, while last week the Minister for Housing, Planning,...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I have serious concerns about orthodontic services, which are underfunded. A constituent of mine who is 16 years of age has been waiting for an operation on her teeth since she was 13. She is a young, maturing lady and her mother has serious concerns for her because this is affecting her self-confidence. It is a problem for the girl and her whole family. She has had four appointments and...