Results 81-100 of 2,580 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Funding for Persons with Disabilities: Motion [Private Members] (17 Oct 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, met with some of the parents who presented yesterday in Donegal. The CDNTs have collapsed. The vacancy rate is approximately 57% in the two areas in north Donegal It is an absolute disaster and it has real implications. The presentations yesterday from parents of children with disabilities were absolutely harrowing. We had senior HSE officials,...

Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Many years ago, when I was the Sinn Féin justice spokesperson, I met Lucia and Jim O'Farrell for the first time. Lucia took a framed photograph of her beloved son with her, which was set up on the table during the meeting. I have been a public representative for about 21 years. In all those years, I have rarely seen somebody so impacted by an injustice. The darkness that was brought...

Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Hear, hear.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Last year, the Minister announced a "record budget", as he described it, for the fisheries and seafood sector. The total of that budget was €337.45 million, which he stated was a 62% increase on the previous budget. Those of us who were listening to fishing communities and fish producers around the coast believed that the figures were doctored, the money was coming from the Brexit...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 1: Mineral Oil Tax (10 Oct 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Under Standing Order 83(3)(b), I propose that the vote be taken by other than electronic means.

Reversal of Planned Fuel Price Increases: Motion [Private Members] (26 Sep 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: It is laughable.

Reversal of Planned Fuel Price Increases: Motion [Private Members] (26 Sep 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I wish to reaffirm the points made by Deputies Doherty and Kenny. As the Minister of State is aware, I am from the same region as them. He will know the significant public transport deficits in that region. The reality is that, sadly, public transport is not an option for most people who are working, studying or trying to run a business in our county. They need to have a car. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Communities (13 Jul 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 6. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will revert to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to advise when the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 can be progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34612/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 1. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline what discussions or engagements he has held with his ministerial colleagues to ensure that every effort is made to minimise the impact on traditional fishing grounds from the development of offshore renewable energy; and if he supports the principle of co-creation when designating areas for offshore renewable energy or...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: What level of engagement has the Minister had with his counterparts about the shared marine space and how do we maximise the potential of our marine space for our fishing communities and renewable energy while also protecting the marine ecosystem?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I was motivated to put this question after meeting inshore fishermen from the east coast, where they have had a bad experience of offshore renewable energy development. They were effectively told about it after the fact. This has had a serious impact. Fishers from Dublin and Wicklow have built up a good whelk fishery, but it is under serious threat as a result of what has happened. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The inshore fishers on the east coast have had an horrific experience. It can never be repeated anywhere in Ireland. They have correspondence, which I have seen, from the Director General of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, DG MARE, Ms Charlina Vitcheva. She laid out very clearly the balance that needed to be struck between developing offshore renewable energy...

A5 Route Upgrade: Motion [Private Members] (4 Jul 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: All too often, systems that are in place fail our people. The planning system in the North of Ireland has profoundly failed the people of the north west - Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Sligo, Cavan and Monaghan. There is an overwhelming desire to have equality of access and infrastructure for our people with the rest of the island. When we look at the map we can see, rightly so,...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Jun 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: How did it all go wrong? We had a story in this country of which we could be truly proud with the electrification of our country when times were really tough - Ardnacrusha. We built up an electricity supply sector that was publicly owned and the cheapest in Europe, something of which we could be immensely proud. When liberalisation policies were requested by Europe, we had Thatcherite...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Jun 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: In recent days, the management of Letterkenny University Hospital launched a plan for the improvement of services at the hospital. Hardly a week goes by where I do not hear horror stories from families about the emergency department and what is happening there. The conditions are absolutely unacceptable, both for the patients and the nurses and doctors who have to work there. We do not...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Funding (21 Jun 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: As I have said, what I have here in front of me is a brief that was sent from the school to the Deputies in Donegal. I quote directly from this brief where it says: "In fact we were advised by Department representatives to contact our local Red Cross or St. Vincent de Paul." That is their testimony, so somebody has done that. The report also shows that they have 52 additional children....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Funding (21 Jun 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The issue I am raising with the Minister of State is astonishing in its injustice. There is a situation whereby schools across the country have welcomed children from refugee and asylum-seeking families with a good heart. They are nurturing and educating those children, and have welcomed them into their schools. I want to give an example from one school in Donegal but there are many other...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: There is no legislation. What legislation is here this week?

Retained Fire Services: Motion [Private Members] (13 Jun 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Minister has got the immediate reaction of firefighters to what he has said. They have walked out of the Public Gallery in response to his words because he gave pretty much the same speech here last November. There is absolute tone deafness among the likes of the LGMA, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Government. How can the Minister possibly connect the...

Report on the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (1 Jun 2023)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The Good Friday Agreement was a momentous achievement, not only by political leaders on the island of Ireland but also facilitated by political leaders in the United States, the European Union and others internationally. I am almost 50 now. It was half my life ago. In the first half of my life, I witnessed nothing but conflict. I saw it in my family first hand, in my community and across...