Results 1,041-1,060 of 1,702 for speaker:Barry Ward

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: First of all, I welcome the fact that we are acknowledging tomorrow's inauspicious anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. It is something we hoped would not have gone on this long but it has. At this juncture, while we mark it with the tabling of a motion in the Seanad, we should also recognise that this House has been very supportive and proactive in relation to Ukraine. Senator Ahearn...

Seanad: Anniversary of Invasion of Ukraine by Russia: Motion (23 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I second the motion.

Seanad: Rail Network: Statements (23 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I wish to raise a similar disability issue which relates to the DART line. A lot of public money was spent installing bridges over the DART line at stations like Blackrock and Booterstown. They are very effective and easy to use except when the lifts are not working. It seems that, from time to time, lifts go out of order and there is no urgency to fix them, which means people with...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: The Minister of State is welcome and I thank him for taking this. I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is indisposed this morning, but he is aware of this issue. In 2014, as the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, will also be aware, the Local Government Reform Act was passed. It abolished town councils throughout Ireland. That is probably a debate for another day, but when the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (22 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I regret that the Minister of State has been given an answer to read out that substantially does not address the issue I have raised. Not only do area committees operate in a similar manner to municipal districts, they do exactly the same work.They do it without recognition for the status of that committee, without recognition for the chair of that committee and without the power to make...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: Yesterday I put down a Commencement matter in relation to the operation of accessibility services in DART stations in my area. It was ruled out of order and I understand the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, may not have direct responsibility for Iarnród Éireann and or other transport services but the reality is they are public realm services. It is absolutely...

Seanad: Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Statements (22 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Ar dtús báire ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis as an méid oibre atá déanta aige agus ag a Roinn ar an ábhar seo. It is extraordinary, in all the circumstances we have, to have achieved what we have achieved in accommodating those coming into the State looking for assistance, protection, asylum or whatever...

Seanad: Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Statements (22 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: It will be filled by people who want to breed nothing but hatred, contempt, xenophobia and racism, to be honest about it. These are statements about international protection applicants, but we must of course distinguish that there are Irish people in this country who look different. I know I have said this previously in this Chamber, but there are Irish people of ethnic variety who get told...

Seanad: Welfare and Safety of Workers in the Public Health Service: Motion (22 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: This is a difficult motion in many respects. I have great sympathy for the issues that are raised in it. They are serious issues and at a time when recruitment in our health service is such a massive issue for the Department of Health and for hospitals throughout the country, they are vital. I heard what Senator Sherlock said about the two-tier system, and I agree with her, but I see two...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I agree with what Senator Horkan has said. It is important to note that even though this is a very technical Bill and a lengthy one, it is important legislation. It is past time it was put through. I welcome its passing and congratulate the Minister of State on getting it through.

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

Barry Ward: The higher education access route, HEAR, is a fund that has been put in place by the Government to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Six criteria are applied that relate to income, in addition to family size and where people come from etc. It is a very important resource that allows people from certain backgrounds to get into college. Each of the third-level institutions...

Seanad: Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus roimh an mBille. Ábhar an-tábhachtach ar fad atá i gceist anseo. I welcome the Bill on behalf of the Fine Gael group. I congratulate Senator Martin and his colleagues for bringing forward this Private Members' Bill. It is an issue we have discussed in this House on a number of occasions. I need hardly go into the detail of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus roimh an Bille um Cheartas Coiriúil (Aitheantas Frithpháirteach do Phianbhreitheanna Coimeádta), 2021 freisin. Mar a dúirt an Aire, is Bille an-teicniúil é seo agus ba cheart dúinn léamh tríd. Ag an am céanna, mar a dúirt mé cheana féin faoi Bhillí eile, tá fadhb againn leis an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Business of Joint Committee (15 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I propose Deputy Ó Ríordáin.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Collection (14 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte riomh an Aire Stáit. It is always nice to see my Dún Laoghaire colleague in the Seanad. The issue I am raising is one I know the Minister of State is very well aware of, given he has responsibility for it and he launched a public consultation on these regulations last October, as I understand it. The difficulty I have with what is happening is that those who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Collection (14 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate what he has done. I do not want to take away from the laudability of the idea behind this scheme but I want to ask three questions. Did the public consultation substantially raise the issues I have raised? I am sure others have raised these issues, particularly the discrepancy between hot and cold drinks, and I respectfully do not think it is...

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

Barry Ward: At the outset, can I say in respect of discussions about the embassy reopening in Iran that if we decided to never have diplomatic relations with countries we did not agree with or had issues with, we would have to close embassies in lots of countries. It is important that the reopening of diplomatic relations or of an embassy is not an endorsement of behaviour or practices in Iran but is an...

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

Barry Ward: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire freisin. I welcome what the Minister has outlined. I know there was more to come in that speech but time constraints are such that we could not hear it all. The strategy the Government has to deal with domestic and gender-based violence is tremendously important. I welcome, for example, the suggestion that there will be a dedicated agency in this regard...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his remarks about Niamh Bhreathnach at the outset of today's session. I was a ward colleague of Niamh in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council when I first ran for the council in 2009. She was one of the people with whom I was elected at that time. She was incredibly unpretentious and a wonderful doer. She got things done in a way that I suppose having...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Anti-Racism Measures (1 Feb 2023)

Barry Ward: I am grateful to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for coming personally to deal with this matter because it is one of tremendous importance, and we know how topical it is in light of recent demonstrations. "Demonstration" is a very soft word for what has been happening in places such as Ashtown, where there have been attacks on people from different...