Results 1,141-1,160 of 1,262 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Mr. Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE, was on Today FM's "The Last Word" last week talking about maternity hospital restrictions. Mr. Reid said that 16 of the 19 hospitals with maternity wards are complying with restrictions. I understand that St. Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny, Wexford General Hospital and Tipperary University Hospital are the three hospitals that...

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Garret Ahearn: It is entertaining in some ways, but also staggering, the amount of time that Senator Keogan flip flops on issues. She moves from being for something to being against it and uses the kind of language that is wholly inappropriate. She spoke about "butchering jobs" as if the Government or the Minister of State set out to butcher jobs in the aviation industry. She is now saying that aviation...

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Garret Ahearn: It was 1 May.

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Garret Ahearn: It was said six weeks ago. Now Senator Keogan is blaming the Government for not opening up the aviation industry quickly enough.

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Garret Ahearn: It is just staggering. The aviation industry, more than any other sector, has been decimated by Covid. While we welcome the opening on 19 July and many people are hugely excited about travelling again and supporting the industry, it is going to take a long time for it to recover. It is not going to recover on 19 July and the Government must support the industry through the coming period....

Seanad: Right to Housing: Motion (4 Jun 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for bringing this very important issue to the floor. The Minister of State knows I have spoken to him numerous times about Irish Water and the challenges which areas have, including my county, Tipperary, with water supply and wastewater treatment, and the challenges that brings for everyone in terms of providing...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Jun 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I ask the Leader to call the Minister for Transport to the House to discuss aviation in the context, in the first instance, of the need to introduce antigen testing. While I welcome the reopening of aviation on 19 July, I still believe that the lack of antigen testing - and the prospect of being aligned with all European countries or becoming an outlier - is a real concern. The fact that we...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Common Agricultural Policy (25 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: The Commencement matter I have tabled consists of a long statement. I welcome the Minister to the Chamber today and particularly thank him for being here, which indicates the seriousness of the matter. This is a very important week in Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, negotiations and a breakthrough is expected. I wish the Minister well in those negotiations. He has the support of all of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Common Agricultural Policy (25 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister and wish him well in his negotiations this week, which he will attend following this contribution. What I have heard from farmers right across Tipperary is that it is important that the Minister stands up to the Commissioner because there is a feeling that he does not have farmers' interests at heart so the Minister must represent Irish farmers, including those in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: Following on from the words of the Cathaoirleach, I wish all Croatians living in Ireland well. Happy Croatia day. I was taken aback when the Cathaoirleach was naming some of the cities. I actually got engaged in Pula. In an almost previous life, I used to be a bartender on a cruise ship.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: It seems such a long time ago. I used to be a bartender on a cruise ship, and we used to stop at different ports. It is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I would recommend anyone go there. I want to raise the fact that the Irish Air Line Pilots Association, IALPA, held an extraordinary general meeting at 10 a.m. followed by a rally and a protest. They will deliver a...

Seanad: Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I echo Senator Cummins's point on access. It is a key point. This is one measure in a whole range that have been brought forward in the last year to support businesses. This one in particular has been changed to include the farming and food processing sectors, which is very welcome but the key thing is to be able to get access to it. The banks need to be held accountable for that. I...

Seanad: Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021: Motion for Earlier Signature (24 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and thank him for the work he has been doing for the past year, particularly in recent weeks. The number of people being vaccinated is phenomenal. If truth be told, six months ago no one would have thought that would be possible. If Members from all parties were to be honest, I do not think we would have ever fully...

Seanad: Planning and Development, Heritage and Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the Chamber. I also welcome the Bill and the proposal to move the powers to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It is the right thing to do and I welcome it. I thank the Minister of State for the work he has done in the past year. I have seen his commitment to this portfolio in a case in which he has been very...

Seanad: Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I thank Senator Bacik for bringing this Bill before the House tonight and for her contribution. It is staggering that 14,000 women every year suffer from miscarriage. Everyone knows someone who has gone through it and normally the person is a family member. The only reason we know she is a family member is because if it is not a family...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Online Content Moderation and Reactivation of Economy: Discussion (19 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I wish to follow up on what many speakers said about our meeting last week with Facebook and the contribution from Isabella Plunkett about her experience in recent years working for Facebook. Many of the questions that have been asked today should be asked of Facebook. Chairman, could we invite in Facebook to ask those questions directly because their employment is really a matter between...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Online Content Moderation and Reactivation of Economy: Discussion (19 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: On staff returning to work, a previous speaker mentioned the PUP. It is welcome that there will not be a cliff edge but rather a gradual easing of supports. There has been a change even in the past two weeks. The number of people receiving the PUP in County Tipperary on 4 May was more than 18,000, whereas it has now decreased to 9,000. It has halved already and that is without the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Test (18 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and thank him for taking this very important debate. It is important to recognise that the last year has been incredibly difficult for many people who have been out of work for the last number of months. I wish everyone who went back to work on Monday well. There have been an awful lot of challenges in so many sectors, from health to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Driver Test (18 May 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for the detailed response. As he said, counties like Tipperary have different challenges but they are not ones that cannot be overcome. We need a little bit of time to address them but we are in a critical stage now. As the Minister of State said, in agriculture with the cutting of silage and harvesting season coming upon us, it is a critical time. The number...