Results 1,201-1,220 of 1,262 for speaker:Garret Ahearn

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Activation Projects (12 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for being here. I thank him, his Department and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, for their engagement on this important issue. I know that the Minister met with groups involved in this programme in January to find a solution to this matter and that one is close to being arrived at. I thank them for the work they have put into this. The Ability programme...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Activation Projects (12 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I had a list of points to make to keep pushing for a solution. The Minister of State announcing one this morning is really momentous. On behalf of the many people whom I know are watching online, I thank him and the Minister. As the Minister of State said, there are three organisations in Tipperary, including St. Cronans Association, Nenagh, where Mr. Paul Farrell is running the show, and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: The national development plan review process is due to finish on 19 February. The national development plan currently includes the N24 road from Limerick to Waterford. It is being done in two phases. The first phase is from Cahir to Limerick Junction, which is approximately 35 km in length, and a consultation process with the public representatives has already taken place. The second...

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad. I congratulate her on the work she has done since she became Minister of State with responsibility for mental health issues. She has taken a lead on an awful lot of projects. It is an extremely difficult time for people but she has an extremely important role at the moment. On a personal level, I thank her for the commitment she has shown to...

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Housing, Local Government and Heritage): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I will be brief. I had a number of things to say, so I will shorten the first part. I wish to congratulate the Minister on the work he is doing. He is doing immense work. It seems to me that those who criticise him do not have any interest in actually solving the problems that the Minister is trying to address. I wish to compliment him on that. We need to get residential construction up...

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I will continue the trend here today and congratulate the Minister on becoming a grandmother. I wish Deputy Humphreys well and congratulate her and baby Arthur. Like others, I hope Arthur's mother is recovering well and doing well. The Minister must be quite a popular grandmother with the introduction of the increase in parental leave from two weeks to five weeks. I know from my own...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill 2018 (Resumed): Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (29 Jan 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Chairman. I welcome the Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy Troy. I thank them for their presentations. Both the Tánaiste and the Minister of State referred to the recent Hamilton review. As we know, this was a wide-ranging review on tackling white-collar crime. It was published by the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, in December. The review...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jan 2021)

Garret Ahearn: Like Senator Byrne, there are two topics I wish to discuss. The Covid restrictions support scheme was introduced in budget 2021 to help support businesses during lockdown, essentially during lockdowns at level 3 or higher. Under the scheme, qualifying businesses can apply to Revenue for a cash payment of up to €5,000, or 10% of the business's revenue. A business must self-declare to...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (26 Jan 2021)

Garret Ahearn: I first acknowledge the Acting Chairperson, Senator Boyhan's contribution to the debate. It is very appropriate that he is sitting in the Chair today. I hope it is symbolic of where we have come to as a country, where we have someone with his life and experience holding that seat during this debate. I thank the Minister for being here and for the work he has done over recent months. It is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Vótáil.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Last night's news that the hospitality industry might need to close early again is devastating for many businesses around the country which have put in considerable effort to reopen and provide a service for their community, town or city during the Christmas period. These businesses have bought stock on the assumption they would be open until early in the new year. Even though people tried...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: This week, Bus Éireann announced a new bus route from Portroe, in north Tipperary, to Limerick, which is very much welcomed. It is the first time Bus Éireann has operated a bus route from Portroe to Limerick. In September, Bus Éireann also announced the discontinuation of the Cork-Dublin express route, which has major implications in County Tipperary, in particular in Cahir...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: On Wednesday morning, the people of Carrick-On-Suir woke up to the devastating news that St. Brigid's District Hospital would be closed. St. Brigid's has been in the town of Carrick-On-Suir for 200 years. It is a hospital with 18 beds which provides respite and palliative care. Earlier in the year, the hospital was repurposed to potentially be used for Covid-19 if it was needed. During...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Credit Unions (15 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: It is very upsetting that the Central Bank sent out a letter to credit unions not to pay out their dividends. I encourage the Minister of State to support the credit unions to make dividend payments to their customers. The credit union in Clonmel had a fantastic year. It has a surplus of had €3.6 million with a dividend of €1.7 million to be shared by members, equating to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Credit Unions (15 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Obviously there is a separation of power, rightly so, between himself and the Central Bank. It is important the Government supports credit unions and that they continue to support their local communities. That is the bedrock on which credit unions are founded. I thank the Minister of State for his reply.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: The feelings people have towards the Department and the Minister seem to be a common thread today and I will not be any different. I compliment the Minister in particular on a personal level for the amount of work she does and the way she deals with us as representatives. She gets back to us incredibly quickly. She is the most consistent Minister in answering the phone and getting back to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: We heard the positive and welcome news this weekend that the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is expecting a child. It is the first time in the history of the State that has happened with someone who is a sitting Cabinet Minister. I congratulate her. It reminds me that this week last year I had the fortune of having the life-changing experience of seeing a newborn being delivered. We...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2020: Second Stage (8 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. As others have said, agriculture as a whole is important. This has always been the case and I am sure that in the next number of years this Government will prioritise agriculture. I come from a farming background and there is always a view within farming that any time the country has hit a crisis, it is always the agricultural industry that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: Currently, credit unions are unable to hold in-person annual general meetings, AGMs. There is no point in holding virtual AGMs because, without legislation being passed, they are unable to payout the annual loan interest rebate or dividend. The credit union in Clonmel, where I am from, has a dividend of approximately €1.7 million to distribute to members, which equates to between...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (2 Dec 2020)

Garret Ahearn: I welcome the Minister of State. Ireland has a forestry industry that provides approximately 12,000 badly needed jobs throughout the country, particular in rural areas, including my county, Tipperary. It contributes some €2.3 billion to the economy annually and plays a major role in combating climate change. The importance of the forestry industry is underscored in the programme for...